The following proposals were awarded the Foundation’s first grants:

• ISW Limits (the Institute for Stress and Work) and the University of Leuven, located in Belgium and led by Dr. Debora Vansteenwegen and Dr. Manuel Sommer, for their proposal, “EAP in Continental Europe: State of the Art and Future Challenges.” ISW Limits is a spin-off company of the University of Leuven and is specialized in the optimization of human relations in organizations. This research project will survey employers and employees in six different European countries, examining the characteristics of existing Employee Assistance Programs and looking at future needs tailored to the European situation.

• The National Behavioral Consortium, located in the United States and led by Dr. Stan Granberry, for their proposal, “Creating a National Benchmarking Resource of Metrics for the EAP field.” The Consortium is a nonprofit trade association and membership organization comprised of 17 companies representing EAP, managed behavioral health, and work-life firms throughout the US. This study will look at the basic metrics and characteristics that describe external EAP vendors across the US in a way where data can be generalized to the universe of US external providers.

In 2010 the Foundation issued its initial call for grant proposals: “Understanding the Current State of the EAP Field.” During the initial review numerous applicants provided abstracts for the Grant Committee’s consideration. A smaller group of applicants was then asked to submit full proposals.

According to the Foundation’s founder and board chairman, Carl Tisone, “Apart from proprietary market research conducted by providers, generally unavailable to the profession, little is known about the actual state of EAP in both the US and Europe, and these two studies will provide valuable empirical data about what is going on, addressing an industry void.”

Later this year the Foundation plans to hold a teleconference in which the grant winners will offer an overview of their research projects. In 2012 the Foundation expects to host an event at which the research results will be presented. The investigators will also disseminate their findings via publications in peer-reviewed journals and present at other professional conference venues.

The Foundation’s second grant cycle will be announced sometime this fall. Details of the proposal process and the deadline for submitting a brief abstract will be posted on the Foundation’s website (http://www.eapfoundation.org).

The Foundation was created to stimulate innovative, rigorous, and theory-based research activities. That research will promote excellence in the delivery of employee assistance services throughout the world, assist in attraction and recruitment of outstanding scholars to conduct research, bridge the gaps between knowledge and practice by translating valid research findings into policy and practice, and promote and support effective measurement practices, performance tools, and outcome criteria.

Details about the Foundation’s grant application process, which will begin next month, are posted on the organization’s website: http://www.eapfoundation.org.

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The Foundation may award as many as four grants of up to $40,000 to support studies for a maximum duration of one year from the date of approval. Details on the application process are outlined in a document available from the Foundation’s website (www.eapfoundation.org) in the “Apply for Grants” section.

The Foundation will accept applications from organizations such as tax-exempt educational institutions, agencies, or for-profit business entities (such as an LLC) that have access to an Institutional Review Board. The process is also open to applicant organizations from countries outside the US or Canada engaged in EAP research.

There are two stages in the proposal process: the submission of a short, abstract proposal, and for those approved for the second stage, a full proposal that may lead to an offer of a grant award. Grants will be reviewed by a committee consisting of Foundation board members, which includes distinguished researchers, clinicians, and EAP provider organization executives.

According to Foundation founder and board president Carl Tisone, “This call specifically solicits research projects that address the prevalence, structure, functioning, financing, and utilization of EAPs in today’s workplaces. Thanks to the generous support of our donors, we may award up to four grants in 2010.”

The Employee Assistance Research Foundation was formed to stimulate innovative, rigorous, and theory-based research activities. That research will promote excellence in the delivery of employee assistance services throughout the world, assist in attraction and recruitment of outstanding scholars to conduct research, bridge the gaps between knowledge and practice by translating valid research findings into policy and practice, and promote and support effective measurement practices, performance tools, and outcome criteria.

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• President Carl Tisone, PPC Worldwide;
• Vice President John Burke, Burke Consulting; and,
• Secretary/Treasurer Dave Sharar, Chestnut Global Partners.

These individuals are returning as directors:

• Eric Goplerud, George Washington University;
• Ron Manderscheid, National Association of County Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Directors;
• Dale Masi, Masi Research Consultants;
• John Maynard, Employee Assistance Professionals Association;
• Elizabeth Merrick, Brandeis University;
• Karen Osilla, Rand Corporation; and
• John Pompe, Caterpillar Inc. EAP.

Paul Roman, Distinguished Research Professor of Sociology at the University of Georgia, will serve as special advisor to the board.

Last August the Foundation selected its first management firm. Robert E. McLean, CAE, president of REM Association Services, will serve as the association’s executive director. The Washington, DC-area firm serves as the Foundation’s headquarters office and manage its administrative affairs.

The Foundation’s new Development Committee expects to announce its first fund-raising campaign early in 2010. The RFP Committee is creating a framework for accepting applications for grants and expects to announce these opportunities in the first quarter of 2010.

The Employee Assistance Research Foundation seeks to stimulate innovative, rigorous, and theory-based research activities. That research will promote excellence in the delivery of employee assistance services throughout the world, assist in attraction and recruitment of outstanding scholars to conduct research, bridge the gaps between knowledge and practice by translating valid research findings into policy and practice, and promote and support effective measurement practices, performance tools, and outcome criteria.