April 14, 2026

Tamara Cagney, EdD, MA, BSN

Topic:

What the World Looks Like from a DOT SAP Point of View: SAP & Treatment Sometimes Uneasy Partnership

Description:

This course will provide an overview of the Department of Transportation Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) role, which highlights the relationship between SAPs and other drug and alcohol treatment professionals.

Goals:

1. By the end of the presentation, participants will be able to articulate their understanding of DOT SAP roles and responsibilities.
2. By the end of the presentation, participants will be able to articulate how DO T SAP required public safety concerns interface with provider assessment and level of care determinations.

Objectives:

1. By the completion of the course, participants will be able to list two DOT regulation rationales and how they support substance use disorder prevention and intervention.
2. By the completion of the course, participants will be able to list two variables to consider when recommending continuing care recommendations for SAP to consider.
3. By the completion of the course, participants will be able to list at least two important considerations related to DOT SAP confinentially.

Outline:

• DOT Drug testing
• Program goals
• Types of tests
• Current data for safety sensitive employees
• DOT SAP role
• Qualifications
• SAP vs EAP
• Limits of confidentially
• SAP process
• Assessment
• Referral
• Case management
• Determining compliance
• Communication and collaboration with treatment providers

Bio:

Doctor Tamara Cagney is a nationally recognized leader in employee assistance and substance misuse, renowned for developing innovative programs and guiding

organizations through complex workplace challenges. As a sought-after speaker,

published author, and past president of the International Employee Assistance

Professionals Association, Dr. Cagney brings a unique blend of strategic vision, clinical expertise, and industry influence. Dr. Cagney’s work spans consulting, training, and program development for major employers, unions, and government agencies, consistently delivering solutions that enhance health, productivity, and organizational resilience.

Doctor Tamara Cagney is currently the executive director of TC Training and Consulting. The focus of her current consultation and training centers around the US Department of Transportation Drug and Alcohol Testing Regulations, the DOT Substance Abuse Professional role and the workplace impact of rapidly changing cannabis legalization.

She has provided Employee Assistance Program (EAP) services since 1981 in both the public and private sectors, in unionized and non-unionized settings. She served as a Distinguished Member of the Laboratory Staff in the role of an embedded employee

assistance professional at Sandia National Laboratories, a DOE research laboratory, for

20 years from 2000 to 2021.

She provides ongoing clinical consultation to Member Assistance and Employee

Assistance Programs including the Northern California Teamsters’ Assistance Program,

the Operating Engineers, and PG&E SAPs.

Tamara conducts quarterly nationwide SAP training. The training dates for virtual

courses in 2026 are February 17, June 2, August 18, and November 10. A special event of in-person SAP training will be offered in April in LA.

Doctor Cagney attended the University of South Carolina and received a BS in Nursing. Following graduation, she served in the US Army Nurse Corp specializing as a

Psychiatric Nurse Clinician. She later received her master’s degree in counseling

psychology from the University of San Francisco. During her masters studies she

worked with the Veterans Administration specializing in the treatment of substance use disorders. Dr. Cagney earned her Doctorate Degree in counseling psychology at American School of Professional Psychology. She is a licensed marriage family therapist, a licensed professional clinical counselor, a certified coach and certified employee assistance professional.

Tamara is the Past President of the International Employee Assistance Professionals Association. Her writing has appeared in professional publications and periodicals on managed behavioral healthcare, organizational development, substance abuse in the workplace and employee assistance programs.