Changes to A&D Program
I want to let you know about what happens after someone is referred to
Homewood due to a Drug and Alcohol issue. This is because of a change in the
funding model. This is an overview and the whole document will be posted on the
website.
The process begins with any failure under the Canadian Model and the contractor
sends a referral in as per the process. We receive an “inactive” status letter from
the third party case manager (Homewood Health)‐this means you cannot be
dispatched to any contractor/contract that contains the Canadian model and
managed aftercare letter contained in the appendixes of the CBA‐basically
anywhere.
The next step is an assessment through Homewood‐the results of which can
range from a couple of counselling sessions to a stay in an in house treatment
center and follow up testing and counselling. This assessment can be challenged
with an internal review‐Homewood reviews the Homewood decision.
Once this is done you can request an external review‐this must be done within 7
days. There are two review options at this stage‐the first is a paper review and the
second is a face to face assessment with an independent doctor. Sounds good but
here’s the catch‐you have to pay for these reviews yourself‐the paper review is
about 2K and the face to face can run up to 5K.
Once this part has been settled you move into the next phase‐your case manager
from Homewood will walk you through the steps that need to be completed in
order for you to become active and regain your ability to take a call. Very
assessment may contain different conditions depending on the diagnosis.
Generally speaking if the assessment does contain in house treatment you may be
told to go to a counselling session prior to entry into a facility. Once you have
done your time in the facility you will be asked to complete some counselling
sessions and be given a number of random tests to be completed over the next
two years.
If you do not require a visit to a facility you will skip right to the counselling and
random testing.
Once you have completed the counselling sessions as required you will have to do
a return to work test and sign the return to work agreement with Homewood.
From this point forward you continue working and get your random testing and
time served requirements and graduate from the program.
When things go smoothly and there is no in house treatment required the
individual can be eligible for work again in 6‐8 weeks. If in house treatment is
required then depending on the amount of time it takes to get into the center the
process can stretch into 6 months or more.
So back to the funding for this. The contractors contribute into a fund which they
manage‐they hire the third party professionals –Homewood‐and they determine
how the funding is to be used. There is no funding from our benefits or from the
Local for this.
In the past the ECAA would cover the assessment and all the other components of
the program. This would be fine if everyone who went through the program was
perfect but the reality is many of the people who are in this type of program will
have a relapse‐in fact the treatment centers only claim to have a 30% success
rate.
So this means that these individuals may need a second and in some cases a third
or a fourth assessment and this where the changes come in. in the past we were
able to convince the ECAA to cover costs for these individuals.
See the A & D Assistance Program sheet for more information on the funding.
If you are seeking to clean up an old ban that was put in place prior to this
program or a camp/transportation ban you will be covered as long as you agree
to be case managed by Homewood ( be made inactive and go through the
process) and join RSAP.
For More Info see attached files below
The 2016 Building Trades of Alberta was in Jasper, Alberta this year. The IBEW 424 was one of the 15 trades in Attendance. It was held at the beautiful Jasper Park Lodge. The IBEW was one of the 4 trades to give a presentation on renewable energy at the conference.
raised for Prostate Cancer Canada by silent auction and donations. A big thank you to Jacquie Tackaberry, and the Building Trades for organizing this fantastic event, we look forward to seeing you again next year!!!!!
