Personal Support Program: Help when you need it

AFSCME Council 31’s Personal Support Program (PSP) has helped tens of thousands of AFSCME members and their dependents thrive since it was created in 1992.

The union-based employee assistance program expands AFSCME's tradition of service to those it represents by providing professional counseling and support to individuals and families experiencing personal and life changes.

Access to PSP services is an employee benefit that the union seeks to incorporate into collective bargaining agreements whenever possible. The program has become a trusted resource for AFSCME-represented employees and their dependents who work for the City of Chicago, Cook County, the State of Illinois, and several other employers throughout the state.*

Help is available

PSP provides confidential and free short-term counseling, as well as referral services for a range of concerns, including parent-child or marital conflict, financial problems, grief and loss, depression, anxiety, and work-related issues like interpersonal conflict or stress on the job.

Whatever the situation, a PSP counselor sits down with each client, conducts an assessment and determines the best available treatment option. Often, treatment is covered by AFSCME members’ health insurance plans.

Bristor-Wilson encourages AFSCME members who are seeking help for themselves or a loved one to reach out to PSP, but also to seek support from family, friends and co-workers.

“Don’t leave a problem unaddressed,” Bristor-Wilson warns. “It can impact your work and put your job at risk. There is help for you at PSP.”

Make the call

To receive help, call 1-800-647-8776 (TTY 1-800-526-0844) from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, to schedule day, evening or weekend appointments (in some locations).

If you call at other times, you may leave a confidential message or receive taped information about what to do in an emergency. Face-to-face sessions with a professional clinician are available at more than 40 locations statewide. Services provided by PSP are free of charge and counselors have flexible availability. Referrals to outside providers are made to enable individuals to use their health care benefits whenever possible.

In addition to counseling services, PSP also offers consultations and educational seminars to local unions and work sites on a wide range of topics, including stress and time management, grief and critical incident debriefings.

Groups & Workshops

The PSP offers a variety of free groups and workshops designed to be educational, help prevent problems, and/or give attendees tools that they can use to manage existing concerns. Groups and workshops can be requested by calling your AFSCME Local President, Staff Representative or PSP directly at 1-800-647-8776. Workshops can be offered in one-, two- or three-hour modules. Topics include:

  • Anger Management and Conflict Resolution
  • Credit Managment
  • Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM)
  • Dealing with Loss & Grief
  • The Effects of Drugs and Alcohol on the Workplace
  • Money Management
  • Overview of the PSP
  • Stress Management

Additional topics may be developed, upon request.

* State of Illinois, city of Chicago, and Cook County employees. Also: 347 Village of Round Lake Beach, 3905 Village of Fox Lake, 2891 Village of Homewood, 3780 Egyptian County Health Department, 2402 Randolph County, and 726 City of Pana.