The Employee Assistance Industry Alliance

Abstract

The employee assistance industry faces unique challenges as the behavioral health field continues to change. The following is a characterization of how collaboration is emerging around a national Employee Assistance Industry Alliance (hereafter called the Alliance) to provide leadership for the field. This article discusses the context in which the Alliance is developing and the initial vision for the Alliance. The context is divided into three components, epidemiology of disorder and care, and the Federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, known as SAMHSA, and the history of the Alliance.

Key Words:

• Industry alliance
• epidemiology
• behavioral health
• parity