LWSD Employee Assistance Program

The Lake Washington School District has contracted with Bellevue Community Services to provide a program for their benefitted employees where participation is entirely voluntary and confidential. Your Employee Assistance Benefits entitle you to a maximum of six (6) 50‑minute counseling sessions per school year. BCS offers an exceptional multi-disciplinary team of professionals with a broad range of experience and specialties.

Why do we need an Employee Assistance Program?

Each of us, regardless of our position, faces a variety of daily problems. We usually work them out, but sometimes problems become too much for us to handle alone and they affect our personal happiness, our family relations, our job performance, and our overall health. Some of these problems may be caused by stress, financial, legal, or marital difficulties or they may be alcohol or drug related. Whatever the reason, the Employee Assistance Program offers professional help at no charge to you from trained and licensed professional counselors and therapists.

What is the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and who is eligible?

The Employee Assistance Program is a confidential, professional assessment and referral program provided for benefited ( .5 FTE or greater) employees who are having problems which may affect job performance, and their immediate families (spouse and dependent children under 25 years of age who still live at home).

The Employee Assistance Program offers up to six face‑to‑face sessions to provide three specific services:

• Assessment to help employees identify problems
• Referral to services for continued help with specific problems
• Education to improve employee functioning

What about confidentiality?

Each case will be handled in strict confidence by the E.A.P. counselor. Neither district administrators nor co‑workers will be given information about self‑referred requests for help. Respect and privacy are paramount.

Who pays for the cost of consultation and other services?

The initial assessment, short‑term problem solving and referral services are free to the employee and paid by the contractual agreement with Lake Washington School District.  Health insurance through the district will pay for further treatment in many cases. Other costs not covered by insurance are the employee's responsibility and are discussed openly with the employee.

What kind of concerns can the Employee Assistance Program address?

How to set up an appointment

Call Bellevue Community Services at (425) 454‑0616, and identify yourself as a Lake Washington School District Employee. It is important to be prepared to briefly discuss the issue you wish to address so that the intake specialist can assign the counselor that best meets your needs.