Lauren LeBlanc, a Care Specialist, helps families find resources to assist them with everyday needs and life events, and she has a unique specialty area—helping employees prepare for and cope with natural disasters.
Can you share a little bit about your background and experience?
With my master’s degree in psychology from Southern Connecticut State University, I’ve always known I wanted to find a role that helped people who are in dire need or crisis situations. As a Daily Needs Specialist, I am fulfilling my goal by supporting working families—and my specialty has evolved to support our clients’ employees who have been impacted by natural disasters.
What types of calls do you receive?
Natural disasters like ice storms, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, and earthquakes often leave families feeling lost and powerless. Before they occur, people worry. They need guidance to make sure they prepare properly. Once a disaster strikes, so much is out of someone’s control, and they often need help rebuilding the basics. I’ve received many calls from people who don’t have food, water, or electricity, and in many cases, their homes were damaged or destroyed. They often don’t know where to start…which is where I come in to help.
What type of support and resources do you provide?
If an employee calls prior to a disaster, we focus on how to prepare for safety. I help research and provide updated information from local authorities, including evacuation routes, timelines, shelter options in the event of an emergency, and information on essentials they should have on hand. If an employee is affected by a disaster, I help them find relief as quickly as possible in the aftermath.
While every situation is unique, typically we research and connect families with local resources, such as shelters, temporary housing, pet shelters, and contractors. I also can connect families to national relief organizations such as FEMA, American Red Cross, and United Way and refer them to insurance companies and resources to help with claims and repairs. At the end of the day, my job is to give them all the resources and information they need to stay safe and, in the worst case, rebuild.
Is there a particularly memorable case that sticks out in your mind?
When you work with people in disaster situations, almost every case is memorable, but one case that stands out was during the 2021 Texas ice storm. A man called us because his pipes had frozen. He had no heat, and he did not have access to a car so he could not leave his home to find help. He called us desperately seeking someone to deliver firewood to his home so he could stay warm. That same day, I found someone in the area that delivered wood, and he was able to go to sleep with heat that night.
What do you love about your job?
The work that I do really makes an impact. I have helped hundreds of families prepare for, or recover from, one of the most altering and stressful moments in their lives. The heartfelt thanks I receive from employees when they find peace after the storm is so rewarding. Families truly appreciate the extra support that’s available to them from their Care benefits.
