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Know Your Benefits

Member Assistance Program

New York Teacher
Member Assistance

Established in 2009, the UFT’s Member Assistance Program (MAP) provides tools for coping with the full range of life’s challenges, such as work-related stress, post-traumatic stress disorder, bereavement and substance use disorders.

Through individual and group counseling, mental health referrals, wellness workshops, professional development, continuing education courses and its own Brewing Wellness podcast, the MAP program has become a trusted and reliable source of help for thousands of in-service members and their families. MAP staff consists of licensed clinical social workers, master social workers and mental health counselors, as well as mental health interns.

In response to demand from our members, in March 2024, the UFT partnered with Vibrant Emotional Health to create a dedicated 24/7 union helpline that offers members immediate and confidential mental health support. Calling or texting 1-866-UFT-FOR-U (1-866-838-3678) connects you with counselors in multiple languages. You can also chat with a counselor through the UFT website.

For ongoing needs, you can call MAP at 212-701-9620 and a MAP counselor can give referrals (for members and families) to psychotherapy and psychiatric services covered by your insurance plan. For help with substance use issues or other addictive behaviors, members can call MAP or email maprecovery@uft.org for guidance as well as referrals to mental health agencies and treatment centers handling these issues. You can also visit the Substance Use & Addictive Behaviors page on the UFT website.

MAP also offers a wide range of programming, both in-person and virtual. Throughout the school year, MAP organizes free support groups in which members can come together to share their experiences and find comfort with one another. Topics include building better habits, grief and loss, and managing anger.

MAP’s partnership with the organization Calm brings members the Well-Being Series, a series of interactive sessions led by experts in coping and healing skills that apply to both personal and professional life. For more professional guidance and moral support, MAP’s Partners Through Experience program pairs new members with retiree mentors.

On the Self-Care Resources page of the UFT website, MAP has assembled tips and tools for maintaining and improving mental health, such as free mindfulness and meditation apps, hotlines and trauma counseling, services for children and more.

One key resource is the Brewing Wellness podcast, produced by MAP, in which outside experts discuss a wide range of wellness topics. The podcast, released on the last Tuesday of each month, is available on your favorite podcast platform or on the UFT website.

Through LearnUFT, MAP is a state provider of continuing education credits for school social workers, licensed psychologists and licensed mental health counselors. See the schedule of clinical courses (some discounted, some free) on the UFT website under LearnUFT.

Contact MAP at 212-701-9620, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday during the school year, and from 9 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. Monday to Thursday in the summer, or by emailing mapinfo@uft.org. You will get a reply within two business days.