Member Assistance Program

At one time or another, we all experience challenges in our personal or professional lives. These can range from marital or parenting difficulties to on-the-job stress, bereavement, eating disorders, and alcohol- or substance-abuse issues.

In order to help members through these and other challenges, the UFT has created the Member Assistance Program under the supervision of Director Lila Ezra, who also serves as coordinator of counseling for the UFT’s Victim Support Program (which will be the topic of a future Know Your Benefits column).

MAP provides trained, professional counselors who can guide in-service members through short-term counseling. All MAP services are confidential, professional, supportive and free.

The program utilizes a broad range of outside practitioners and agencies that accept UFT members’ health insurance, in all five boroughs and some suburban locations.

In addition to individual counseling, MAP services include a small-group session for bereavement and grief counseling.

You can contact MAP at 1-212-701-9620 or mapinfo@uft.org. Your inquiry will be returned within one business day. Appointments are available Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Summer and vacation hours are available on a limited basis.

Please note that MAP cannot accommodate walk-in appointments. The MAP office is located at 50 Broadway, Suite 904, next door to UFT headquarters.

Anyone experiencing an emergency at night or on the weekend that cannot wait for business hours should call 911 or 1-800-LIFENET (a confidential, free mental health information and crisis hotline available to anyone at any time).