New Offerings Employer & EAP Services

Written By Maureen Brown

Ask the Advocate New Services Starting in 2026

Specialized Education Navigation for Working Parents

Reduce caregiver stress. Improve retention. Support employees when school issues escalate.

The Challenge Employers Face

Employees raising children with learning, behavioral, or mental health needs often experience:

  • Frequent school meetings during work hours

  • Escalating IEP and placement conflicts

  • Emotional crises that impact focus and productivity

  • Increased absenteeism, PTO usage, and leaves

  • Risk of burnout and resignation

Traditional Employee Assistance Programs are excellent for mental health referrals—but most do not address complex education system challenges.

Our Solution

Ask the Advocate® provides specialized education navigation services that complement existing EAP and wellness benefits.

We help employees resolve school-related challenges efficiently, strategically, and confidentially—so they can remain engaged at work while navigating high-stakes education decisions at home.

Who We Support

Employees parenting children with:

  • Learning disabilities

  • ADHD

  • Autism

  • Emotional or behavioral challenges

  • Mental health needs

Employees navigating:

  • IEPs and 504 Plans

  • School placement decisions

  • Escalating school conflicts

  • School refusal or regression

  • Educational transitions (elementary → middle → high school → post-secondary)

Services Available Through Employer or EAP Partnerships

All services are consultative, time-limited, and outcome-focused.

✔ Education Strategy Sessions
✔ IEP & 504 navigation and planning
✔ School meeting preparation and debrief
✔ Placement and program consultation
✔ Neuropsychological report interpretation
✔ Crisis support during school breakdowns
✔ Transition and future planning
✔ Return-to-work support for caregiver employees
✔ HR or manager consultation (when appropriate)

Services are supportive and strategic—not legal representation.

Why Employers Partner with Ask the Advocate®

  • Reduces absenteeism related to school crises

  • Supports caregiver employees before issues escalate

  • Improves retention of experienced staff

  • Complements existing EAP and mental health benefits

  • Demonstrates commitment to DEI and caregiver support

  • Provides access to highly specialized expertise not typically available through EAPs

About Ask the Advocate®

Founded by Maureen Brown, Ask the Advocate® brings over 20 years of experience in special education advocacy, mediation, and systems navigation.

Maureen’s work bridges families, schools, and institutions—offering practical, informed guidance rooted in deep knowledge of education systems and real-world outcomes.

Partnership Options

Flexible, employer-friendly models available:

  • Per-employee annual access

  • Tiered service levels

  • Executive or crisis-level support options

  • Union and public-sector partnerships

Programs can be customized to align with existing EAP structures and benefits offerings.

Let’s Talk

We welcome brief exploratory conversations to determine whether this service fills a gap in your current employee support offerings.

Maureen Brown
Founder, Ask the Advocate®
🌐 asktheadvocate.org
📧 maureen@asktheadvocate.org

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Maureen Brown

Ask the Advocate, LLC, Special Education and Placement Consulting, College Counseling for Students with Learning Challenges.

http://asktheadvocate.org
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