To the University Community:

Effective September 1, 1997, the services being offered by the University's Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (F/SAP), operated under the auspices of the School of Social Work, have been taken over by PENN-Friends. PENN-Friends is an alliance between the University of Pennsylvania Health System and Friends Hospital to provide managed behavioral health care and EAP (Employee Assistance Program) services. Current clients include University of Pennsylvania and Holy Redeemer Health Systems.

This alliance affords the University the opportunity to continue to provide high levels of client services while managing costs. Specifically, in addition the new on-campus location at 36th and Market Streets, PENN-Friends also provides faculty and staff and their immediate family members with access to over 450 providers in neighborhood locations throughout the Delaware Valley region. Additionally, there will be 24-hour-a-day/7-day-a-week telephone access to counselors. The on-site location will be led by Jose Rendon, who had previously been associated with the University as an F/SAP counselor.

As a full-service provider of F/SAP services, PENN-Friends offers confidential assistance to faculty and staff on personal life issues such as:

PENN-Friends also offers supervisors assistance for addressing issues impacting job performance and other workplace situations.

Direct access to PENN-Friends is available by calling 1-888-321-4433. For further information, please contact the Division of Human Resources at 215-898-0380.

It has been our pleasure and our privilege to serve the personal and work-related needs of the University's employees over the past fourteen years. Although we are no longer accepting new clients, F/SAP counselors will continue to be available to their current and former clients until September 12. Our phone number remains 898-7910.

Last modified: 11 September 1997