What is the Emergency Care Fund?
The Atrium Health Teammate Emergency Care Fund has been established to provide Atrium Health teammates with financial assistance when they have suffered a hardship caused by catastrophic events beyond their control. The fund assists teammates in meeting basic needs when all other resources have been used. This fund has been set up to only address catastrophic events and assistance during the COVID-19 crisis.

We understand and recognize there are many circumstances that put a financial strain on people. This fund is designed for only those catastrophic events listed below. The fund is not intended for ongoing challenges in managing finances, short-term illness, decrease in income due to job loss, or separation from spouse. This fund assists teammates in meeting basic needs when all other resources have been used during a catastrophic event.

What is considered a catastrophic event?

• Fire
• Natural disaster
• Accident
• Other unforeseen serious crises (such as being the victim of a crime, sudden severe illness, or death in the immediate family) that affect the teammate’s ability to obtain basic needs

Who is eligible to apply?

• Recipients of the Atrium Health Teammate Emergency Care Fund must be current full-time, part time or PRN teammates.
• Atrium Health teammates at the time of the catastrophic event and have at least 90 days of continuous employment. PRN teammates must meet minimum hours-worked requirements for their department.
• Atrium Health teammates currently receiving short-term disability benefits or paid time off are eligible to apply.
• Teammates currently receiving long-term disability benefits, or teammates in contract, subcontract, or temporary status are not eligible to apply for the fund.
• Teammates may receive assistance for a catastrophic event including a member of the household who consistently has contributed to the financial security of the family – may include spouse, life partner, grandparent, working child or dependent – as well as an individual outside of the household who consistently has contributed material financial support to the household, such as an ex-spouse or co-parent. 
  • When we mention outside of household, we are referring to ex-spouse, parent of child who does not live-in household, etc.  
  • The application should capture who this person is and why they have been contributing. 
  • Abandonment by family member or roommate cannot be a qualifying event.

Who has the responsibility of oversight of the fund?
Atrium Health Teammate Emergency Care Fund is a program of Atrium Health Employee Assistance, Inc., a separate nonprofit governed by a board of directors comprised of current and retired Atrium Health Teammates. Approval/non-approval of requests for disbursement amounts will be determined by the Board of Atrium Health Employee Assistance, Inc., upon the recommendation of the Atrium Health Teammate Emergency Care Fund Review Committee.

What is the review process for applications?
The Atrium Health Teammate Emergency Fund Care Review Committee reviews all applications and decides whether to recommend that the Board of Atrium Health Employee Assistance, Inc. approve or deny applications based on eligibility and information submitted in the application. Initially, the Committee consists of Pinnacle Award honorees and non-voting Human Resources Administrators. The Board of Atrium Health Employee Assistance, Inc. has the responsibility of ensuring that the funds are used appropriately and in the most effective manner possible. All applications will be reviewed by the committee and board each week.

What is the application process and required documentation?
In order to apply for assistance, documentation of catastrophic circumstances and a signed attestation of exhaustion of resources will be required. The decision for assistance will be based on the documented crisis and need. All applications will be thoroughly reviewed for eligibility.

What expenses are eligible as part of the Atrium Health Emergency Care Fund?
Eligible Expenses (when tied to a qualifying event as described above)

• Housing, mortgage or rent
• Home repairs
• Evacuation costs
• Transportation (such as travel to and from medical treatments)
• Payment of basic bills (such as utilities)
• Food/clothing
• Psychological counseling
• Medical expenses
• Household items
• Dependent care
• Funeral, travel, and burial expenses except as excluded below

Ineligible Expenses

• Lost wages/Legal fees
• Electronics and non-essential appliances/furnishings
• Non-essential household utilities (e.g., internet, cable/satellite television, telephone, etc.)
• Items covered by insurance, insurance co-pays, premium or deductibles
• Credit card debt or pay day loans
• Private school or higher education tuition
• Expenses associated with divorce or child custody settlements
• Routine car maintenance or repairs
• Funeral, travel, and burial expenses upon death of teammate’s relative outside of immediate family member. Immediate family is defined as parent, spouse, sibling, child, grandparent, grandchild or guardian, current mother-in-law, current father-in-law, brother, sister, current brother-in-law, current sister-in-law, current foster child, current son-in-law, current daughter-in-law, and great grandparent. Any of the above step relationships would also qualify.

Is the application process confidential?
Due to the sensitive nature of the Atrium Health Teammate Emergency Care Fund, applicant and recipient information will be kept in the strictest confidence. Applicants may opt to sign a release to allow information to be used for program promotion purposes.

Are there any limitations on disbursements from the fund?
Recipients may receive only one disbursement from the fund per catastrophic event. The maximum amount awarded per catastrophic event is up to $3,000. No more than $5,000 will be awarded per lifetime to any Atrium Health teammate. For COVID-19, the maximum amount of assistance is $1,000 if the Teammate is personally affected to the virus and $500 if the Teammate’s spouse/significant other is personally affected. If you have received funds for COVID-19 yet have had an issue related to COVID since March 1, 2021 you may be eligible to receive additional COVID-19 funds. 

How is the program funded?
The Atrium Health Teammate Emergency Care Fund program is funded through a combination of contributions from Atrium Health and gift donations from donors including teammate contributions. The Atrium Health Teammate Emergency Care Fund will be available to support teammates as long as monies remain in the Fund.

How do I apply?
After you’ve read the Frequently Asked Questions, apply to the Teammate Emergency are Fund below.

Teammate Emergency Care Fund Application