Events

November 2024

This is the final weekend before the 2024 presidential election and many of us are feeling a mix of emotions: anxiety, uncertainty, fear, frustration and even anger. These feelings are normal, especially during such a divisive time. No matter the source of your feelings, we can confidently say, you are not alone.

Today, it may be helpful to develop a plan for the coming days and weeks, to take care of yourself and those you love. Many of us have family, friends and children who are also experiencing challenges at this time. C+FS Employee Assistance Program is here for you, offering resources and support to help you navigate the stress you may be feeling. Below are some suggestions, please review and create a plan that is best for you.

Limit media consumption. Reducing exposure to news may help mitigate feelings of helplessness caused by misinformation and speculation.
Educate yourself from sources you trust and exercise your right to vote.
Try something different to reduce anxiety: Consider meditation, mindfulness and other self-care practices: Self Care and Stress Reduction Resources and Mental Health Resources.
Take care of your body: Move, nourish and rest your body as needed. Physical Wellbeing Resources.
Engage in calming activities. Spend time engaged with people, places and things that soothe your nervous system and bring you joy.
Reach out for support– C+FS EAP is here for you. Please call 716-681-4300 for 24/7 in the moment phone support or to schedule an appointment.

Thank you for being a part of this community, and for looking out for one another. Below are additional events being held this month. Please share these as appropriate.

Winter Wellness Yoga Series

Join this 8 session on-demand trauma sensitive yoga program to help support your health this winter. New 20–30-minute videos will be released every Tuesday and Thursday during the weeks of 11/11, 11/18, 12/2 and 12/9. Participants will have a chance to win one of two virtual private yoga sessions with the presenter.
Click here to participate in the Winter Wellness Yoga Program

Live Events

Tuning in to Burnout: Exploring the State of Mental Health Work

Wednesday, November 6^th 12:00pm – 1:00pm

With our panelists, we will explore the definition of burnout, and burnout-adjacent issues like compassion fatigue, the root causes and impact of stress and burnout from a practical lens with an emphasis of effective steps we can take as individuals and organizations to create a culture of wellbeing for mental health workers.

This event is open to all members and will be recorded.

Click here to learn more and register

Get To Know Your EAP

Wednesday, November 13^th 9:00am – 9:20am

Do you have general questions about your EAP benefits? Join us for a live Q&A.

This event is open to all EAP and MAP members. This will not be recorded.

Click here to learn more and register

Holiday Budget Hacks with Parachute Credit Counseling

Monday, November 18^th 12:00pm – 12:30pm

Join us for an overview of how to successfully tackle your 2024 holiday expenses and learn ways to reduce the financial stress of the holidays at this busy time.

This event is open to all members and will be recorded.

Click here to learn more and register

In Case You Missed It- October 2024

Recording:

Healing in Community: Providing Culturally Specific Domestic Violence Support

Highlights – Healing in Community: Providing Culturally Specific Domestic Violence Support

Full Recording – Healing in Community: Providing Culturally Specific Domestic Violence Support

In Case You Missed It – September 2024

Recording:

Election Anxiety: Ensuring Respect and Inclusivity in the Workplace

Highlights – Election Anxiety: Ensuring Respect and Inclusivity in the workplace

Full Recording – Election Anxiety: Ensuring Respect and Inclusivity in the Workplace

In Case You Missed It – August 2024

Recording:

Queer Questions Part 2 with Rachel Fangsrud

Highlights – Queer Questions Part 2 with Rachel Fangsrud

Full Recording – Queer Questions Part 2 with Rachel Fangsrud

In Case You Missed It – July 2024

Recording:

Managing Debt with Parachute Credit Counseling

Full Recording – Managing Debt with Parachute Credit Counseling

In Case You Missed It – June 2024

Recording:

Queer Questions: Navigating Terminology and Creating Inclusive Spaces

Highlights of Queer Questions: Navigating Terminology and Creating

Full Recording Queer Questions: Navigating Terminology and Creating

The Shape of our City How Environmental Racism Impacts Everyone

Highlights of The Shape of our City: How Environmental Racism Impacts Everyone

Full Recording The Shape of Our City – How Environmental Racism Impacts Everyone” (2 minutes)

Building Tomorrow’s Workforce with Say Yes Buffalo

Full Recording Building Tomorrow’s Workforce with Say Yes Buffalo

In Case You Missed It – May 2024

Recording:

Highlights: Building a Supportive Workplace Culture for those Affected by Domestic Violence

Building a Supportive Workplace Culture for those Affected by Domestic Violence

Highlights: Mental Health in the Workplace: Building a Supportive Culture

Mental Health in the Workplace: Building a Supportive Culture

In Case You Missed It – April 2024

Recording:

Two Things You Cand Do to Protect Your Financial Future

Public Service Loan Forgiveness: What everyone should know

Federal Student Loans: What is New?

In Case You Missed It – March 2024

Recording:

Highlights: Can Women Have It All? A Discourse on Gender, Work, and the Mental Load

Can Women Have It All? A Discourse on Gender, Work, and the Mental Load

In Case You Missed It – February 2024

Recording:

Highlights of – The Art of Radical Self Care

The Art of Radical Self Care

In Case You Missed It – December 2023 and January 2024

Recording:

Substance Abuse and the Holidays

In Case You Missed It – November 2023

Recording:

Embracing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion A Roadmap for Leaders

In Case You Missed It – October 2023

Latinx/Hispanic Communities and Mental Health

Recording: Latinx/Hispanic Communities and Mental Health

Public Loan Forgiveness: What everyone should know

Recording: Public Service Loan Forgiveness- What Everyone Should Know

Moving Ahead After Financial Abuse

Recording: Moving Ahead After Financial Abuse

In Case You Missed It – September 2023

We can all help prevent suicide.

September was Suicide Awareness month, a time when we come together to raise awareness, provide support, and promote conversation about mental health. Your well-being is important to us, and you are not alone. Let us stand together to foster a culture of care and understanding in the workplace, home, and throughout the community.

Celia Spacone, Ph.D., Coordinator, Suicide Prevention Coalition of Erie County. joined C+FS EAP for a live presentation. If you have questions or would be interested in hosting a training on this important topic, Celia Spacone can be reached at cspacone@crisisservices.org.

Supports Available:

Crisis Services – 24-Hour Hotline –716-834-3131

Text line: 716-300-2338

Chat online: www.crisisservices.org

Suicide & Crisis Lifeline 24/7: 988

Crisis Text Line: Text “GOT5” to 741-741

For C+FS EAP members call 24/7: 716-681-4300

In Case You Missed It – August 2023

Wellness Starts with You: Tools to support your Journey

Recording: Wellness Starts with You: Tools to Support Your Journey

Financial Wellness: Take control of your financial future

Recording: Digital Financial Planning & Financial Wellness – Savology

In Case You Missed it – July 2023

Empowering BIPOC Youth: Why is early intervention important?

Recording: Empowering BIPOC Youth

The Summer Wellness Series

Summer 2023 brings us an opportunity to renew and recharge. This summer C&FS EAP wants to share tools with you to support your wellness journey. We have joined together with Lidia Snyder, LMSW, RYT, TCTSY-F, a licensed social worker and a trauma informed yoga instructor, to develop a guided wellness journey, exclusively for C&FS EAP members. Journey through the 8 domains of health and wellness with C&FS EAP and Lidia Snyder, each Wednesday from July 12th through August 18th. Each week you will receive an email with activities, information, and a brief mindfulness exercise. See the attached printable pdf or download here: Summer Wellness Series.

Click here to learn more and join the Summer Wellness Series

In Case You Missed It – June 2023

Complimentary Webinar: Grief in the Workplace

Recording: Grief in the Workplace

In Case You Missed It – May 2023

Mental Health Awareness

May was Mental Health Awareness Month and a good time to reinforce our awareness of mental health issues, along with becoming more familiar with resources available for help. On our website you will find various self-inventory assessments, that can help bring more understanding to our own mental health. In addition, C&FS EAP hosted individual Mental Health Check In’s, where members were able to schedule a session to evaluate how they have been impacted by the experiences of the past year and identify strengths and areas of growth.

May was also the first anniversary of the May 14th racially motivated mass shooting at the Tops Market on Jefferson Avenue. During this month C&FS EAP will remember the ten lives lost and the adverse impact on members in this community. We would also like to reflect on the increased discussion and attention to advancing equity in the workplace and the community. And finally, we renew our commitment to advocating for inclusion, and challenging the hate that motivated this attack.

Creating a wellness focused workplace requires effort from all of us. Consider a small step you can take this month to:

Remember that this anniversary will impact us all in different ways and we will all need to take care of ourselves differently. It is impossible for us to know what other people have experienced or are experiencing.
Reflect on how this anniversary impacts us and how we can support ourselves and those around us.
Renew our commitment to creating space for the people around us, listening, and being aware that we may not know the full impact events in the past year have had on others.

We remember. We reflect. We renew our commitment to the work ahead.