Mental Wellness Initiative

RESIG Mental Health Access: Current State

Overview

As part of RESIG’s 2024 Strategic Planning Initiative, the Executive Committee has requested preliminary information regarding the possible implementation of additional mental health and wellness resources that would complement the resources already available through existing medical plans and the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). The Executive Committee is considering whether a comprehensive mental health solution could mitigate risk for the Workers’ Compensation and Property & Liability programs while providing additional support to members’ overall health and well-being. RESIG’s broker, Alliant, has presented preliminary information in this area.

Download the RESIG Mental Wellness Initiative September 2023 Memo (PDF)

RESIG Mental Health Resources Utilization

Enrollment Who is Eligible Clinical Coaching
Active Retiree Under 65 Retiree Over 65 Part-time In-Patient Out-Patient
SISC EAP 3,150 Yes Yes Yes Yes No 6 Visits per issue/year No
SISC Blue Shield 672 Yes Yes Yes By District Yes Yes No
SISC Vida 672 With Blue Sheild With Blue Shield No With Blue Shield No Yes Yes
SISC Kaiser 2,478 Yes Yes Yes By District Yes Yes No
SISC Ginger 2,478 With Kaiser With Kaiser With Kaiser With Kaiser No 90 Days/year Yes

Who has Access to Existing Mental Health Resources?

  • RESIG offers medical coverage to their participating districts through SISC (Self-Insured Schools of California); not all RESIG members are covered by SISC plans, and not all categories of employees may have coverage.
  • Districts not enrolled in RESIG-sponsored health plans are likely to have coverage only through their health insurer and EAP.
  • Most of the Mental Health Resources available to RESIG members are tied to the health plan selected, i.e., inpatient and outpatient mental health care.

Current Programs

SISC Employee Assistance Program - 24/7 Help with Personal Concerns:

Whether you need assistance with legal forms like wills, guidance on buying or selling a home, resources for emotional well-being, information on local daycare centers, or pet care, we've got you covered. Additionally, access free and confidential resources for a wide range of concerns, including emotional, marital, financial, addiction, legal issues, stress management, and much more.

Provided By: SISC EAP

SISC EAP Overview (PDF)

EAP Mental Health Awareness (PDF)

Eligibility
  • All Employees and Household Members
Cost
  • No Cost
SISC EAP Contact

NEW PROGRAM! - Talkspace - Digital Platform to Support Behavioral Health & Emotional Wellness:

Dedicated, licensed providers offer one-on-one counseling and therapy for individuals aged 13 and up, for up to 6 sessions per situation. Individuals choose how and when they communicate with their counselor: Video/audio counseling sessions are available as well as unlimited weekly messages.

Provided By: SISC EAP

Talkspace Flyer (PDF)

Eligibility
  • All employees and household members over 13 years of age
Cost
  • No Cost
  • Up to six sessions per issue
Talkspace Contact
  • Call (800) 999-7222
  • Visit TalkSpace and enter "SISC EAP" in the Organization Name field during registration.

Ginger App - 24/7 Emotional Support:

The Ginger app offers 1-on-1 support for many common challenges. Examples include anxiety, stress, issues with work, relationships, and more. Ginger’s skilled emotional support coaches are ready to help 24/7. Kaiser Permanente members can text with a coach using the Ginger app for 90 days per year—no referral needed.

Provided By: Kaiser Permanente

Ginger App Flyer (PDF)

Eligibility
  • Kaiser Permanente Members over the age of 18, excluding Medi-Cal members
Cost
  • No Cost

Calm App - Free Membership to Calm App for Sleep & Meditation:

Calm is an app for daily use that uses meditation and mindfulness to help lower stress, reduce anxiety, and improve sleep quality. With guided meditations, programs taught by world-renowned experts, sleep stories narrated by celebrities, mindful movement videos, and more.

Provided By: Kaiser Permanente

Calm & myStrength Flyer (PDF)

Eligibility
  • Kaiser Permanente Members
Cost
  • No Cost

myStrength - Digital Program to Support Overall Well-Being:

myStrength is an online and mobile tool designed to help you set goals and work toward them in ways that work for you — by making positive changes that support your mental, emotional, and overall well-being.

Provided By: SISC EAP

Calm & myStrength Flyer (PDF)

Eligibility
  • All employees and household members
Cost
  • No Cost
  • Up to six sessions per issue
myStrength App Contact

Eden Health - 24/7 Virtual Primary Care Doctor:

Virtually connect with a primary care physician to manage all your physical and mental healthcare needs. Eden providers diagnose conditions, manage prescriptions, refer to specialists, and answer follow-up questions using video visits or live chat.

Provided By: Anthem Blue Shield

Eden Health Flyer (PDF)

Eligibility
  • Blue Shield members and dependents over 18 years of age
  • Members enrolled on an HSA plan are not eligible
Cost
  • No Cost
Eden Health App Contact
  • Download the Eden Health app and register for your free membership

Vida Health - Personal Health Coaching:

Get one-on-one health coaching, therapy, chronic condition management, health trackers and other tools and resources online or via phone.

Provided By: Anthem Blue Shield

Vida Health Flyer (PDF)

Eligibility
  • Blue Shield members and dependents over 18 years of age, excluding 65+ plans
  • Members enrolled on an HSA plan are not eligible
Cost
  • No Cost
  • HSA members are responsible for the cost of the Vida program if they have not met their deductible.

    • Therapy Program - $245 per month
    • Chronic Programs - $40 per month
Vida Health Coaching Contact

MDLive - 24/7 Physician Access - Anytime, Anywhere:

Access to virtual visits with psychiatrists and therapists for members aged 10 and up. Virtual urgent care services are available to all members. Physicians can prescribe medication when appropriate.

Provided By: Anthem Blue Shield

MDLive Flyer (PDF)

Eligibility
  • Blue Shield members and dependents
  • Dependents must be over 10 years of age for psychiatrist and therapist consultations
Cost
  • $10 Copay
MDLive Contact

Maven - 24/7 Access to Virtual Maternity & Postpartum Support:

Consult with a care advocate who connects you with trustworthy content delivered by doctors, specialists, coaches, and other maternity providers to help deal with pregnancy and postpartum concerns. Access to a free 6-month diaper subscription.

Provided By: Anthem Blue Shield

Maven Flyer (PDF)

Eligibility
  • Blue Shield members and dependents
Cost
  • No Cost
Maven Contact

Needs Assessments & Proposed Initiatives

Increase awareness and utilization of programs

  • Determine best method(s) to connect and share information with members
  • Train the trainer model
  • Integrate technology, short videos, ensure information is easy, accessible, and digestible for members
  • Education needs to come from a trusted source within each district

Support beyond health plan benefits

  • Virtual clinical care
  • In-person clinical care
  • Digital “self-serve” content
  • Coaching
  • Online portal and/or app for all resources

Increase access to mental healthcare

  • Identify, interview, and isolate possible vendor candidates

Support Workers' Compensation Claimants (Duration & Severity)

  • Virtual clinical care
  • In-person clinical care
  • Digital “self-serve” content
  • Coaching
  • Online portal and/or app for all resources

Additional well-being support

  • Frame under “wellness” or “well-being” vs “mental health”

Mental Wellness Initiative Implementation Process

Step 1 - Exploration & Discovery:

Alliant began by compiling and tabulating all of the resources currently available to RESIG member employees and their dependents. Demographic data and the geography of the population to be served will help define the type of solutions to be considered to best complement existing programs. There are a number of vendors offering a wide range of wellness resources ranging from behavioral health and coaching to musculoskeletal/pain management care to maternity support to smoking cessation. In this phase, RESIG and Alliant are working together to focus on vendors and services that best match the needs of the RESIG population in consideration of both occupational and non-occupational health care benefits and expenses. RESIG is currently in contact with SCOE and Petaluma to establish a Mental Wellness ad hoc and to determine if there are various groups and/or individuals and resources already allocated to like-minded initiatives.

Step 2 - Education:

When the types or services desired and possible vendors are identified, Alliant recommends interviews with providers in various categories to understand and confirm how their services would support RESIG occupational and non-occupational health programs. Consideration will be given to how such programs could be best implemented by Member Districts with the least amount of administrative burden.

Step 3 - Implementation & Engagement Strategy:

Alliant will develop a vendor selection process to ensure that RESIG is offering the best services at the best price. Once a set of criteria for vendor selection is developed, Alliant will solicit proposals from vendors with an emphasis on those who can support communication to RESIG Member District employees to ensure engagement of the greatest number of employees and dependents possible. Finalists would present their proposals in person to RESIG and Alliant as part of the selection process.

Step 4 - Execution:

Once vendor(s) are selected, Alliant will work with the vendor(s) and RESIG to develop an implementation strategy that includes communications to Member Districts and support for communications by Member Districts to eligible employees and dependents. Alliant will ensure that employee and dependent engagement and vendor performance are monitored and reviewed to confirm that RESIG’s objectives are being met.