Frequently Asked Questions
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A list of the most commonly asked questions.
The UFT's Member Assistance Program has teamed up with Vibrant Emotional Health to provide vital mental health support whenever a UFT member or their families are in need. Our 24/7 dedicated mental health support line is available 365 days a year in multiple languages. Union-trained counselors can offer immediate help to members and their families who are in crisis, experiencing emotional distress, in need of mental health resources or a referral.
Call or text the UFT Mental Health Helpline at 866-UFT-FOR-U (866-838-3678) for free and confidential assistance. A chat is also available on the Helpline web page or by clicking the blue chat icon located throughout the MAP site.
You will be asked for your UFT ID number to verify your union membership (see how to find your UFT member ID number). All calls are free and confidential. Learn more about the UFT Mental Health Helpline »
The Member Assistance Program is available free of charge to all UFT members. Your insurance plan may cover services for additional resources or referrals, depending on the plan you are enrolled in.
A counseling session is a confidential meeting between you and a MAP mental health professional to discuss your concern and figure out how best to resolve it.
- Short-term individual counseling provided by professionally trained and licensed counselors in our offices for a variety of concerns members may have, from marital or family problems to stress or workplace issues or alcohol and drug addiction
- Short-term support groups
- Assistance with referrals to outside services
- If you are in crisis, experiencing distress, need resources or a referral, our counselors are available for UFT members 24 hours a day, seven days a week by phone or text at 1-866-UFT-FOR-U.
The UFT Member Assistance Program can help members:
- Find mental health services to fit your needs
- Assess for and refer to appropriate substance abuse programs
- Help with marital or family relationship problems
- Arrange assistance for victims of domestic violence
- Offer referrals to legal or credit counseling services
- Provide trauma and bereavement support
- Suggest treatment referrals for eating disorders
- Provide support during times of crisis
The UFT's Member Assistance Program is a union-based program providing free, confidential and voluntary services to all in-service UFT members. Our staff are licensed mental health professionals who specialize in working with NYC school-based staff and other union members. MAP supports its members through clinical assessment and consultations, support groups and professional development workshops. We can assist members with resources, referrals, and general navigation through a wide range of union services.
If you haven't otherwise been informed, the number and type of observations you receive will change once you are tenured. If tenure was granted, you would be assigned a minimum of two informal observations as part of your yearly teacher evaluation instead of three informals and one formal. This would be reflected on your IPC (initial planning conference) preference sheet that you will receive at the beginning of the school year.
Please note: if you receive tenure after the IPC window closes for the year (usually in late October), then the minimum number of observations would not be reduced until the following school year.
A Line of Duty Injury leave must be requested via the DOE’s Self-Service Online Leave of Absence System (SOLAS).
The dates of your leave should include only the actual days you are out, so you should request Line of Duty Injury status from the day of your first absence to the date of your last absence. Make sure to contact your school to inform them of the specific dates that you will be absent.
In some cases, the superintendent or the DOE’s Medical Bureau will deny a Line of Duty Injury status, and it may be necessary to file a grievance or file for medical arbitration, depending on the reason for the denial. Members who have a pending medical arbitration request will continue to have medical insurance coverage for one year, provided they have applied for a special arbitration leave. They will also be eligible to receive disability payments of $575 per week from the UFT Welfare Fund. See additional information and contact your UFT borough safety representative for assistance.
Under Line of Duty Injury, pedagogues may apply for important benefits, including paid time off from work to recover and reimbursement of medical expenses.
If you are injured in the line of duty, your health plan covers your medical care. You can receive reimbursement from the DOE for reasonable medical expenses — incurred because of an injury in the line of duty and not covered by insurance — of up to $1,500.
Until the DOE approves your LODI status, absent days come out of your sick bank (CAR). Those days will be restored once you are granted LODI status, and your pay will continue as usual. If you have to miss work to appear in court, the days will not come out of your sick bank — as long as you file the appropriate paperwork.