The University of Vermont Medical Center > Overview > Employee & Family Assistance Program

University of Vermont Medical Center employees and their adult household members are eligible for EFAP services as well as partners of residents and fellows.

The Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) offers free, short-term and confidential counseling with a licensed counselor, as well as connections to other community services.

If you are in crisis, call or text 988, call 911 or go to the nearest Emergency Department

All services and features of the EFAP program are free and confidential to ensure equitable access to clinical and mental health resources. This program supports a diverse and inclusive workforce and acknowledges the importance of cultural fit when assisting each employee and their family. We are committed to cultivating and sustaining relationships with community partners that broaden our reach and understanding of our workplace within the community we serve.

efap [at] uvmhealth.org (Schedule a counseling appointment)

Crisis Resources in Vermont

  • 988lifeline.org: 24/7 free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States.

  • Facing Suicide Vermont: Statewide prevention effort providing access to suicide prevention, education, support and advocacy resources.

  • Howard Center -Suicide Prevention: Nonprofit organization serving children, adults, families and communities. Howard Center is the designated provider for mental health and developmental disability services and the preferred provider for substance use services in Chittenden County.

  • Vermont 211: Vermont 211 is free, confidential and will provide you with a list of resources for such important items as day care, legal information, family resources and education to mention a few.

Translated & Interpreted Crisis Resources

Additional Resources

Agencies that assist with searching for and subsidizing childcare. Sites include links with tips, resources and helpful hints.

  • Childcare Resource: Provides information and referrals to quality childcare programs that serve children from infancy to age 12. These services are offered to employees at no charge. For more information, call 802-863-3367 or visit their website.

  • Let's Grow Kids: Organization founded to ensure affordable access to high-quality child care for all Vermont families by 2025.

  • Bright Futures Child Care Information System: Resource for parents, early childhood and afterschool programs and professionals to get answers to questions about childcare and the services available to help ensure that high quality child care is available to every child in Vermont.

  • DCF Vermont Child Care Resources: DCF's mission is to foster the healthy development, safety, well-being, and self-sufficiency of Vermonters. We provide benefits, services, and supports to some 200,000 Vermonters every year, including children, youth, families, older Vermonters, and people with disabilities.​

  • ​211 Vermont: Trained, empathetic Community Resource Specialists assess needs in a non-threatening, non-judgmental and confidential manner and help people understand their situations and make informed decisions about possible solutions. 

  • VT Family Network: Empowers and supports all Vermont families of children with special needs.

  • Working Bridges Program: United Way’s Working Bridges is an innovative program designed to improve job retention, stability and advancement by supporting employees and students with community resources. Meet our Resource Coordinator, Kristin Kany, and learn about community resources that can help: Childcare, housing, transportation, tax assistance, food, consumer protection, eldercare/caregiver support and much more. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Kristin by calling or texting 802-735-4438 or email kristin [at] unitedwaynwvt.org (kristin[at]unitedwaynwvt[dot]org).

Contact the childcare resource and referral agency in your county. They may be able to pay a subsidy for qualifying camps.

  • Parks and Recreation: Call your town's office to learn more about available programs.

  • Summer camps

  • School vacation camps

  • Recreation activities

  • Scholarships based on income

  • Kids VT: Lists summer camps and recreation activities year-round.

  • Working Bridges Program: United Way’s Working Bridges is an innovative program designed to improve job retention, stability and advancement by supporting employees and students with community resources. Meet our Resource Coordinator, Kristin Kany, and learn about community resources that can help: Childcare, housing, transportation, tax assistance, food, consumer protection, eldercare/caregiver support and much more. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Kristin by calling or texting 802-735-4438 or email kristin [at] unitedwaynwvt.org (kristin[at]unitedwaynwvt[dot]org)

Educational resources curated and vetted by the Vermont School Librarian Association.

  • Kahn Academy: Developmentally appropriate classes and activities for kids 3-18. 

  • JSTOR: Free access to 6,000+ ebooks and 170 journals

  • C.I.D.E.R.: Community meals and rides to critical care and other necessary appointments for seniors in Grand Isle County. Visit the website or call 802-372-6425.  

  • Dementia Family Caregiver Center: DFCC is dedicated to the care and support of family caregivers. The DFCC provides a pathway to resources for families caring for those with Alzheimer's disease and dementia. 

    • The CARERS Program for Dementia Family Caregivers (Coaching, Advocacy, Respite, Education, Relationship and Simulation) is an evidence based therapeutic group program that enhances the knowledge, skills, and competence of informal family caregivers of people with dementia.   

    • The TEACH Program (Training, Education, and Assistance for Caregiving at Home) is a therapeutic, evidence-based group designed for family members who are new to caregiving. 

  • Working Bridges Program: United Way’s Working Bridges is an innovative program designed to improve job retention, stability and advancement by supporting employees and students with community resources. Meet our Resource Coordinator, Kristin Kany, and learn about community resources that can help: Childcare, housing, transportation, tax assistance, food, consumer protection, eldercare/caregiver support and much more. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Kristin by calling or texting 802-735-4438 or email kristin [at] unitedwaynwvt.org (kristin[at]unitedwaynwvt[dot]org).

  • LeRoyer Employee Emergency Financial Support: ​The LeRoyer Employee Emergency Assistance Fund is here to help you during uncertain times. If you have already received financial assistance through this program, you can reapply once the previous loan is repaid in full. The assistance is given for financial emergencies caused by unexpected events. Eligible employees must be actively employed with a minimum of three months of employment (regular permanent status). 

  • ​New England Federal Credit Union Pay Advance Loan: Eligible employees must be activity employed in good standing with a minimum of one year (12 months) of service. 

    • Download the application: Pay Advance Loan Application.pdf

    • Email the completed and approved form to the credit union: mLoanRep [at] nefcu.com (mLoanRep[at]nefcu[dot]com) 

  • Working Bridges Program: United Way’s Working Bridges is an innovative program designed to improve job retention, stability and advancement by supporting employees and students with community resources. Meet our Resource Coordinator, Kristin Kany, and learn about community resources that can help: Childcare, housing, transportation, tax assistance, food, consumer protection, eldercare/caregiver support and much more. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Kristin by calling or texting 802-735-4438 or email kristin [at] unitedwaynwvt.org (kristin[at]unitedwaynwvt[dot]org) 

  • Student Loans 

    • Check out Loan Simulator to find a repayment plan that meets your needs and goals or decide whether to consolidate. 

    • This does not count for private student loans.  People should call their private loan holders for modification options. 

  • Late Loan and Mortgage Payments: If you are unable to make loan or mortgage payments, contact your lender immediately for modification options before your first late payment.  

  • Emergency Loans: If your organization does not yet have an existing income advance loan, please reach out to your Resource Coordinator for additional information or visit: https://www.incomeadvance.org/

  • Hunger Free Vermont: Hunger Free Vermont believes no one should worry about where their next meal will come from. Food is a right — and we all deserve to have dignified, stable ways to put food on our tables every day, no matter what challenges we are facing.

  • ​Vermont Retail & Grocers Association: Information about stores near you that offer special hours for vulnerable populations, curb-side pickup, and other services during this time.

  • USDA School Meals Tracker: USDA works closely with states to ensure that children who receive on free or reduced-price school meals can get the nutrition they need when schools are closed – whether during summer break or unexpected closures during the school year. 

  • Working Bridges Program: United Way’s Working Bridges is an innovative program designed to improve job retention, stability and advancement by supporting employees and students with community resources. Meet our Resource Coordinator, Kristin Kany, and learn about community resources that can help: Childcare, housing, transportation, tax assistance, food, consumer protection, eldercare/caregiver support and much more. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Kristin by calling or texting 802-735-4438 or email kristin [at] unitedwaynwvt.org (kristin[at]unitedwaynwvt[dot]org)

Grief is a part of life and is different for each person. When a death occurs in the workplace, it can be particularly difficult. Sometimes employees may feel that it is not okay to grieve for a coworker the same way they would for a friend or a family member. All feelings are worthy.   

  • Mind Shield: Mind the Frontline’s 24/7 Peer Support is a free/confidential space dedicated to supporting the mental health of first responders and health care workers. Immediate assistance from trained fellow first responders who understand the unique challenges of the profession. Call or TEXT 866-MIND247 - (866-646-3247) 

  • Champlain Housing Trust: The Champlain Housing Trust is a Community Land Trust that supports the people of Northwest Vermont and strengthens their communities through the development and stewardship of permanently affordable homes and related community assets.

  • Vermont State Housing Authority: The Section 8 Existing program provides rental assistance to help eligible families live in safe and decent housing of their choice. With funding provided by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and administered by local public housing authorities, as well as VSHA, this program utilizes privately owned existing housing stock.

  • VT Legal Aid: Check out the evictions section. CVOEO also has a good overview of the eviction process on their website.

  • New Lifeline Rules: The FCC announced that the Lifeline program will suspend some rules to help keep low-income Vermonters connected by phone and internet. Lifeline is a federal program that gives a $9.25 monthly discount on phone or internet service to eligible households. Visit the website to apply.

  • Vermont Homeowners Assistance Program: The Homeowner Assistance Program (HAP) is funded by the federal American Rescue Plan Act. Applications will be accepted over a multi-year period. This program can cover missed payments on mortgages, utilities, property taxes and homeowner or condo association fees. Visit the website or call 1-833-221-4208.

Vermont Legal Aid: Clients may contact their intake helpline at 1-800-889-2047 or by filling out their webform online.

  • Chittenden County Residents: First Call (Howard Center) 802-488-7777 

  • LifeLine (Suicide Intervention Line): Call 9-8-8. 

  • VT Help Link: VT Helplink is your statewide, public resource for finding substance use treatment and recovery services in Vermont. 

  • Mental Health America: Mental Health America is the nation's leading national nonprofit dedicated to the promotion of mental health, well-being and condition prevention.

  • Mind the Front Line: Mind the Frontline’s 24/7 Peer Support is a free/confidential space dedicated to supporting the mental health of first responders and health care workers. Immediate assistance from trained fellow first responders who understand the unique challenges of the profession. Call or TEXT 866-MIND247 (866-646-3247) 

  • BIPOC Recovery Group: A free, all pathways to recovery virtual group for self-identified Black, Indigenous, and People of Color will be held 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month, 7-8pm. Recovery Coach Jr Layne, Turning Point of Springfield, will facilitate. Click to learn more. 

  • LGBTQ + Recovery Group: A free, all pathways to recovery virtual group will be held 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month, 7-8pm. Recovery Coach Liam Reynolds, North Central Vermont Recovery Center, will facilitate. 

  • Deaf & Hard of Hearing Recovery Group: A free, all pathways to recovery virtual group will be held Wednesdays, 5-6pm. Recovery Coach Shane Greene, Turning Point of Chittenden County, will facilitate, and the groups will be conducted in American Sign Language. 

  • Unity Recovery: Offering online recovery support groups which will be available five times daily at 7am, 9am, 12am, 3am, and 9am EST. 

  • AA Intergroup: Offers online meetings with specialized topics with a variety of meeting formats (i.e. chat, text, e-mail, etc.) 

  • Addiction Recovery Guide: Offers a variety of online communications, including chat rooms, message boards, etc. They also offer online media and online meetings with specific meeting topics (i.e. cocaine anonymous) 

  • Smart Recovery: Offers online meetings and an online community with message boards and a chat room 

  • Step Chat: Offers a variety of meetings based on an already set schedule using text chat 

  • Women for Sobriety: Offers online support with open forums where women can share and seek support 24/7 plus text messaging support schedules two times a day. They also offer phone support.

  • C.I.D.E.R.: Community meals and rides for seniors in Grand Isle County. Visit the website or call 802-372-6425. 

  • Working Bridges Program: United Way’s Working Bridges is an innovative program designed to improve job retention, stability and advancement by supporting employees and students with community resources. Meet our Resource Coordinator, Kristin Kany, and learn about community resources that can help: Childcare, housing, transportation, tax assistance, food, consumer protection, eldercare/caregiver support and much more. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Kristin by calling or texting 802-735-4438 or email kristin [at] unitedwaynwvt.org (kristin[at]unitedwaynwvt[dot]org).