Post 43
SEPTEMBER: FIRST RESPONDER Conference!!
Once again,
this Blog’s entry-event had its
origins months ago! Actually, late last
year, I was searching the web for any church ministries or events having to do
with problem gambling recovery. Rarely,
do I find this kind of reference (other than those about Gambling Recovery Ministries). Eventually, I found a dated reference to a
couple of training events in Kansas. I
decided to e-mail the Coordinator, Dr.
Esther Maddux. From that first
e-mail, Dr. Maddux and I struck up a friendship and a working collaboration to
create a training conference for Indiana clergy and other faith-based workers
to be the very best “first responders” to persons affected by substance abuse
and/or problem gambling.
This
project became a working model for future collaborations involving the faith-based
community, mental health agencies, and government sponsored prevention
services. Early on, we invited the Indiana Prevention Resource Center www.drugs.indiana.edu / Indiana Problem Gambling Awareness Program www.ipgap.indiana.edu leaders to join us to craft a conference that would include a broad
spectrum of care for persons affected by addiction.
The results were terrific! The one-day program was packed with
information covering the topics of Prevention, Treatment, Recovery Supports,
Co-Occurring Mental Health and Addiction Issues www.in.gov/fssa/dmha/index.htm ,
Spiritual Issues within the Dynamics of Addiction, Indiana’s Access to Recovery
Program, Introduction to SBIRT, Back Pack Program, ASPIN (Certified Recovery
Specialists), Gambling Recovery Ministries, and a Guest Speaker from Gamblers
Anonymous.
The conference was sponsored by a grant from the
United Methodist General Board of Church and Society www.umc-GBC.org . Rev. Cynthia Abrams,
Director of the Board’s Department of Alcohol, Other Addictions, and Health Care
attended the conference and spoke on the topic of Advocacy.
More good
news! Eighty-four persons registered for
this continuing education event.
Attendees representing faith-based communities and local and state agencies travelled from across the State – and
as far away as Oklahoma - to learn about addiction ministries!
Blessings,
Rev. Janet
Jacobs
If you have questions about initiating ministry
to problem gamblers and their loved ones, visit www.grmumc.org
Once again,
this Blog’s entry-event had its
origins months ago! Actually, late last
year, I was searching the web for any church ministries or events having to do
with problem gambling recovery. Rarely,
do I find this kind of reference (other than those about Gambling Recovery Ministries). Eventually, I found a dated reference to a
couple of training events in Kansas. I
decided to e-mail the Coordinator, Dr.
Esther Maddux. From that first
e-mail, Dr. Maddux and I struck up a friendship and a working collaboration to
create a training conference for Indiana clergy and other faith-based workers
to be the very best “first responders” to persons affected by substance abuse
and/or problem gambling.
This
project became a working model for future collaborations involving the faith-based
community, mental health agencies, and government sponsored prevention
services. Early on, we invited the Indiana Prevention Resource Center www.drugs.indiana.edu / Indiana Problem Gambling Awareness Program www.ipgap.indiana.edu leaders to join us to craft a conference that would include a broad
spectrum of care for persons affected by addiction.
The results were terrific! The one-day program was packed with
information covering the topics of Prevention, Treatment, Recovery Supports,
Co-Occurring Mental Health and Addiction Issues www.in.gov/fssa/dmha/index.htm ,
Spiritual Issues within the Dynamics of Addiction, Indiana’s Access to Recovery
Program, Introduction to SBIRT, Back Pack Program, ASPIN (Certified Recovery
Specialists), Gambling Recovery Ministries, and a Guest Speaker from Gamblers
Anonymous.
The conference was sponsored by a grant from the
United Methodist General Board of Church and Society www.umc-GBC.org . Rev. Cynthia Abrams,
Director of the Board’s Department of Alcohol, Other Addictions, and Health Care
attended the conference and spoke on the topic of Advocacy.
More good
news! Eighty-four persons registered for
this continuing education event.
Attendees representing faith-based communities and local and state agencies travelled from across the State – and
as far away as Oklahoma - to learn about addiction ministries!
Blessings,
Rev. Janet
Jacobs
Gambling
Recovery Ministries, Director
If you have questions about initiating ministry
to problem gamblers and their loved ones, visit www.grmumc.org
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