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EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

EAP-sponsored events and services are open to

UAlbany & Research Foundation faculty, staff,

family members, UAS employees,

retirees, and GSEU members.

UAlbany Employees’ Monthly Link to Resources for Health & Well-Being

EAP E-NEWS D E A R P A R E N T ,

S C H O O L ’ S O U T F O R S U M M E R !

K I N D R E G A R D S ,

Y O U R C H I L D ’ S T E A C H E R

“Free at last!“ That was the rally cry of many children and teens as they walked

(or ran!) out of the school building for summer vacation. With two months of

“freedom” ahead, families’ schedules shift to accommodate the lack of the school

routine. This shift can give everyone a reprieve from the hectic pace of the school

year that is combined with other family obligations like a parent(s) work schedule. Transitioning into the

summer season can be stressful for both children and parents. The non-profit organization GreatSchools

whose mission is to “to inspire and guide parents to become effective champions of their children's educa-

tion at home and in their communities” has some practical tips for parents to assist their children with the

summertime transition and to help create a family plan for having a fun and meaningful school break.

And what to do about hearing the “I’m bored!” exclamation from your child this summer? The Family In-

stitute at Northwestern University suggests not to “run to the rescue” but instead let this be the opening for

a child’s creativity to emerge. The Family Institute’s June

2011 article for parents called “Let Those Kids Chill” states,

“It’s summer— the time for kids to slow down, recharge

their batteries, enjoy a bit of boredom.” Stress during the

school year can take a toll on children causing physical

symptoms to occur like stomach aches and headaches. And

parents’ stress can have an impact on their children, too.

Slowing down and being a little “bored” from time to time

might not be a bad thing. Read the entire Family Institute

article on their “Family Tip of the Month” page. These fam-

ily tips provide thoughtful suggestions to help parents

throughout the year—not just for those summer months!

Shifting the

Family to a

Summer Schedule

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Disclaimer: The material and links in this newsletter are presented

for educational and informational purposes only and do not serve

as any endorsement by EAP. This information is not intended to

replace the advice of your qualified health professional.

Warmer days draw us outside to

play and to eat. Last month in the EAP

E-News we talked about fresh fruits

and vegetables which are in abun-

dance during the summer months.

Summer also means grilling and

bringing our food outdoors— where

we want to spend more of our time,

of course!

As a helpful reminder, so you, your

family, and friends can avoid any food

poisoning experiences this summer,

check out the tips provided by US De-

partment of Agriculture’s Food Safety

and Inspection Services.

Do You Know the Necessary Food

Temperatures to Avoid the Growth

of Foodborne Bacteria?

When transporting cold foods, pack in a cooler achieving the

temperature of 40 degrees or below to keep foods safe to

eat.

Keep meat, poultry, and seafood frozen and then transport

in a cooler to help keep them cool.

Keep hot food at 140 degrees or higher. Place in an insulat-

ed container until you are ready to serve.

Once cold or hot foods have been served, do not keep them

outside longer than two hours or one hour if the tempera-

ture is 90 degrees or above. To be safe, discard the food.

Source: http://www.fda.gov/food/resourcesforyou/Consumers/

ucm109899.htm#s1

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Maybe you’ve noticed this. You are doing something

that you really like to do like gardening, painting, playing

the piano, golfing, woodworking, or reading. Suddenly

you realize that time has flown by and you are feeling

calm, relaxed, and energized. You have just experienced

flow.

Research psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi pro-

posed this concept within the realm of positive psycholo-

gy. During these experiences we are totally engaged, in

tune, and in the moment. We experience joy which in

turn can have a positive effect on our body and mind.

Csíkszentmihályi also discusses the concept of flow and

its relationship with finding happiness at work.

So, invite more “flow” into your life. These experienc-

es will contribute to your overall sense of well-being.

EAP is busy planning programs for the fall semester. A special lunchtime series is in the

works for the 2011-2012 academic year called Get to Know Your Campus.

So often we stay in our “own little worlds” and don’t have the opportunity (or don’t

TAKE the opportunity) to learn about some of the great resources we have on campus.

There are amazing people who work at UAlbany doing fascinating things. And there are

many “unsung employees” keeping the campus up and running who go unnoticed working

behind the scenes.

Thus far, a tour of the University Library’s Preservation Lab and a tour of the Atmos-

pheric Sciences “Map Room” are on the fall schedule. EAP looks forward to booking other

tours so you can get to know your campus. If you have a suggestions for a campus tour for

employees, please contact EAP Coordinator Brenda Seckerson with your idea!

Sneak Preview

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Article written by Emily Tracy, EAP Committee Member, UAS Representative

Sources: http://www.aad.org/stories-and-news/news-releases/sunscreens-remain-safe-effective-form-of-sun-protection

http://www.aad.org/stories-and-news/news-releases/86e110df-91c6-4cdf-a5ff-cbaf64a4c425

Summer is finally upon us! Now is the perfect time for gar-

dening, barbecuing, and lazy days by the pool. Although most

of us know that unprotected sun exposure can cause skin dam-

age, most of us are having too much “fun in the sun” to care

until it’s too late.

The statistics regarding skin cancer are frightening. Accord-

ing to the American Academy of Dermatology, one out of five

American’s will develop skin cancer in his or her lifetime.

About 75% of skin cancer deaths are from melanoma, which

has been on the rise for the last thirty years. Unprotected sun

exposure is the number one cause of skin cancer.

In June, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced

new sunscreen regulations which will help us receive better

protection from the sun’s harmful rays and help us understand

sunscreen’s effectiveness and limitations. The Skin Cancer Foundation outlines the new FDA sunscreen regulations that

will go into effect by the summer of 2012. Although skin cancer is not 100% preventable, here are a few reminders

about what you can do to decrease your risk.

Wear your sunscreen diligently: It is recommended that children six months of age or older wear at least SPF

30 sunscreen and adults should wear at least SPF 15 sunscreen. Babies under the age of six months should be kept

out of the sun at all times. Choose a sunscreen that offers both UVA and UVB protection. Check your bottle to de-

termine how frequently to apply, and be sure to apply liberally. As we’ve just learned from the FDA’s findings, sun-

screen is NOT fully waterproof. It must be applied often!

Skip the tanning bed: A “healthy glow” isn’t healthy when you’re putting yourself at risk for skin cancer! A re-

cent study by the American Academy of Dermatology discovered that 86% of indoor tanners knew the health risks

associated with tanning, but chose to tan indoors at least once in the past year. Use your head and some sunless

bronzer if you really need to have that glow.

Stay Away: The sun’s rays are the strongest between 10 am and 2 pm, which is when you’ll be at the highest risk

for skin damage. It is especially important to stay in the shade, cover up, and wear plenty of sunscreen between

these hours.

Most of the information in this article is common knowledge amongst many Americans, but so many of us choose to ignore it. If you think you’re invincible and melanoma can’t happen to you or a loved one, during a work break or while at home watch this video titled “Dear 16-Year-Old Me” to see if you might feel differently. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4jgUcxMezM. EAP hopes you’ll be smart and enjoy the sun responsibly this summer.

Fun in the Sun!?

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To Register Contact:

Brenda Seckerson, EAP Coordinator

bseckerson@uamail.albany.edu

CALL 442-5483 OR REGISTER ONLINE HTTP://WWW.ALBANY.EDU/EAP/EVENT_SIGN-UP.HTM

Lunchtime “Art Break”

Join us for a summertime “Art Break”

with University Art Museum Director,

Janet Riker. We’ll explore the

current exhibit:

Regarding Place: Photographs from the

University Art Collections

~~~~~

Over 80 black & white images from such

artists as Manuel Alvarez Bravo,

Giles Peress, Edward Steichen, and

Andy Warhol

Friday, July 22

12 noon — 12:30 pm

University Art Museum Registration Deadline:

Wednesday, July 20

http://www.albany.edu/museum/

Employee Assistance Program-sponsored events

are open to UAlbany and Research Foundation

faculty, staff, family members, UAS employees,

GSEU members, and retirees.

Are you finding that a stressor in your life is affecting

you ability to be as productive as you used to be?

Family and relationship issues, work stress, inter-

personal difficulties, substance abuse or dependency,

aging parents, therapist referrals, legal matters and

financial concerns are just some of the reasons em-

ployees seek assistance from EAP.

To schedule an appointment for an Assessment & Referral session with

Brenda Seckerson, UAlbany EAP Coordinator

Call 442-5483 or email bseckerson@uamail.albany.edu

Support, information, and referrals are

available to assist you in finding a way to address your concerns.

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

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Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass on a summer day listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is hardly a waste of time. ~ Sir John Lubbock, (1834-1913) Finance, Botany, & Archaeology