Gambling Recovery Ministries: Indiana Problem Gambling

Post 41                                                                                                                                                  
BLOGS … BLOGS … BLOGS!!!                                                                                                          

JULY, AUGUST, and SEPTEMBER                                                                                                   

GROWING THE CIRCLE OF CARE                                                                                                   

JULY:  from Indy to Seattle … and back (September)!!                                                                                                                   

                                                                                                                                                             

Oh, my goodness … it’s October already!  The past three months have flown by, filled with exciting events and encounters! So, for now, I will play catch-up with the GRM Blog.  Each month’s Blog entry will focus on a special event or development during that particular time.  Interestingly, it seems that each entry connects, in a unique way, to the other months’ happenings! 

July’s Blog actually began last winter when my abstract to do a presentation, for the 2013 National Council on Problem Gambling Annual Conference in Seattle, was accepted.  I was invited to participate in the National Prevention Showcase – a special breakout session featuring a variety of presentations on prevention work across the country. 

“Completing the Circle of Care” was the title of Gambling Recovery Ministries’ ongoing project to collaborate with multiple entities and individuals for the purpose of extending outreach and care to all affected by problem gambling.  Specifically, the four sectors of the Care Circle were the following:  Treatment, Support Groups, Faith-Based, and a combined group of Research, Academics, Public Health, State Agencies, State and National Councils on Problem Gambling, and the Gaming Industry.

Within the presentation, I provided detailed listings of innovative ways how all four sectors could collaborate with each other – and thus contribute to the recoveries of problem gamblers and their loved ones.  Actually, a good number of these entries are tried and true GRM endeavors!  Indeed, it was an exciting way to explain the mission and ministry of Gambling Recovery Ministries!

Soon after the Conference, I was invited to provide a workshop for the INARMS Conference /MidCentral Conference on Problem Gambling in September, in Indianapolis.  I chose this topic but re-named the session “Growing the Circle of Care”.   Completing seemed too finite; but growing carries an expanding, beneficial dynamic that we strive for in helping others to gain recovery!

Below is a sampling of the innovative listings.  Have you ever tried these OR saw them in action?

·      TREATMENT PROVIDERS: Spirituality Assessment: Assess where clients are with regard to how important/significant they esteem spirituality will play a role in their recovery.  Utilize spirituality assessment tools.

·       GAMING INDUSTRY EMPLOYEES NEWSLETTERS:  Include State and National Problem Gambling Help lines as well as GA and Gam-Anon Hotlines and websites

·      TREATMENT PROFESSIONALS’ ENRICHMENT SESSIONS:  Collaborate with other mental health agencies to provide “Lunch & Learn” types of sessions with the focus on problem gambling and related recovery issues

·      GA/GAM-ANON WORKSHOPS:  Presented by GA and Gam-Anon members to counselors-in-training

·      FAITH BASED FACILITIES:  Provide a GA/Gam-Anon Corner wherein printed GA and Gam-Anon materials can be displayed and serve as handout information (especially helpful to locate this in the area where these Support Meetings are held).

For more information on these listings, e-mail jjacobs@grmumc.org .

One final – and very exciting note:  in September, the annual INARMS/Mid-Central Conference on Problem Gambling was held in Indianapolis … and was there a great turnout for persons attending the Problem Gambling Track of breakout sessions.  We even needed to move to a much larger room to accommodate the 50-60 plus in attendance! 

For one of these sessions, I presented a similar program to the one given in Seattle.  As I looked around the full room, I saw so many of the folks representing the various sectors of the Circle of Care with whom I had collaborated over the years.  Who better to describe the kinds of cooperative work experiences we had had together than these wonderful persons!  It was a great time of sharing and a special in-house demonstration of innovative and tailor-made collaborations!     

Blessings,

Rev. Janet Jacobs

Gambling Recovery Ministries, Director