Speakers
Stacey Warren
Stacey Warren, is a Clinical Level Social Worker with over 25 years of experience, her professional journey has taken her across the country, practicing psychotherapy in the school setting as a Behavioral Health Specialist in Hawaii, and Therapist Clinical Supervisor on the border of Mexico. She has also served in various MH provider roles in settings such as detention centers, residential facilities, and hospitals.
Her professional passion revolves around mental health, with a particular focus on prevention and postvention for suicidality. In her current role as Student and School Support Professional Services Provider for Heartland AEA, serving multiple central Iowa school districts, she is deeply committed to building comprehensive mental health systems within schools. Stacey was named the 2023 Iowa School Social Worker of the year.
Jeremy Sprague
Lieutenant Jeremy Sprague has over 25 years of experience in law enforcement and is a police lieutenant for the Des Moines Iowa Police Department. He has served as a patrol officer, detective, hostage/crisis negotiator, 911 dispatch supervisor, patrol sergeant, fatal crash investigation supervisor, child/sex abuse supervisor, patrol commander, and other positions.
Throughout his career, Jeremy has personally navigated various critical incidents including LODD’s, officer-involved shootings, child fatalities, hostage/barricaded subjects, active killer/school shootings, and much more. He also retired after 18 years in the fire service as a part-time fire lieutenant supervising an engine company, medic squad, and directing the fire training academy.
In 2008, Lieutenant Jeremy Sprague pioneered a new project within the Des Moines Police Department by designing and launching the department’s very first peer support team. This groundbreaking initiative marked a significant milestone, serving as a model for peer support teams throughout the entire Midwest.
The year 2016 brought profound tragedy, as the Des Moines Police Department tragically lost three officers in the line of duty, alongside two other officers within the metropolitan area. Jeremy coordinated and managed the peer support response to these heart-wrenching losses. In his role, he also offered unwavering support to department employees, served as a compassionate family liaison, and skillfully led multiple crisis teams in providing solace to the first responders affected by these horrific events.
In 2017, Jeremy expanded his innovative peer support model and created the Peer Support Foundation which consults agencies and trains first responders throughout the country in employee wellness and peer support. He currently serves as the executive director and president of the foundation.
Jeremy has presented for numerous organizations and conferences about peer support, employee wellness, PTSD, suicide awareness, and other topics. He as presented at the National Concerns of Police Survivors Conference, National Fraternal Order of Police Wellness Summit, International Brotherhood of Teamsters Law Enforcement League, other state and local organizations, and numerous public safety agencies throughout the country. Jeremy holds a Master’s of Public Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management Administration. He is a graduate of Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command. Jeremy is a certified FBI Law Enforcement Instructor and serves as an adjunct instructor in Criminal Justice at the Des Moines Area Community College. He is also an instructor for the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation and holds a certificate in Critical Incident Stress Management from the University of Maryland-Baltimore County.
Megan Harvey, Psychologist
VA Rocky Mountain MIRECC
Tyler Hinkle
Tyler Henkle is a worship pastor at a small church in Vinton currently serving as the treasurer of the Benton County Suicide Prevention Coalition. He and his wife Jessica have four children and five grandchildren. His background is in nursing, clinical administration, death investigation and a wedding DJ. He is a lifetime resident of Vinton with a passion for church life, music and videography.
Facilitators
David N. Brown, Ph.D., LMFT, CFLE
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
Behavioral Health State Specialist
Dr. David Brown currently serves as the Behavioral Health State Specialist for Iowa State University Extension and Outreach (ISUEO). His key program and grant emphases are farm stress assistance, relationship education, co-parenting, workplace resilience, mental health literacy, and suicide prevention.
Dr. Brown has been licensed as a Marital and Family Therapist in the State of Iowa for over 31 years and is a Clinical Fellow of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. He is also a Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) with the National Council on Family Relations.
Peggy Dickey
Peggy Dickey is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has been working in the field of Social Work and Mental Health for the last 24 years. She received her Batchelor’s of Social Work from University of Nebraska at Kearney in 2000, and her Masters of Social Work from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 2004. She began her career working primarily with severe and persistently mentally ill individuals within state psychiatric hospitals. In 2008 she began with the Department of the Army at Fort Stewart Georgia, where she served active duty Service Members, Veterans and their families for the next 13 years. During her time at Fort Stewart she held several roles to include clinical/patient care as well as leadership positions. In her current role, she has the pleasure of serving as the Community Engagement and Partnership Coordinator (CEPC) which is an extension of the Iowa City VA Suicide Prevention Team. Using community based interventions and a public health approach, she is currently actively engaged in more than 20 coalitions throughout Eastern Iowa. Ms. Dickey is a military spouse of an Army Veteran and mother of four children. She is honored to have the opportunity to live out her passion for caring for our nations Service Members, Veterans and their families as part of the Iowa City VA Suicide Prevention Team.