Photo Courtesy: MADD
Olivia Vest
Managing Editor
Two in three people will be involved in an alcohol-related driving accident in their lifetimes, according to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). With such incredibly high rates of these accidents, the work of organizations such as the Kansas DUI (Driving Under the Influence) Impact Center is important.
After a childhood friend of Executive Director Mary Ann Khoury died from injuries caused by a car accident with a recurring drunk driver in 1987, the center was created for similar victims and their families. The center has now expanded to statewide programs and assistance to DUI victims and offenders, filling a major void of victim services in the Wichita area.
With services that support DUI victims and their families, as well as offenders themselves, the Impact Center is making a difference in the state. The organization supports many programs that provide a variety of assistance to individuals connected to these accidents.
Ranging from transportation assistance and emotional support to childcare, the Impact Center supports three main branches (Victim Advocacy, Community Outreach and Court Watch) to provide a variety of help. A DUI Victim Advocates program pairs a volunteer with a victim in court, allowing DUI victims to speak freely after their tragedy. A Case Coordination program provides victims of impaired driving with advocates who will provide case updates and assist with other court proceedings. These programs, along with many others, provide a range of care to these victims.
With a multitude of staff members, the center is able to reach DUI victims and offenders statewide. Community Outreach Coordinator Jennifer Bumsted is one of these individuals.
“I am the Community Outreach Coordinator, and I facilitate DUI Victim Panels across the state of Kansas,” Bumsted said. “When a person gets a DUI, they are court ordered to attend a victim panel. At these panels, there are usually two speakers. These speakers are either victims themselves, have lost a loved one or they are a previous offender. They tell their stories, and this experience may impact the offender to make wiser choices in the future.”
Many volunteers also provide assistance to the Impact Center in a variety of ways.
“I became involved with the DUI Impact Center after my 20-year-old son was killed in an alcohol-related auto accident in 2015,” said Volunteer Michele Richardson. “My volunteer group with the DUI Impact Center has consisted of signing in/registering DUI offenders who’ve been ordered to come to a victim impact panel. I have also been a volunteer sober driver with the group. I am currently working toward being a speaker to tell about how DUI/alcohol-related death has impacted my life and the lives of my family. I plan to speak at impact panels and/or high schools to emphasize the dangers of underage drinking and driving to students.”
According to Bumsted, convicted offenders are not the only attendees of the panels.
“The panels are for anyone,” Bumsted said. “The court orders the DUI offenders to attend, of course, but sometimes parents will send their children as a prevention and/or intervention tool. The only people who have to pay to attend are those who are court ordered. Anyone else can attend for free.”
Not only is this work rewarding to the victims and offenders, but to volunteers and workers as well.
“What I enjoy most about my job is meeting new people and seeing how much the agency has helped them,” Bumsted said. “I wouldn’t say that I enjoy hearing the stories that our victim speakers share. As a matter of fact, I almost always break down in tears while facilitating panels. However, I hope this job will always have that effect on me. I feel very sincere when speaking to the offenders and I think the reward comes when we hear them say that they commit to never drive while impaired again.”
Victims or offenders of these tragedies can find more information about the Center at ksdui.org.
