As part of the Employee Assistance Program (Policy 67), University of Waterloo employees and their dependent family members have a range of health and wellness services under the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP), provided by Homewood Health Inc, ™. The program is a complement to the current benefits program, at no additional cost to employees.
If this is an emergency, or if you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call 911 or go to your nearest hospital or emergency department.
Services and support
In addition to providing confidential short-term Counselling Services, the program also offers Life Smart Services – a series of work-life services for expert advice, information, and coaching that you and your eligible family members can access and use in your own way.
Short-term Counselling Services are available in person, by telephone, or online for various reasons, including:
- Stress Management
- Depression and Anxiety
- Alcohol/drug abuse
- Marital and Couple problems
- Family-of-origin conflicts
- Gambling
- Violence/Trauma
- Emotional/Individual issues
- Bereavement and loss
- Workplace issues
Homewood's short-term counselling program is a solution-focused, goal setting approach enabling employees and eligible family members to develop and practice the skills necessary to improve their well-being, coping strategies and resiliency to solve their life problems.
Life Smart Services are available by telephone for work-life balance assistance (not available outside
of North America), these include:
- Life Balance Solutions – childcare, parenting, elder and family care, relationship solutions, financial consultation, legal advisory, burnout and stress
- Health Smart Coaching – smoking cessation, jumpstart your wellness, nutritional counselling
- Career Smart Coaching – career coaching/counselling, pre-retirement planning, shift worker support
Online services include:
- E-learning courses – available through Homewood Health’s website, offer self-directed, confidential and interactive online courses designed to help one take charge of one’s health and wellbeing
- Sentio – internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy (iCBT) program. iCBT has been proven to be effective therapy for mild to moderate depression, anxiety and other mental health issues.
- Busy Family – childcare and eldercare resource locators (not available outside of North America)
- Health Library – access to a comprehensive library of medical information
- Health and Wellness Assessments – tools to assess health risk and develop improvement plans
Please be assured that the program is confidential. Your private information, including whether you or your dependants have accessed the program, is never shared with family members or the University. Find out more about Homewood Health's services.
How to Register
Eligible employees can register for Homewood Health's online resources by setting up a username and password on the www.homeweb.ca website (invite code: UAL823).
Contact Homewood
Contact Homewood Health 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days of the year.
You will be asked a series of questions to confirm your eligibility for the program and to enable aggregate statistical reporting. Instant support is always available over the phone. What to expect when calling Homewood's Client Services Centre.
In an emergency, consultation can be arranged within hours.
www.homeweb.ca
1-800-663-1142 (English)
1-866-398-9505 (French)
1-888-384-1152 (TTY)
604-689-1717 International (call collect)
Homewood App:
Apple App Store or Google Play Store
Eligibility
Active employees of University of Waterloo who are eligible for the full benefits program (i.e. up to 6 x earnings life insurance, extended health, dental, sick leave, long-term disability, tuition, etc.), are eligible for EFAP services.
- Staff and Union members: those employed in a permanent and ongoing position.
- Faculty: those in permanent and ongoing positions, plus after 2 year definite term appointments.
In addition, an eligible employee’s spouse and/or dependent children up to the age of 21 (or 23 if full-time students, no age limit if disabled) will be eligible for the EFAP.
Employees who have the temporary benefits program (i.e. extended health, 1 x earnings life insurance, 6 sick days per year) are not eligible for EFAP services.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions about the Employee and Family Assistance Program and Homewood Health.
EAP Committee
The EAP Committee is Advisory to the Chief Human Resources Officer and consists of a representative from each of the Faculty and Staff Associations, CUPE Local 793, and from select University Academic Support Units.
Other health and well-being campus resources
The University of Waterloo provides its employees with a wide array of wellness resources available on campus.
Browse through the selection of various departments and associations below to find what is right for you.