This document was designed for use by persons or agencies interested in both establishing and evaluating employee assistance programs (EAP) for federal employees. It contains essential elements, standards, and assessment criteria which have been developed to assist in the planning and implementation of services, and to provide a framework for evaluating the appropriateness and effectiveness of EAPs. The standards and criteria presented here should also prove useful outside of the federal system. The introduction identifies the goal of an EAP as being the restoration of valuable employees to full productivity. It notes that a comprehensive EAP must address alcohol, drug abuse, and emotional or behavioral problems. The report lists five essential elements of an EAP: (1) needs assessment; (2) program integration; (3) comprehensive services; (4) program administration; and (5) program evaluation. For each element, a standard is defined which indicates what is expected when an organization seeks to provide that EAP element. To assist in the evaluation of programs, there are assessment criteria following each standard which relate to the policy, procedural, and personal and/or administrative aspects of a program. The appendices contain information on the legal authority for an EAP and models of providing EAP services. (NB)