Jeni Wyatt, Victim's Assistance Jeni Wyatt: Counselor, advisor, advocate By Melanie Davis Marshall Jeni Wyatt is putting her professional talents to work for the community. Jeni Wyatt serves as the victims’ assistance advocate for the Watauga County chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Wyatt holds a doctorate in community counseling, which she completed at UNC Asheville in 2006. She has now volunteered her time and expertise to the Watauga chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) as the victim assistance advocate. Wyatt attended a five-day, national training seminar in Dallas, Texas, in May sponsored by MADD. The training covered all aspects of a drunk-driving related crash, from law enforcement involvement to the aftermath for a victim. “For someone involved, there is so much more than just a wreck and it’s over,” Wyatt said. “The victim advocate stays with the family from the initial wreck through the court case.” Through the national training, Wyatt learned the basics of victims’ rights in a court case, post traumatic stress syndrome recognition and how to connect victims with community resources. “If a person loses their car in a drunk-driving wreck, they may be in danger of losing their job,” Wyatt explains. “A victim advocate can help connect the victim to non-profits in the area to assist them.” Wyatt has been involved with the Watauga County chapter of MADD since its inception in December 2007. She has missed only one meeting. There were several reasons behind her desire to join the MADD organization, one of which was the death of relative when she was a very young girl. Her cousin’s husband went out to a convenience store late one evening and did not return home. His vehicle was T-boned by a speeding, drunk driver. He was killed instantly in the collision. “I was too young to remember the accident happening, but an event like that creates a ripple-effect in the family,” she said. Wyatt’s father was a warrant officer in the U.S. Army, and she spent much of childhood raised in Italy and Germany, as well as various locations throughout the U.S. “I was raised in a household without alcohol, but through my father’s work I was exposed to some alcohol-related issues,” Wyatt said. “He would be called to pick up officers who had drunk too much.” One of the main reasons for Wyatt’s MADD involvement is the national media coverage of the 1980 death of 13-year-old girl at the hands of a drunk driver. Cari Lightner was walking down a suburban street in California, when she was hit and killed by a drunk driver. The driver of the car had been convicted four times prior on charges of driving while intoxicated. Upon the conviction in the case involving Lightner’s death, he was sentenced to two years in prison, which he did not serve. He spent the two years in a work camp and halfway house. Lightner’s mother, Candy, vowed to make a difference, and founded Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, later changed to Mothers Against Drunk Driving. “That story really affected me. I was close to the same age as Cari,” Wyatt said. “I can remember thinking how completely unfair it was and that sentiment has stayed with me.” Upon seeing the MADD announcement in the newspaper nearly one year ago, Wyatt had no hesitation in joining the organization. Her daughters, ages 17 and 14, have approached the driving age. “After finishing my doctorate, I felt that I had enough time to dedicate to a good organization,” Wyatt said. The victims’ assistance advocate position fits perfectly with Wyatt’s education and experience. She is currently serving as the director of undergraduate academic affairs at the college of arts and sciences at Appalachian State University. Wyatt has been in the position with ASU for nearly six years. She had already begun her doctorate program in Asheville when the ASU position became available. “I came for an interview and thought to myself immediately, ’This is where I want to be,’” Wyatt said. It was a commute for her to finish her doctorate in Asheville and work in Boone, but she credits a supportive family for helping her to achieve that goal. Her mother, in particular, helped by watching her daughters on the late nights she was traveling between work and school. The desire to help others and raise awareness appears to be a trait Wyatt has instilled in her daughters. Her eldest daughter, Savannah Parris, is a senior at Watauga High School and active in the Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) club. Through a recent partnership between MADD and SADD, the pair will likely be working together on a few projects in the near future. Wyatt’s youngest daughter, Carolina Parris, a freshman at WHS, is very active with her church youth group and is a member of the Watauga High Against Tobacco club. Wyatt is currently not working with any families or victims of drunk-driving collisions. “We are very fortunate to have only a few alcohol-related crashes per year in Watauga County,” she said. Wyatt is on standby if an accident should occur, trained and ready to provide assistance. Her contact information has been disseminated through the Watauga County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) and the Boone Police Department. If there are current victims in Watauga County seeking additional information, Wyatt can be reached by calling the national MADD victim services hotline at (877) MADD-HELP. The national center will notify the local chapter and Wyatt. The Watauga County chapter’s meetings are held on the second Thursday of every month. The location varies between the Watauga County Public Library and the sheriff’s office on Hodges Gap Road in Boone. In December, the meeting will be held on Dec. 11 at 5:30 p.m. at the WCSO. Wyatt encourages everyone, men and women, to attend the meetings and become involved in the organization. “Too often, people think MADD is a bunch of teetotalers,” she said. “It is the action of drunk driving we are against, attempting to help make the roads safer for everyone.” Article Courtesy of The Mountain Times.