Employee Assistance Program

The mission of the OST Employee Assistance Program (OST EAP) is to "Increase an employees' productivity through positive changes utilizing the Medicine Wheel concepts of Spiritual, Physical, Emotional, and Mental balance".

Tribal Administration and all chartered programs have become aware of employee problems in the workplace. The Oglala Lakota Nation recognizing that personal problems can effect job performance and attendance established the OST Employee Assistance Program (EAP). The Program is designed to assist tribal employees with personal concerns in an effort to reduce negative impacts on job performance and to retain valued employees using a holistic approach to wellness. In addition, the program assists supervisors and/or managers to address specific concerns within their organizations to improve the overall goals and objectives, increase employee productivity and job performance, plus, applying cultural attributes that illustrates a positive lifestyle.

Any and all discussions and records of the OST Employee Assistance Program are held with the highest and strictest code of confidentiality. Federal Law Pursuant to the Privacy Act of 1974, 522a. states that, "No agency shall disclose any record which is contained in a system of records by any means of communication to any person, or to another agency, except pursuant to a written request by, or with the prior written consent of, the individual to whom the record pertains". OST Policies and Procedures states, "Confidentiality will be observed to the full extent of the law, cause for failure to adhere to the Privacy Act of 1974 will be deemed cause for disciplinary action to the fullest extent and could lead to termination of service provided guilty of said negligence including the OST/EAP. In addition, the program assists supervisors and/or managers to address specific concerns within their organizations to improve the overall goals and objectives, increase employee productivity and job performance, plus, applying cultural attributes that illustrates a positive lifestyle.