The Gateway Affiliate of Mothers Against Drunk Driving provides the following programs and services to our community at no charge, thanks to the generosity of local corporations, foundations and individuals:
• Victim Services - MADD is first and foremost a victim services organization. We support those who have lost a loved one, have had a loved one injured or they themselves have been injured due to an impaired driver. We offer emotional support through empathetic listening, reassurance and guidance in resolving practical problems, as well as peer based support groups that provide an outlet for victim/survivors to express their grief and pain and connect with others who share a similar experience. Through MADD's Victim Services program, we provide advocacy in the criminal justice system, explaining the overall process, educating them on their rights as victims, assisting in preparing victim impact statements, as well as accompany them to court proceedings if requested. We also collaborate with other agencies to access additional referral sources for the victims and provide supportive materials and brochures on victimization topics specific to their individual need.
• Law Enforcement Support - MADD understands that law enforcement jobs are not easy. These men and women put their lives on the line each day to keep our communities safe. When it comes to impaired driving issues, especially, they are the first to be scrutinized and the last to be commended. What many tend to forget is that they are the first responders to these horrific crashes. They are the ones making the knock on the door and notifying families that their loved ones are not coming home because they were killed in an impaired driving crash. These law enforcement officials are the ones watching and trying to assist families as their worlds fall apart, all while keeping their composure as they face and battle their own emotional and physical anguish. Law enforcement officials understand fully the hurt and pain from these horrific crashes and in their efforts to prevent another life from being taken at the hands of an impaired driver, MADD supports them for protecting families. We support them by hosting recognition events to honor the men and women who work tirelessly to end drunk driving, as well as attend the sobriety checkpoints they conduct. We attend the sobriety checkpoints as silent observers, but voice our support to the officials for all that they do.
• MADD's Power of Parents program - In response to scientific evidence that parental influence can reduce underage drinking, MADD began a parent initiative: Power of Parents. It is a community based program that that is directed to parents/guardians of middle and high schoolers and consists of a 30-minute workshop that includes a presentation by a trained facilitator and provides a handbook for parents, giving a tool and encouraging them to star the conversation about their child(ren) about drinking.
• MADD's Power of Youth program - A program presented to students in schools, both middle and high school, MADD's Power of You(th) program empowers teens to take a stand against drinking alcohol before the age of 21 and never ride in a car with someone who has been drinking. The program includes a presentation with MADD victim speakers and provides students with MADD's Power of You(th) handbook - 'The 411 on Teen Drinking'. The handbook provides teens with research-based information on the dangers of underage drinking, educating them on the facts about alcohol and the consequences of true-life stories on the dangers of alcohol and underage drinking. MADD's Power of You(th) handbook is designed to offer teens a tool to resist peer pressure and empower them to take the next step and influence their peers to make the right choices as well.
• Community Education and Awareness - MADD educates our communities about the dangers of impaired driving at every opportunity. We do this by attending safety and community fairs and victim speakers sharing their journeys at schools, businesses and Drunk Driving Victim Impact Panels. Through these events, our hope is to give the community a perspective of the individuals whose lives have been impacted by a crime that is 100% preventable.