KACS Newsletter: 2025 in the Rearview

As we move into 2026, Kids and Car Safety (KACS) is proud to reflect on an extraordinary year of progress in our mission to prevent tragic injuries and deaths of children in and around vehicles. From powerful family storytelling and national policy leadership to expanding education and global collaboration, this year marked a major step forward in saving lives and supporting families.

Thanks to our supporters, partners, and courageous advocates, KACS continues to lead the way in child vehicle safety and equity—ensuring more families are protected, more professionals are trained, and more voices are driving change.

NEW Free E-Learning Courses for

Teens & Early Childhood Professionals & Car Seat Techs

Supported by Honda

Click below to check them out!

Consumer Reports Petition:

Automakers: Make Electronic Door Handles Safer

It shouldn’t be complicated to open your car door during a vehicle fire or other emergency. But for some new electric vehicles, the door handles do not work if the vehicle loses electrical power. Join us in calling on automakers to fix this problem ASAP!

Also, check out the SAFE Exit Act, a federal bill calling for safe and manual door handles on the inside and outside of all vehicles that are intuitive to find as standard equipment.

Capacity Building: Expanding Our Team and Expertise

In 2025, KACS strategically expanded our team by hiring four exceptional new staff members—an important step toward increasing our reach and strengthening our impact. New team members include:

• Alli Davis, Senior Program Manager
• Tracy Steffek, Family Support, Engagement & Advocacy Manager
• Noah Fennell, Software Engineer leading major database modernization and AI-driven automation
• Chloe Burke, Data Manager supporting child welfare research and analysis
• Gracie Rodriguez, Social Media Manager launching weekly safety tip content

KACS proudly welcomed two highly accomplished board members from the legal and corporate sectors.

• Andy DeMarea, Partner, Forsgren Fisher McCalmont DeMarea Tysver LLP
• Katie Rollins, Vice President of Customer Marketing, the Coca-Cola Company

New Publications

The Impact of a Federally Mandated Car Safety Feature on Rate and Severity of Pediatric Backover Trauma

Natalie A. Drucker, MD, MS, and Jeanette Jolly at UTHealth Houston, Janette Fennell, & Amber Rollins

KACS worked tirelessly for 16+ years on the backup camera safety standard and we are thrilled to report that our recent study showed a near-50% reduction in severe backover injuries and 78% fewer deaths in small children!

Justice and Parental Blameworthiness: Gender and Racial Disparities in the Criminalization of Hot Car Deaths

Elizabeth Borland, Mary Nell Trautner, Jordan Ekstrom, Cameron Keating, Elizabeth Wood, Janette Fennell, Amber Rollins, First published: 23 June 2025

The study examines the role that parental gender and race play in the arrests, charges, and convictions in hot car death cases.

Education & Outreach: Reaching Thousands Nationwide

KACS delivered presentations, exhibits, trainings, and community events across the country and internationally—educating professionals and families on hot cars, backovers, frontovers, submersion, and other nontraffic dangers.

Highlights include:

• Lifesavers Transportation Safety Conference
• Safe Kids Worldwide Heatstroke Prevention Day press event
• Missouri statewide educator trainings through Parents as Teachers
• MODOT Statewide Conference
• American Public Health Association and NAEYC national conferences
• KACS 30th Anniversary Celebration honoring families and advocates

In total, KACS distributed 150,000 educational materials nationwide in 2025.

Honda Safety Roundtable

KACS was honored to participate in Honda’s annual Safety Roundtable in October. Touring the manufacturing facility and collaborating with fellow safety-focused professionals was a true highlight. Honda’s genuine commitment to safety is evident, and we remain deeply grateful for their continued support of our educational programs.

Global Impact: United Nations Hot Car Workgroup

KACS proudly participated in the United Nations Children Left In Vehicles (CLIV) global working group throughout 2025. With 30 years of expertise and one of the world’s most comprehensive hot car data systems, KACS is working to help shape international strategies to prevent these tragedies worldwide.

Distinguished Alumni Award

Janette Fennell, Class of 1972, was selected to receive an alumni award in recognition of her extraordinary leadership and lifelong commitment to child and vehicle safety. As the founder and president of Kids and Car Safety, she has driven lifesaving vehicle safety standards and protected children and families nationwide. This honor celebrates Janette’s lasting impact, service, and the pride she brings to the Oshkosh alumni community. Congrats, Janette!

Watch the video of her acceptance speech HERE. (note the vide starts at about 20 min, 30 seconds)

Family Support: Healing, Connection, & Survivor-Led Change

KACS expanded its family support initiative with a year-long peer support pilot program, healing circles, volunteer engagement, and updated grief support resources. Families are not only at the heart of our mission—they are leaders in shaping long-term change.

Media & Digital Reach: Growing National Awareness

KACS continued to keep hot car dangers and nontraffic risks in the national spotlight through extensive media engagement. 2025 digital impact included:

• 7,200+ social media interactions
• 303,800 total content views
• 15,700 organic Instagram accounts reached

KACS also issued dozens of press releases and contributed expertise to major national outlets including NBC, Fox News, USA Today, and more. Below are a few examples:

Mom who lost 9-month-old son in hot car warns parents amid US heatwave: ‘No way that could happen’

heatwave, June 25, 2025, By Audrey Conklin Fox News

Hot car deaths can happen to any parent | July 6, 2025, FOX 5 Atlanta

Technology aims to reverse hot-car deaths among children, Ariel Wesler, Spectrum News, Aug. 01, 2025

Sharing the Road: Research shows bigger, taller vehicles are more dangerous to pedestrians, Heather Graf and Rebecca Knier, May 15, 2025

New IIHS measurement technique points to growth in vehicle blind zones, June 26, 2025

Podcast: Hot Car Deaths: When Memory Fails, May 19, 2025 • New Mexico Department of Transportation

KACS 30th Anniversary Celebration and Event

We are deeply moved and incredibly grateful to everyone who attended, sponsored, volunteered and donated to our 30th Anniversary Celebration & Fundraiser. Thanks to your generosity, compassion, and commitment to protecting children, we exceeded our fundraising goal of $100,000!

SAVE-THE-DATE

2026 Community Event & Fundraiser in KC

WHEN: Sunday, October 4, 2026 (Noon - 3 pm CST)

WHERE: Eagle’s Landing at Lake Olathe (475 S. Ward Cliff Dr., Olathe, KS 66061)

WHAT: Join us for a heartwarming and action-packed afternoon the whole family will love! Enjoy kids’ games and activities (FREE face painting and cotton candy, inflatable obstacles course, touch-a-truck, yard games, unicorn pony, etc) a sizzling BBQ cook off, LIVE music and more—all to support Kids and Car Safety’s mission to protect children in and around vehicles. We’ll also honor local families who have experienced the unimaginable loss of a child, making this event both meaningful and memorable.

EVENT WEBSITE

If you are interested in sponsoring or contributing to the event, please contact Amber@kidsandcars.org for more information.

Huge thank you to our major sponsors for your unwavering support!

Honda, Toyota, State Farm, Ride & Remind, MODOT, Safe Ride 4 Kids, The DanaJames Charitable Foundation, Bartimus Frickleton Robertson Rader P.C., Langdon & Emison, Davis Bethune & Jones, Fennell Family, Wagstaff & Cartmell, LLP

Partner with us to save lives. Together we can showcase your commitment to making the world safer for children. For information on how to become a KACS sponsor, please contact Amber@kidsandcars.org.