Barksdale Civilian Personnel Office to host town hall Published Jan. 20, 2016 By Senior Airman Joseph Raatz 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- The Barksdale Civilian Personnel Office is hosting a town hall at the BUFF event center, Feb. 1, to discuss the Employee Assistance Program. The EAP is a worksite-based consultative service that addresses personal problems that may adversely affect job performance, health or personal well-being. It offers services including assessments, counseling and referrals for additional services to employees with personal or work-related concerns such as stress, financial issues, legal issues, family problems, office conflicts and alcohol and substance abuse. The program also works with management and supervisors providing advanced planning for situations, such as organizational changes, legal considerations, emergency planning and response to unique traumatic events. Many of these services can be accessed 24/7 online or via telephone. “The EAP offers some great resources our civilian employees can call on,” said Kristina Smithson, Civilian Personnel officer. “While their military counterparts have access to many resources for help with personal and work-related issues, a civilian employee may not qualify for some of those same resources. The EAP helps bridge that gap.” The town hall will be held in two distinct segments. The 9 a.m. meeting is open to all Barksdale appropriated fund civilian employees, whereas the 10:30 a.m. meeting is for anyone who supervises a civilian employee. Both meetings will take place at the BUFF event center on Rickenbacker Ave. and are expected to last approximately one hour each. An EAP consultant will be on-hand to explain the program and answer questions from the audience. “We feel it is important for our civilians to have the opportunity for face-to-face interaction with a qualified EAP consultant,” Smithson said. “They’ll be able to have their questions answered and get information directly from the source.” Employees interested in EAP services can contact 800-222-0364 or visit www.FOH4You.com.