CLERGY/LAY
MINISTER CERTIFICATION UPDATE NEWS!!!
SPRING / SUMMER 2018
INTERNATIONAL
ISSUE
In 1984, the International Certified
Gambling Counselor (ICGC) program was developed to promote a competency-based
certification program for professionals treating problem and pathological
gamblers and their families. The
International Gambling Counselor Certification Board (IGCCB) oversees the
credential. IGCCB contracts with the
International Council on Problem Gambling to administer the program.
There are two levels of clinical
certification: ICGC-I and ICGC-II.
Counselors must demonstrate a specific number of hours in
gambling-specific training, clinical experience treating gamblers, and
successful completion of the Certification Examination. A third designation, BAAC, denotes ICGC-II
counselors who have acquired sufficient training, clinical experience, and
supervision skills and are approved to provide supervision to ICGC applicants.
ICOGS: In 2015, the IGCCB introduced the International Co-Occurring
Gambling Specialist Certificate. The
ICOGS is specifically designed to be relevant to counselors working with
clients with primary substance use and mental health disorders who have
co-occurring gambling problems.
CLERGY: As a new certification program in 2014 implemented by the American
Compulsive Gambling Counselor Certification Board, the Clergy/Lay Minister
Certification was adopted in 2016 by the newly merged IGCCB (IGCCB with the
American Board). The IGCCB provides a process for recognizing and certifying
clergy and other faith-based workers who are proficient in gambling addiction
prevention, education, awareness, and supportive spiritual outreach,
non-clinical care.
www.igccb.org/home.html
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION:
To date, the countries of
the United States, Japan, Singapore, and Bermuda are in association with the
IGCCB.
BERMUDA … here we come!
In
association with the National Council on Problem Gambling, the country of
Bermuda is the most recent of IGCCB international connections! During this past winter, two visits to
Bermuda were made by a Team of representatives from both the International Board and the
National Council on Problem Gambling. First came the introductory work of
meetings, initial trainings for counselors, and exploring the possibility of
IGCCB Clergy/Lay Minister Certification to be started. As a result, the second trip to Bermuda
included further clinical trainings – training 50-60 counselors on disordered
gambling issues - and the initial Clergy/Lay Minister Modules! Interestingly, the clergy are often the first
point of contact for those struggling with behavioral/health
problems/addictions. Hear the words of a Team Member as she emphasizes the role of the faith community and describes
the setting and her experiences, through emails, while implementing the first
trainings to this island nation!
Bermuda is like an extended family… the system of care is not like
ours in the U.S. How then can we provide
the people with a support system? They
have no GA meetings or Gam-Anon here. We
are trying to get a Helpline in place.
The culture impacts openness to the [IGCCB Clergy/Lay Minister]
Training as you all are aware with this being a very religious country and individuals/families/communities
not necessarily [being] comfortable with gambling. I want to tell you that the Training was a
success! Went very well! The folks were
really engaged. A dynamic group! This group had two out of thirteen pastors
and eleven lay persons, with approximately five who were mental health
professionals. They are more than ready
for the Certification!
They took me to a play tonight hosted by the African Methodist
Episcopal Church; and wouldn’t you know in the script were scenes about the
church treasurer who gambled and embezzled church funds! We loved it and said [it was] right on time –
and what a message they sent to this room of close to two-hundred or more
watching. Amazing!
As we
continue to expand, there will be new joys in helping others to be the bearers
of hope to a hurting world. I will close
with a final word describing the Trainings:
Spirituality comes
through! [wording from an evaluation of the Module
Trainings]
IN MEMORIAM
JEFFREY M. BECK
This past March, our Co-Coordinator of the IGCCB Clergy/Lay
Minister Certification program past away, peacefully but quite unexpectedly. Those of you who met Jeff knew him as the embodiment of recovery. Whenever Jeff
shared his story, we were
continuously inspired. Jeff’s joy
in life was helping and caring about others.
To students in our Certification classes who would ask if they might ask
a question or share an insight, his answer was always, Always! Jeff never tired of saying that the
Clergy/Lay Minister program was a “labor of love” … and we knew it by his passion for reaching
out to extend hope and always help. The following words are
those from the National Council on Problem Gambling website www.ncpgambling.org
It is with the greatest
sadness that we learned of the death of our colleague and friend, Jeffrey M.
Beck, who passed away on March 10 at his home. On
behalf of all of us here at the National Council on Problem Gambling, we offer
our deepest sympathy to the Beck family and Jeff’s friends and colleagues, who
could not have been prepared for this sudden loss.
Jeff was a trailblazer in the problem gambling world. At
the time of his passing, Jeff was employed with The Maryland Center of
Excellence on Problem Gambling, as its Clinical Director. Jeff had previously
been Assistant Director of Clinical Services, Research and Treatment at the
Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey. Jeff practiced law for 18
years before returning to school to get a Masters in Addiction Counseling and
completing all course work and qualifying exams for a Ph.D. in Social Work.
He worked at the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey
for many years; served on the Board of Directors of the National Council on
Problem Gambling from 2009 through 2015, including as vice president; Jeff had
been chairman of the Problem Gambling Awareness Month campaign for the last 6
years and served on many NCPG Committees including Help-line, Education,
Bylaws, Prevention, Recovery, SPRIG and Affiliates. Jeff was also
president of the American Certification Board for many years and vice president
of the International Gambling Counselor Certification Board after the merger of
the two organizations.
Most importantly, Jeff inspired many people with his intellect,
his dedication to recovery, and his compassion. Jeff was such an
extraordinary person, his passing is a truly great loss to the problem gambling
community as a whole. He will be profoundly missed by everyone whose lives he
touched.
?? INTERESTED IN ATTENDING
THE FOUR MODULE TRAININGS THIS SUMMER/FALL?
There are
possibilities for additional sets of
upcoming Trainings.
Contact IGCCB at (202)547-9204 for details and if your
area is interested in hosting the Trainings.
REMEMBER! Any number of the Modules may be taken, whether
you are starting out or if you have missed Module(s) … and, of course, you are
welcome to take all four Modules, sequentially.
32th ANNUAL CONFERENCE
of the NATIONAL COUNCIL ON PROBLEM GAMBLING
July 18-19
Preconference July 20-21 Conference
Hilton
Cleveland Downtown, Cleveland, Ohio
ALSO: the National Council on Problem Gambling
Calendar has webinars
Blessings,
Rev. Janet Jacobs, CCGSO
Founding Director
Gambling Recovery Ministries
For
more information on problem gambling and recovery issues, visit:
