Celebrate the 25th anniversary of CARS, Counseling Assistance and Referral Services, during an open house on Friday, Sept. 12, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. at the CARS office, 1800 Mesa Vista NE. Refreshments will be served.
CARS will also feature a series of brown bag workshops Sept. 8-11. The topics are “Retiring Well,” “Relaxation Techniques,” “Self Esteem,” “Resiliency” and “Expressive Art.” To participate, R.S.V.P. to CARS at 272-6868.
CARS was created in 1983 to help employees deal with the effects of alcoholism personally or in their families. Ilse Gay, founding director, brought the idea to then-UNM President Chris Garcia, who gave his support to begin operations.
CARS opened in a back office of the Faculty Club, which at that time was located where Dane Smith Hall is now. Gay was the director of and sole counselor for CARS until she retired in 1987.
Since then, CARS has developed into a broad employee assistance program, or EAP, adding clinical and administrative staff to increase counseling and consultation services for faculty and staff. From time to time CARS has also served as a training site for counseling and psychology interns.
CARS’ goals for the future are to explore new opportunities for partnering with other UNM departments, provide increased services in preventive care to facilitate healthy work/life balance, and contribute to a culture of wellness within the university.
Media Contact: Sari Krosinsky, (505) 277-1593; e-mail: michal@unm.edu
Posted by scarr at August 25, 2008 01:04 PM