New Face to Lead IUPAT Helping Hand 

In 2019, to help combat the extraordinarily high rates of suicide and substance use disorder among construction workers, the IUPAT launched its IUPAT Helping Hand campaign to raise awareness and provide resources to help workers with these personal crises.

The initiative was shepherded by former LMCI Liaison Mike Heinz for the next three years until his retirement in 2021. This month, the IUPAT has announced that Chris Scheiblein has been hired to take over that role. 

Chris Scheiblein has been working as an Employee Assistance Professional (EAP), since 2006. He started as a Peer Counselor at the Allied Trades Assistance Program (ATAP) in Philadelphia and soon transitioned to the Clinical Coordinator position in the same organization.

In these roles, Chris worked closely with Philadelphia Building Trades members and their families, ensuring they received the proper help and support with substance use disorder and mental health concerns.

In addition, Chris is a Certified Employee Assistance Professional (CEAP), has a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Dynamics from Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia, and he is in long-term recovery for more than 19 years himself. Chris won the EAP of the Year Award in 2018 from the Employees Assistance Professional Association (EAPA), as well as the Pat Curran Award in 2015. These honors distinguish Chris as a leader in the EAP field and as an individual who has dedicated significant time and provided an abundance of resources to help those who struggle with behavioral health matters.

Since 2018, Chris has been the Employee Assistance Professional (EAP) for IBEW Local Union 98 in Philadelphia and Montgomery County, PA. This role allowed Chris to have a stronger presence within the workforce and within the apprentice program, by providing referrals to appropriate levels of care, delivering messages geared toward eliminating stigma, and facilitating peer support services.

Prior to his work as a union EAP, Chris was a member of Local 1 Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers , in PA/DE, where he worked on prominent Building Trades’ masonry restoration projects. Chris also spent a short time working in Ironworkers Local #401 in Philadelphia. Chris grew up in Northeast Philadelphia, and now lives in Montgomery County, PA with his wife and young son.

The IUPAT welcomes Brother Sheiblein aboard and we look forward to the important work ahead.