Email from APWU HQ; Sue Carney RE: Mass School Shooting in Parkland, FL

Good afternoon folks,

Just a quick update regarding how the EAP critical incident stress management (CISM) response normally goes with such a significant incident and my discussions with Robin Doleno following yesterday's tragic events. Robin is with Magellan Health Inc. She is the new National Consultant Director for the USPS EAP. She has been with Magellan and been part of EAP for many years but assumed the national consultant position a few months ago.

Generally, in response to this type of critical incident we want to ensure EAP consultants and clinicians are promptly and visibly present and accessible to our members and coworkers who were either directly or indirectly impacted by the mass shooting. Personal responses will vary based on the degree of personal impact and may be elevated by past personal history.

So while I appreciate Jann efforts to be responsive by communicating with local and national APWU leaders and members of the cluster to disseminate information and brochures as needed, in situations as impactful and tragic as this, there should be an automatic assumption that services are needed.

As you know we have employees who were directly impacted, having children who attended the school, and at least one employee who lost his son.  Others will be impacted because they work with these employees, know of someone outside of work, perhaps a distant family member, friend or neighbor who was impacted on some level or impacted because this incident happened within our postal community, or in or near their neighborhood community.

Of course flyers, brochures and the referenced stand ups, I assume being given by management, can be helpful, but they alone, or in combination are frankly an inadequate response to a tragedy of this caliber. EAP professionals should be granted access to conduct stand ups and walk-arounds with the support of management and local leadership. It is insufficient for EAP information to merely be disseminated. The trained, licensed professionals need to be able to talk to employee groups about what reactions they may have had, what reactions may be yet to come and how to deal with them. They are the professionals - not management although I am confident they are well-intended in this instance.

The EAP should be granted time following the stand up to talk to individuals one on one if requested following the stand up. They should make prompt visits to as many offices in the impacted and nearby surrounding areas as possible. As of this morning plans only included visiting four offices (Pompano Beach, Coral Springs, Atlantis, and Coco Creek which in my opinion is also inadequate which is why I requested Robin to deploy other EAP consultants and clinicians from Tampa, Miami, Orlando to assist in conducting visits throughout the area. I have not received confirmation that this will transpire, as USPS HQ has to authorize but I am hopeful it is in the works. I will follow-up with Robin tonight or tomorrow. Jeff I have since contacted Robin about your concerns regarding Royal Palm. She should be in touch if she has not been already. There is too much ground to cover in a short time with only 1 consultant and 2 clinicians regularly based in SF.

I also requested EAP contact local leadership, specifically BCAL, Miami and Palm Beach Locals to provide a CISM consultation to our presidents or their designee. I have requested EAP to seek out an APWU steward in offices when they visit. I have requested EAP reach out to our NBA's in Tampa to keep you updated as you cover the members working and living in the impact area.

If you have any other needs or questions, please do not hesitate to contact me directly.

In solidarity,

Sue