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Faculty

Lauren Cash

Bachelors , NREMTP
Paramedic
St. Charles County Ambulance District

Lauren Cash is a paramedic with St. Charles County Ambulance District in Missouri. Originally from St. Louis, she holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Indiana University Bloomington and entered EMS later in life after volunteering in a hospital's Child Life department.

She went on to work as a patient care technician on a cardiac unit and then a nationally recognized children’s hospital NICU while completing EMT and paramedic training. Lauren began her EMS career with a private ambulance service before joining SCCAD, where she now serves.

Lauren has been involved in community outreach, recruiting, hiring, the safety committee, peer support, and as a Field Training Officer. Lauren is married to a detective and has three kids, which gives her an appreciation for the realities that first-responder families face.

2026 Sessions

Building an Effective Peer Support Program for Today's EMS Workforce

Public safety workers face the second-highest risk of distraction-related injuries at 35% to 45%. Meta-analysis of over 101,000 first responders found widespread sleep disorders driven by shift work and irregular schedules that compromise focus and situational awareness. Cumulative trauma from repeated incident exposure contributes to vehicle accidents during emergency responses, driven by fatigue and trauma-induced distraction.

Traditional peer support programs provide essential emotional connection through shared experience. While 60% of first responders report needing mental health care, less than half seek treatment, with 80% citing stigma as a major barrier alongside confidentiality concerns and fear of appearing weak. Peer supporters' lack of clinical training and 24/7 availability further limits effectiveness.

This session explores building sustainable peer support models by integrating traditional peer programs with trained clinician access. Participants will learn to create multiple confidential support pathways, protect peer team well-being through clear role boundaries, and ensure appropriate care levels. Structured peer-clinician collaboration addresses acute crises, manages long-term stress, and reduces peer supporter burden. Workplaces actively supporting mental health see increased productivity and improved retention with significant return on investment.

Co-Speaker

Thursday, October 01 9:15–10:15 AM
Room W240 A
Health and Wellness
Faculty

Lauren Cash

Bachelors , NREMTP
Paramedic
St. Charles County Ambulance District

Lauren Cash is a paramedic with St. Charles County Ambulance District in Missouri. Originally from St. Louis, she holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Indiana University Bloomington and entered EMS later in life after volunteering in a hospital's Child Life department.

She went on to work as a patient care technician on a cardiac unit and then a nationally recognized children’s hospital NICU while completing EMT and paramedic training. Lauren began her EMS career with a private ambulance service before joining SCCAD, where she now serves.

Lauren has been involved in community outreach, recruiting, hiring, the safety committee, peer support, and as a Field Training Officer. Lauren is married to a detective and has three kids, which gives her an appreciation for the realities that first-responder families face.

Faculty

Ann Hawkins

PhD
Chief Marketing and Innovation Officer
Owner

Dr. Ann Hawkins is a trusted voice in behavioral health for those who answer the call — the paramedics, EMTs, and emergency responders who run toward crisis while the rest of the world runs away. With more than 30 years of experience, she designs forward-thinking solutions that build mental resilience and emotional sustainability in one of the most demanding professions on earth.

Her approach combines proven psychological frameworks with a genuine understanding of what responders actually face — the weight of trauma, the erosion of burnout, the sleepless nights that follow the worst calls. She speaks this language fluently.

A dynamic national speaker, Ann's advocacy extends to families and leadership teams alike. She doesn't just talk about resilience. She builds it.
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