Jennifer Silvey-Cason is awarded Frontline Woman of the Year by the JAX Chamber Professional Woman’s

Jacksonville — Jennifer Silvey-Cason, UF Health Jacksonville’s Emergency Preparedness Manager, was recently named Frontline Woman of the Year by the JAX Chamber Professional Woman’s Council for teaching Mental Health First-Aid Paint Stress classes to frontline healthcare care workers.

Sensing a need to address the stress surrounding COVID 19, particularly after its second wave, the Mental Health First Aid instructor combined her extensive background in frontline health care with her love for painting to allow members of her organization, as well as first responders, nurses, and physicians a much needed venue for “expressing their mental health anguish.”

Silvey-Cason designed the class based on her previous crafting experience of working with children as well as her need to corral pals on Facebook to paint with her to help her deal with her own COVID 18 and 20 hour work days.

“I realized that I needed to take same thought process to help the health care clinics that never stopped,” she said. “Along with the stress of losing patients and family members, some of the workers were also dealing with having their kids at home.”

The class was an instant success. In addition to sharing a power-point presentation, participants paint scenic mountain landscapes, flowing ocean waters and the northern lights while practicing breathing exercises. Discussions include proper nutrition, the need for exercise and ways to recognize and discuss stress within the family unit.

“Painting creates an environment of welcome and calmness,” she said. “This is a way to express their feelings. We’ve noticed that our our frontline healthcare workers and first responders deal with compassion fatigue and moral injury and this is a way to release those emotions.”

Silvey -Cason noted the parallel between painting flowing ocean waters and the connection to breathing exercises as well as the connection between long brush strokes of the northern lights and their “welcoming, soothing colors.”

“Certain colors promote healing,” she said. “And deep breathing exercises exhale stress and negative energy.”

At the end of class, canvases are lined up on the floor. Silvey-Cason describes this as the ‘aha’ moment of learning how to build resiliency by taking care of one’s own mental well-being as well as becoming our brothers keeper. Painting she says, allows physicians, nurses and first responders to “express themselves and take a deep breath out and realize that we are in this together.”

Silvey-Casey is no stranger to stress associated with frontline work. Touting 15 years of working with UF Health Jacksonville, she is also a graduate nurse, paramedic, Active Shooter instructor, National EMT/Paramedic Instructor and firefighter. At UF Health Jacksonville, she implements emergency plans, policies and training procedures for disasters.

“I have an amazing job,” she said. “I’ve built relationships, with the FBI, homeland security and of course JFRD . I am able to use my clinical and field experience to help prepare our hospitals and our community.”

She has also created Disaster Family Reunification programs designed to uplift and assist first responders and families in healing and teaches a First Responder Female Focused Class designed to empower young women in fire service.

Silvey-Cason said she was humbled by the recognition.

The JAX Chamber Professional Woman’s Council connects professional women in the community to showcase their professions as they network with each other.

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