SCFP Spouse Association

Member Resources

SCFPSA Email List

A Summary of Member Resources from Union Executive President Andrew Spence

Password to view: 2018

Your Employee and Family Assistance Program (Shepell)

This resource offers a large range of free, flexible, interactive services available to all SCFP Members, Spouses, and their children. The services are offered remotely, so anyone who needs assistance in these areas can access them as long as they have a computer. The services this program provides includes:

  • Professional Counselling
  • Family Support
  • Financial Support
  • Health Coaching
  • Legal Support
  • Naturopathic Services
  • Nutrition Support
  • Fitness Support
  • Stress Coach Connects
  • Separation and Divorce
  • Smoking Cessation
  • Financial Planning Services
  • Enhancing Your Relationship

Other Information:

Your EFAP is available to you and your family 24/7/365. We’re here to help with any concern.

What you can expect:

  • Assessment. Every support request will undergo a risk assessment. Following this, your individual situation, needs and preferences will be the guide to providing you with the best suited support to resolve your issue. You will be asked a series of questions and will be required to indicate your organization to ensure you’re covered by the EFAP.
  • Confidentiality. Though information is collected including your name, employer, address, reason for accessing the EFAP, etc., this information remains completely confidential and is never released to your employer. Information gathered provides general statistical data—without ever singling out individuals or identifiable groups —to help Shepell understand EFAP user’s needs and provide the best, most relevant service possible.
  • Support
    • For crisis situations: Our team of Client Care Representatives will ensure you receive immediate help, while urgent counselling matters are given an appointment within 24-48 hours.
    • Any other questions and concerns: We’re here to direct you to the right assistance in the format you’re most comfortable with, whether it’s connecting you to a specialized program, linking you to a counselling appointment, or sending you a self-directed resource package.
    • No cost: There is no cost to us the EFAP. This benefit is provided to you and your immediate family members by your Organization. Check your benefits package or call us directly to determine your eligibility.
  • Your EFAP is available 24/7/365:

SCFPSA Notes:

SCFPSA Spouse and Outreach Team Member Kimberly Rommelaere has some additional tips on using the Shepell resource as she frequently uses it in her HR career. Kimberly writes: “Here is the web address:  www.workhealthlife.com. It will take you to a page to search the employer. Simply type Strathcona County and it will allow you to enter. Once your on the main site you can search all the resources. I find the “My Services” tab the best place to start. You can register and create an account for additional information on services too. There is also a free app for the site. It’s My EAP by Morneau Shepell Inc. There’s a link to download on the main page, right side, with the “Let us help” contact information.”

The Insider

Benefits and Insurance information can be accessed through The Insider webpage using a SCFP member’s County username and password. To note: some of these resources have not been updated since the last contract negotiation so please check the dates. Anything after June 2018 will be current.

Work Health Life

This website is an Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) that provides you and your family with immediate and confidential support to help resolve work, health, and life challenges to improve your life. It is an extension of Shepell and is an extension of our EFAP where E-Counselling is available.

Peer Support

Many of our SCFP Members have devoted great amounts of time and effort to creating the Peer Support Program, a program in which Members support Members and receive training in order to best meet this duty. Those involved in the program have been selected by their peers and educated by SCES’s Clinical Psychologist, Jeff Sych. They do not make formal diagnosis but simply help members move in directions where they can find help and greater resources.

Disability Management Team

This team works in HR for the County and is dedicated to guiding Members through challenging times in their lives. This team has successfully championed for funding in order to outfit our members with a variety of programs, including quick access to Clinical Psychologist Jeff Sych. The Disability Management Team also helps Members through WBC processes to ensure proper compensation is allocated.

Clinical Psychologist Jeff Sych

Jeff Sych is a clinical psychologist put on retainer by the county so Members can find quick access to a psychologist as needed. All correspondence, communication, and meetings with Dr. Sych are completely confidential.

SCES Chaplain Greg Hochhalter

Chaplain Greg is a great support in many situations. Lead pastor at Sherwood Park Alliance Church and a former Firefighter, Greg helps members and their families create strategies to deal with stress management and provides grief counselling as needed. Trained as a member of our Department’s Peer Support Team, he regularly helps First Responders manage stress and repair relationships when the difficulties of the job spills over into the domestic front. Greg uses the voluntary role as SCES Chaplain to simply offer an alternative, entirely confidential option for those seeking support outside of clinical settings or department programs.  

Deeply respectful of the richness of all faiths and non-faith, Greg strives to meet the needs of department families regardless of their religious affiliation, often approaching his ministry as Fire Chaplain from a non-denominational standpoint as necessary to best serve the individual. Greg is also able to help First Responders and their families locate therapeutic and medical resources, and offers emotional/spiritual support to the spouses of First Responders.

Greg also helps families strategically arrange funerals for loved ones and provides grounded support in times of bereavement or loss.

Greg can be reached at greg.hochhalter@strathcona.ca

Corrine Hochhalter

Corrine is not an official department resource, but is one uniquely available to SCFP Spouses. A Registered Nurse at the University Hospital, Spouse to a former First Responder (Department Chaplain Greg Hochhalter), and a woman with 30 years of ministerial experience as the wife of Sherwood Park Alliance Church’s Lead Pastor, Corrine generously offers guidance to the families of Strathcona County Firefighter Paramedics.

Corrine and Greg recently hosted a meeting with the SCFPSA Outreach Team in their beautiful Sherwood Park home, and we could not imagine a warmer, more welcoming, or more thoughtful friend to have. Like her husband, Corrine voluntarily extends support to women regardless of their religious affiliation, and with deep respect of all belief systems. 

If you would like access the insight or friendship Corrine offers, please email her at corrinechochhalter (at) gmail (dot) com

SCFPSA Outreach Team

There is also a peer option for SCFP Spouses, if you as the partner of a First Responder could use a little extra friendship or support. Our Outreach Team is made up of eight spouses, two from each platoon, who have made a commitment to helping our community and protecting your privacy. They are available to talk online, over the phone, or in person, and can help you locate resources or just talk the problem out.  Please check out this link to get in touch. Password to view page: Fire Spouse (remember the capital letters and the space in-between words)