LEAN LIUNA Level 1: Laying the Foundation

The LHSFNA’s LEAN LIUNA – Laborers Escaping Adversity Now – initiative is bringing the power of peer support directly to LIUNA members and their families. Built by Laborers, for Laborers, these programs help LIUNA members and their families:

• Take full advantage of the healthcare benefits available to them
• Navigate coverage-related issues and get connected with the right provider and resources for their needs
• Stay engaged with fellow Laborers who support their recovery and well-being

“We know that it’s hard to ask for help, and that it takes real courage to say you’re not okay,” says LIUNA General President and LHSFNA Labor Co-Chairman Brent Booker. “In the LIUNA family, we encourage our Brothers and Sisters to speak up so we can get them the help they need right away.”

LEAN LIUNA is designed in four different levels, with each level building on the next. In this article, we’ll take a deeper look at Level 1. 

Level 1: Gather & Share Resources

Level 1 is the foundational building block of peer support within LEAN LIUNA. This level focuses on gathering, organizing and distributing available resources on mental health, substance use disorder (SUD) and other areas that could cause adversity to LIUNA members, their dependents and all relevant LIUNA affiliates.

Making this information widely available reduces barriers to asking for help, encourages early intervention and shows that LIUNA, its affiliates and signatory partners care deeply about the well-being of members and their families.

What Resources Should Be Shared?

The LHSFNA recommends sharing at least the following information:

• Applicable LIUNA Health & Welfare Fund(s) information
  • Phone number(s) and website(s)
  • Employee or Member Assistance Program information
  • Mental health benefit information
  • Substance use disorder benefit information
  • Peer support resources
  • Other supportive resources (e.g., financial or legal)
• Local resources
• National resources

The Fund’s LEAN LIUNA Resources page includes a Creating a Local Mental Health Resource Page template to assist with this.

Now What? Get the Word Out!

After gathering this information, the Fund recommends distributing it to membership through multiple channels, including:

• Printed materials for Local Unions, training centers and signatory employers
• Local Union and Health & Welfare Fund websites
• Presentations, stand-downs and toolbox talks
• Social media channels
• Branded products such as paper coffee cups, poker chips, magnets, etc.

Many LIUNA Regions, District Councils, Local Unions and Health & Welfare Funds are already taking some of these steps. Level 1 is about organizing and centralizing those resources under the LEAN LIUNA umbrella to lay the foundation for future levels.

Committing to Level 1 of LEAN LIUNA is an easy way to make a big impact with a small investment of time and resources. For more information about the other LEAN LIUNA Levels, check out the LHSFNA’s LEAN LIUNA Guidebook.

Want to get involved in LEAN LIUNA programs in your Region? Contact us to get connected to your Region’s point person.

Become a LEAN LIUNA Ally

Everyone in the LIUNA family has a part to play in making members feel supported, and creating real change takes all of us.

To show your support for LEAN LIUNA programs and end the stigma around asking for help, take our LEAN LIUNA Ally pledge today. We’ll add you to the map on our About LEAN LIUNA page so fellow LIUNA Brothers and Sisters can see that we’re all in this together.

[Nick Fox]