Being a professional musician comes with unique rewards, but it can also bring challenges. From navigating unpredictable employment and financial stress to managing personal relationships, health concerns, and career transitions, musicians often face pressures that affect both their professional and personal lives. The Local 802 Musicians’ Assistance Program (MAP) is here to help.

Administered by the Entertainment Community Fund (formerly The Actors Fund), MAP is a free and confidential resource available to all current Local 802 members. The program connects musicians with professional social workers who provide counseling, guidance, advocacy, and referrals to help members navigate a wide range of personal, family, and workplace concerns.

The Entertainment Community Fund is a national human services organization dedicated to fostering stability and resilience among performing arts and entertainment professionals. Through its partnership with Local 802, the fund provides members with a supportive space to discuss challenges, explore options, and access resources.

• MENTAL HEALTH: One of MAP’s core services is confidential short-term counseling with a clinical social worker. Members can seek support for stress, anxiety, depression, workplace conflicts, relationship difficulties, grief, and significant life changes. MAP social workers can help explore concerns, develop coping strategies, and identify practical next steps. For members interested in longer-term therapy or specialized mental health care, social workers can assist with finding outside providers, taking insurance coverage and affordability into consideration.
• SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND RECOVERY: MAP also offers confidential support for members and their families experiencing challenges related to alcohol or substance use, including help navigating treatment options.
• PRACTICAL SUPPORT FOR LIFE’S CHALLENGES: MAP services extend beyond counseling. Social workers can help members navigate financial concerns, housing difficulties, caregiving responsibilities, and questions about public benefits or community resources.
• HOUSING: The Fund’s Housing Resource Center  provides information about affordable housing and tenants’ rights, while its  Career Center  helps performing arts professionals explore meaningful secondary employment opportunities that can support their artistic careers.
• HEALTH CARE: Navigating health care can also be challenging, particularly for musicians whose employment and insurance coverage may fluctuate. The Fund’s Artist’s Health Insurance Resource Center offers personalized guidance around insurance options, enrollment, and accessing health care resources. The Friedman Health Center In Times Square   provides primary and specialty medical care for entertainment professionals and accepts most insurance plans.
• RESOURCES FOR AGING: For older members and those caring for aging loved ones, the Fund’s Older Adult Programs offers guidance around home care, assisted living, rehabilitation services, elder law resources, and accessing benefits. The Fund also operates The Actors Fund Home in Englewood, New Jersey, providing short-stay rehabilitation and assisted living services.
• EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE:  In addition to the services offered through MAP, the Entertainment Community Fund serves as the administrator and steward of the Local 802 Musicians’ Emergency Relief Fund, helping members experiencing financial hardship access emergency assistance. Through the Fund, eligible members may receive financial assistance with expenses such as rent, utilities, medical bills, and other urgent needs. Entertainment Community Fund social workers work directly with members to assess their circumstances, review eligibility, and identify additional resources that may help stabilize their situations.

You don’t need to be in crisis to reach out! All MAP services are free and confidential. Personal information is not shared with Local 802, except where disclosure is legally required. If outside referrals are needed, social workers consider insurance coverage and affordability when helping identify appropriate options.

The Musicians’ Assistance Program is available to all current Local 802 members at no cost. To schedule an appointment or learn more about available services, contact the Entertainment Community Fund:

Phone: 917-281-5919

Email: eastern@entertainmentcommunity.org

Website: www.entertainmentcommunity.org

Portal (free signup, to access all classes): https://portal.entertainmentcommunity.org

When contacting the Fund, please identify yourself as a member of Local 802.

Olivia DeSanto, LMSW, is a social worker with the Entertainment Community Fund in workplace initiatives. Olivia recently presented the Entertainment Community Fund to Local 802 members at the October 2026 membership meeting.