Sunday, May 23, 2010

Post 5


Finding Those Materials on Problem Gambling



Starting out in 2001 - without ready access to printed materials on compulsive gambling - was a challenge. Now, nine years later, our GRM Resource Center's inventory, located at Mt. Tabor United Methodist Church (Aurora, IN), provides witness to years of collaborative sharing and steady creation. I cannot say enough about the generous sharing by colleagues acquainted through professional networking!


A great place to begin the search for material is the National Council on Problem Gambling (http://www.ncpgambling.org/) and the various State Councils on Problem (or Compulsive) Gambling. Check out Indiana (http://www.indianaproblemgambling.org/), Arizona (www.azcg.org/), Connecticut (http://www.ccpg.org/), Florida (http://www.gamblinghelp.org/), and Nevada (http://www.nevadacouncil.org/) to name a few. The New Jersey Council on Compulsive Gambling (http://www.800gambler.org/) has created a fantastic multi-grade curriculum for students; and the UCLA Gambling Studies Program(www.uclagamblingprogram.org/treatment.html) includes a self-help workbook entitled Freedom from Problem Gambling. Keep on looking through the different State Councils' web sites and you will discover quite a treasure trove!

A super source of information is the Shawnee Regional Prevention and Recovery Services, Inc.,(http://www.parstopeka.com/) of Topeka, KS. Then there is one of my favorites: the booklet, Pathological Gambling & Chemical Dependency, available through Project Turnabout/Vanguard in Granite Falls, MN (http://www.projectturnabout.com/) . Gamblers Anonymous and Gam-Anon, also, have printed materials available on their web sites (http://www.gamblersanonymous.org/) and (http://www.gam-anon.org/)

Moreover, the growing number of invitations to present GRM workshops has generated quite a variety of Gambling Recovery Ministries PowerPoints, handouts, and brochures. All are tailor-made to specific areas of focus: Teens, Women, Seniors, Developing Outreach,
A, B, C's of Problem Gambling, Spiritual Considerations, etc. For more information on GRM's free materials, call the Resource Center at (812) 926-1052.

If you have any questions about these resources and Gambling Recovery Ministries' materials, give us a call!



For more information about problem gambling, visit our GRM web site.




Rev. Janet Jacobs
Director, Gambling Recovery Ministries