Regional Newsletter

MADD TIMES N E W E N G L A N D R E G I O N E D I T I O N

M A R C H 2 0 2 1

WE ARE ONE REG I ON

On behalf of Mothers Against Drunk Driving New England , I , along with our staff throughout the states , welcome you to the MADD New England Region Quarterly E - newsletter . We hope that everyone reading this column , as well as friends , and loved ones , are healthy and safe during this unprecedented time . This Newsletter is designed to provide current information on our mission to end drunk driving , fight drugged driving , support the victims of these violent crimes and to prevent underage drinking while also informing you of upcoming programs and events throughout the Region . We are hopeful that the new Regionalization will afford us with new opportunities and new resources for sustainability and growth of the mission throughout New England . MADD ’ s Educational Programs are available for schools , parents , youth , and community groups and are designed to help with questions you may have regarding the dangers of underage drinking , empowering youth to make the right decision and providing resources to parents to help prevent tragedies , and much more . Victim Services Advocates are available 365 days a year / 24 hours a day in person or by calling our 877 - MADD - HELP ( 877 - 623 - 3435 ). Please feel free to reach out to any one of the state offices if you need assistance in anyway . We are here to work together in hopes of creating a future of No More Victims . The statistics are horrifying . The danger is real – and it can wreak life - changing devastation anytime , anywhere , in the blink of an eye . The destruction ripples out , impacting two out of three people in their lifetime . Only together can we end this 100 % preventable crime of drinking and driving . MADD currently has staff available ( Connecticut , Massachusetts , Rhode Island ) with a plan to provide in person support in Maine , Vermont , and New Hampshire in the future . If you or someone you know is in need our services at any point , please do not hesitate to reach out .

WHAT ' S NEW

MADD Connecticut 317 Foxon Road East Haven , CT 06513 203 - 764 - 2566 ct . state @ madd . org www . madd . org / ct

MADD Massachusetts PO Box 141 Danvers , MA 01923 781 - 328 - 0002 MA . State @ madd . org

MADD Rhode Island P . O . box 3468 Pawtucket , RI 02861 401 - 421 - 0800 Sean . Cassidy @ madd . org www . madd . org / rhode - island

Bob Garguilo MADD Regional Executive Director – New England Bob . Garguilo @ madd . org

V I C T I M I MPAC T S TAT EMENT S

A victim impact statement is your opportunity to describe to the court the physical , emotional and f inancial effects that the crime had on you and your fami ly . As a crime victim , you have the right to give a victim impact statement to the court at the time of the sentencing of the defendant . No one knows better than you how this crime may have changed your l i fe and your victim impact statement wi l l help the judge understand how the crime has affected your l i fe . The victim impact statement can also provide information useful in determining court - ordered restitution . You may stand up in court and read your statement yoursel f , or have someone read it on your behal f , such as a fami ly member , friend , or Victim Services Advocate . Even i f you don ’ t plan on attending the sentencing hearing , you may provide your written victim impact statement to be read at the hearing or included in the off icial court f i le . I f you wi l l be reading a statement in court , it may be helpful to write it down . This may be a stressful time and as a result , you may forget some of the things you wanted to say . I f you would l ike assistance preparing your victim impact statement , you can contact your local MADD off ice to speak with an advocate . For more helpful tips on writing victim impact statement , please fol low this l ink https : / / onl ine . f l ippingbook . com / view / 919936 / .

March is Brain Injury Awareness Month

Increasing understanding of brain injury as a chronic condition Reducing the stigma associated with having a brain injury Showcasing the diversity of injury and the demographics of the community Improving care and support for individuals with brain injury and their families Join the # MoreThanMyBrainInjury campaign and help educate others about what it ’ s like to live with a brain injury . We want everyone , everywhere to join us in : There are more than 5 . 3 million children and adults in the United States who are living with a permanent brain injury - related disability . That ’ s one in every 60 people . If you know someone who is living with brain injury – or if you have one yourself – you know that brain injury is not an event or an outcome . It ’ s the start of a misunderstood , misdiagnosed , underfunded neurological disease .

For additional supportive materials please visit our online MADD Virtual Library

YOUTH I N OUR COMMUN I T Y

Dur ing COVID , our MADD CT youth department was busy creating numerous vi rtual programs for both parents and teens . Now that we have gone vi rtual we can br ing these programs to the rest of New England ! I f you are interested in having a Power of Parent or Power of Youth presentation anywhere in New England please reach out to Brooke ( brooke . maxf ield @ madd . org ) or Nicole ( nicole . wichowski @ madd . org ) for detai ls .

May 1, 2021

www.walklikemadd.org/connecticut

MADD MA HE L P S ADVANCE R I DE AC T

MADD Massachusetts is honored to be a part of the MADD National efforts for federal legislation cal led the RIDE act . Three of MADD ’ s amazing volunteers have joined this monumental effort . The RIDE Act would make alcohol detection technology the standard in al l new vehicles . We are closer than ever before to ending drunk dr iving and this is a very exciting time within the organization . Our volunteers are working with Senator Markey ’ s Off ice and the Senate Transportation Committee to advance this legislation .

Matt Shedd became involved with MADD 30 years ago when his daughter Hi l lary was ki l led by a drunk dr iver on Interstate 95 in Maryland . Matt has been a strong advocate and leader for change within the Commonwealth . He has served as Chapter President and has done countless speaking engagements on behal f of MADD . His generosity knows no bounds as he remains an integral part of helping MADD ’ s mission in Massachusetts , now including our latest efforts with the RIDE Act . Sarah Carmichael has been a huge legislative advocate for MADD MA and recently helped pass a law for interlock use for f i rst - time offenders . Sarah came to MADD after barely surviving a drunk dr iving crash 13 years ago . After sustaining many injur ies , she has become a strong and inspi rational voice for MADD and making change within the cr iminal justice system . Mar ia Tourrei l les got involved with MADD after her chi ldren were in a drunk dr iving crash with thei r father as the dr iver . Thankful ly , al l survived , but the mental trauma from the exper ience remains . Mar ia found heal ing by helping pass the Chi ld Endangerment law in Massachusetts and continues to seek change to help fami l ies l ike hers .

For more information on the RIDE Act or how you can get involved in MADD Massachusetts ’ legislative efforts , please

contact Mary Kate DePamphi l is at marykate . depamphi l is @ madd . org .