Cleveland Proposes New Contract for Employee Assistance Services

August 2, 2026

The City of Cleveland is considering a plan to expand support services for its workforce through a new professional services contract. Emergency Ordinance 751-2026 would allow the Director of Human Resources to hire providers to manage an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and deliver specialized training to various City departments.

What's in the file

According to the 751-2026 Legislative Summary, the proposal aims to address personal, financial, and workplace challenges faced by municipal staff. The memorandum from Human Resources Director Matthew Cole states the program would provide:

Confidential counseling and 24-hour crisis intervention
Legal and financial consultation
Substance abuse assessment and referrals
Work-life resource and referral services
Training in areas such as mental health awareness, stress management, and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging

The ordinance proposes an initial one-year term with three additional one-year renewal options. The estimated annual budget for these services is $250,000.

Who may be affected

Department of Human Resources: The department would oversee the employment of professional services and the administration of the program.
City Employees: Approximately 8,000 employees across various departments would have access to the proposed counseling, wellness resources, and crisis support.
City Departments: Various departments may receive as-needed training related to workplace communication, conflict resolution, and organizational effectiveness.

Status and timeline

The legislation is currently being reviewed by the City Council.

July 9, 2026: The emergency ordinance was introduced.
Present: The file is currently in the Workforce, Education, Training and Youth Development Committee.

Residents can verify these details by reviewing the official record for File No. 751-2026 on the Cleveland City Council website.

Key facts

Initial contract term: one (1) year
Renewal options: three (3) one-year options

Source record

File: 751-2026
Type: Emergency Ordinance
Status: In Committee
Committee: Workforce, Education, Training and Youth Development Committee
Introduced: July 8, 2026

View on Cleveland Legistar