Why We're Here: ShiAnn Robinson
By MADD | March 5, 2012 | Filed in: Drunk Driving , Victim Services , Victim Stories

On April 29, 2000, Amie Jo picked up her two and a half year old daughter, ShiAnn, from the babysitters, and planned on running the typical daily errands before her weekly play date with a friend.  But that day would turn out to be anything but typical.

While driving to their friend’s house, ShiAnn and Amie Jo were singing, laughing and enjoying the spring day, until Amie Joe saw a truck heading straight for them.  Despite a desperate attempt to get out of the way, her car was hit by the truck, forcing it to roll several times.  Amie Jo reached back to try to brace ShiAnn from the impact, but was unable to reach her.

When the car came to a stop, she could hear was her daughter screaming, and saw ShiAnn covered in blood from the multiple cuts on her face; the car seat was in pieces.

ShiAnn was careflighted to Children’s Hospital of Dallas where she was immediately taken into surgery, and placed on life support.  After three and a half weeks, Amy Jo had to make a decision that no parent should ever have to make—to take her sweet baby off the machines that were keeping her alive–and on May 24th, ShiAnn died on from her injuries.

To make matters worse, the drunk driver, a repeat offender on probation for a previous DUI, fled the scene.  He was later found, but released on bail and ran for two years before being captured.   At the time of the crash, the driver had an ignition interlock installed in his truck.  Unbelievably, his wife blew into it for him, allowing him to drive drunk and kill an innocent child.   

Despite the amount of grief and turmoil Amie Jo has been through, she continues to honor her daughter.  She is now an active member and volunteer with MADD East Texas, telling her story at MADD Victim Impact Panels® and participating in Walk Like MADD®.  Amie Jo says, “This is hard to cope with, but my love for my daughter keeps me strong and with the help from the people at MADD, I can share ShiAnn’s story and let it be known that this has to stop.”

MADD Victim Services Awareness Campaign
By MADD | December 12, 2011 | Filed in: Victim Services

Last month we mailed out 1,320 victim services posters to members of MADD across the country with the challenge to place the posters in creative ways to spread awareness of MADD's Victim Services.  The entries were judged based on creativity of placement, utilization and presentation.  

We are delighted to announce the winners of the MADD Victim Services Awareness Campaign:

First place went to Christi Roberts out of the McKinney, TX office, who placed posters in hospitals and rehab centers and drew attention to the posters by creating quotes alongside the poster  such as, “Do you Know Who Your Advocate Is?” with her contact information.  Way to go Christi!   Thank you for reaching out to our community partners in the medical fields.

Second place went to Sarah Butler from Indiana, who arranged to have our posters placed in Indiana State Parks by working with the Indiana Department of National Resources.  Sarah honed in on the fact that out of the 63 boat crashes in Indiana in 2011, 56 of those crashes involved alcohol and of those that did involve alcohol 31 had injuries or fatalities included.  Not only will the posters make involved in alcohol related boating crashes aware of our services, but also reach those who may have been involved in alcohol related ATV crashes.  Thank you, Sarah, for your creative outreach to populations who don’t typically think of MADD.

Our third place winner, Lori Taylor-Blitz from Northern Michigan, created displays that hung on the walls of a local community college.  Lori creatively displayed the MADD poster so that college students and teachers could read brochures to learn more about MADD’s victim services. 

Thank you to everyone who participated in this awareness program, your time and efforts to reach victims of impaired driving are greatly appreciated!

Moving Among Heroes
By Jan Withers | October 29, 2011 | Filed in: Drunk Driving , Victim Services

Walking among thousands of law enforcement officers last week at the International Association of Chiefs of Police, IACP, Convention I felt safe and inspired.  I was continuously impressed with their sincere commitment to doing their very best.   Carl McDonald, MADD’s Law Enforcement Initiative Coordinator and Carly’s dad, has represented our mission among these committed servants for several years.

Sitting in as a new member of their Victim Services Committee, I was particularly impressed that they don’t just talk the talk but they have their sleeves rolled up and are working on ways to supporting victims of crime instead of merely treating them as sources of evidence.  The committee chairman summarized the importance of victim services with, “We need to remember that we are peace officers first and law enforcement second.”

This is an amazing group of individuals and I am so proud of our partnership with the Heroes Who Make Our Roads Safe.

Carl McDonald and Jan Withers

I flew from one assembly of champions to Boston, Massachusetts, where I was privileged to join another group of superstars.   MADD is a mighty organization.   Part of our strength is the bond we share for our mission.  Everywhere I go I feel as though I am with family. I reconnected with an old friend, Matt Shedd, former board member.  Their daughter, Hillary, was killed by a drunk driver close to the time my daughter, Alisa, was killed.  Over tea we talked with Mary Kate DePampilis, who is the new Special Events Coordinator for MADD Massachusetts.  As we reminisced, she picked our brains for information.  By the end of the evening I believe she could also feel the “family” atmosphere. 

 
Mary Kate DePampilis and Matt Shedd

A very successful Lobby Day was the result of tremendous effort and expertise of David DeIuliis, Program Manager for MADD Massachusetts.  He is extremely skilled as well as a deeply compassionate individual.  Six years ago Melanie’s Law was established, requiring repeat convicted drunk drivers to have ignition interlocks on their vehicles for two years.  Thirteen-year-old Melanie Powell was walking to a birthday party with her friends when a repeat drunk driver killed her.   Her grandfather, Ron Bersani, worked tirelessly to get this law passed.  Now Senator Hedlund has sponsored a bill to require all convicted offenders to use ignition interlocks.  

Melanie’s mother - Nancy Powell, Ron Bersani, Jan Withers, David DeIuliis

Thanks to Dave’s tireless efforts we accomplished so much that day.  There was extensive media coverage, including some live interviews on news talk shows and we talked to several senators and their staff. 

 
Elizabeth Hopkins on Fox 25 Morning News

Here I was on Boston’s Beacon Hill, at the heart of the city where our forefathers first demanded their voices to be heard.    I found myself a bit in awe – that because of them, today we still have the freedom to expect our voices to count.    As we walked the halls of the historic State House, I was again inspired with the dedication of a few individuals who are relentless in their work to make positive change - to save lives. 

 
Ron Bersani gave a powerful and persuasive speech.

Preparing officers for a life altering task
By MADD | October 26, 2011 | Filed in: Drunk Driving , Victim Services

The aftermath of a drunk driving crash creates a ripple effect.  It doesn’t just impact the victim or survivor, but it can also cause overwhelming grief, legal and medical issues for loved ones who are close to the situation. Law enforcement officers are among the first people encountered by victims and survivors after a traumatic incident, like a drunk driving crash.

Unfortunately, officers are sometimes ill-equipped for this life-changing duty.  A 2001 University of Florida study found that 41 percent of death notifiers had received neither classroom nor experiential training in death notification, although 70 percent had performed at least one notification.  As a result, most victims report that this type of early interaction added grief to their experience, rather than making it easier. 

MADD works extensively with law enforcement to make sure they are prepared for those vital early interactions with someone in grief, including:

• In-person death notification trainings that last for about five hours and help give officers best practices to use as tools during these sensitive times.
• Wallet/pocket cards for officers to carry that help refer victims and survivors of drunk driving to MADD for assistance.
• Law enforcement-specific sessions on death notification basics at MADD’s National Conference. 

We are also working on an online course to launch by October 2012 that helps train officers, first responders, social workers and medical personnel on how to compassionately deliver death notifications.  This course will be accredited as continuing education for first responders and other medical personnel.

You can read more about the importance of proper death notifications and victims’ experiences, good and bad, in this USA Today article. 

Putting A Face on the Issue of Drugged Driving
By MADD | October 19, 2011 | Filed in: Drugged Driving , Victim Services

Kelsey

Stephanie Call was a normal mother like any other. Her children were bright and full of spirit. They attended a private school and had all the potential in the world for success. Her family was full of love; and as a mother, Stephanie had much to be proud of.

That is, until Stephanie’s life was turned upside down. On a day that started out like any other day, her daughter, Kelsey, got into a car driven by her friend’s mom and headed to school. Suddenly, a driver under the influence of prescription drugs crossed the median in the road and struck their vehicle, killing all three occupants.  The driver pled guilty, but Stephanie and her family still feel the loss every day.

“I have a gaping hole in my heart that will never heal,” Stephanie says.

Stephanie at the  Drugged Driving launch in Washington, D.C.

Now, Stephanie is working to make sure that nobody has to experience that same kind of loss again. At an event held by MADD in Washington, D.C., Stephanie shared her story in an effort to raise awareness about the dangers of drugged driving on our nation’s roads. While MADD has always provided support to drugged driving victims who were referred to us, at the event with the help of Stephanie, MADD formally announced a nationally coordinated effort to reach out and support these victims in addition to our continued focus on serving victims of drunk driving.

You can play a part as well.  A victim advocate helped Stephanie’s family deal with the aftermath of a drugged driving crash.  But, we need your help to make sure that other drugged driving victims can also receive support. Make a donation or find out how you can become a trained victim advocate.  Because, while the substances differ, the consequences are the same—needless deaths and injuries.