Employee Assistance Program

2025 Change from Cigna to Optum

Pinellas County’s EAP services are now provided by Optum (a UMR/UnitedHealthcare company). EAP Counselor Lorelei Keif transferred to Optum.

Need some help? Get confidential short-term assistance with Pinellas County’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) administered by Optum

The services available to all permanent employees, their dependents, and those residing in the eligible member’s home include assessment, counseling, and referrals. 

Attractive couple having an argument on couch at home in the living room

To learn more, see the FAQs below, watch an EAP Overview (2-minute video), or contact Pinellas County’s onsite EAP Counselor, Lorelei Keif. Also see the printable EAP flyer.

FAQs

What is the Employee Assistance Program (EAP)?

EAP provides short-term problem resolution services to help you and your family with issues with family, drugs, emotions, and stress, plus legal or financial questions.

Who is eligible?

All permanent employees, their dependents, and those residing in the eligible member’s home are eligible for EAP at no cost, regardless of whether they are enrolled in the County’s medical plan.

How much does it cost?

There is no cost. Assistance is free for all permanent employees, dependents and members of their household.

What coverage is available?

  • Coverage is provided for up to six (6) free visits per issue per year per person for counseling, assessment and problem resolution. For example, you could have up to 6 visits about anxiety and another 6 visits for parenting issues.
  • If you need more than 6 visits, your EAP counselor will work to transition your care to the Behavioral/Mental Health Program.

How do I get started?

  • Call Optum at (866) 248-4096 or visit www.liveandworkwell.com and enter access code Pinellas for a list of in-network counselors, therapists, and psychiatrists.
  • You can also contact our onsite EAP Counselor, Lorelei Keif, directly for counseling.

What services can I get?

  • Personal counseling: For issues such as anxiety, depression, parenting and family, relationship problems, workplace changes, living with chronic conditions, traumatic events, and substance use
  • Virtual visits: Licensed telemental health providers
  • Virtual behavioral coaching: Work with a coach on self-care skills to manage symptoms of anxiety and depression
  • Financial coaching: Up to 60 minutes of free consultation with a financial coach, self-paced workshops, financial tools and calculators, and more
  • Legal and mediation support: Free 30-minute consultation with an attorney by phone or in person
  • Caregiver support: Grief/loss, adult daycare programs, in-home/nurse care options, caregiving services, respite, meal and transportation resources
  • Child and family support: Childcare options, adoption resources, day/summer camps, parent/family support groups
  • Educational resources: Homeschooling, career consulting, adult education classes
  • ID theft support: Free 60-minute consultation with a trained Fraud Resolution Specialist to help restore your identity and credit
  • Convenience services: Pet services, traveling needs, car and home repair maintenance, shopping, dining and entertaining recommendations
  • Online help center: Resources for hundreds of everyday work and life issues
  • Calm (app): Paid Premium subscription for mindfulness, meditation, and other self-help tools (log in to SharePoint required to view access code)
  • Uptime (app)Paid premium subscription for a micro-learning app that extracts life lessons from the world’s best books, courses, documentaries, and podcasts, and packs them into 5-minute knowledge hacks (log in to SharePoint required to view access code)

For more information, visit www.liveandworkwell.com, access code Pinellas.

What is the difference between EAP and the Behavioral/Mental Health Program?

  • EAP provides short-term problem resolution services for mental health and other life issues and/or referrals for longer term care.
  • The Behavioral/Mental Health Program provides short-term and long-term problem resolution for behavioral/mental health issues.
  • Outpatient services – Use either program.
  • Inpatient services – For services at a hospital or clinic for diagnosed conditions such as depression or addiction to drugs, use the Behavioral/Mental Health Program.

Do I start with EAP or the Behavioral/Mental Health Program?

Every situation is different, but generally we recommend starting with EAP to determine what services will work best for your needs.

Optum logo

Contact Optum

  • Website: liveandworkwell.com, access code Pinellas
    Log in to use the online chat, get authorization, and access resources.
  • App: Optum Assist
  • Phone: (866) 248-4096, available 24/7 Get assistance by phone, in-person or video-conference (virtual visit).
Lorelei Keif

Onsite EAP Counselor

Lorelei Keif provides referrals, coping tips, and counseling services to employees.

Meet Lorelei
Calm logo

Calm App Premium  Subscription

Get a free Premium  subscription to the Calm mindfulness app (log in to SharePoint to view access code).

Uptime app logo

Uptime App Premium  Subscription

Get a free Premium subscription to the Uptime micro-learning app (log in to SharePoint to view access code).

2/19/25