Post 60

ANNOUNCING ......... NEW CERTIFICATION!!

Clergy/Lay Ministers Certification 

in Gambling Addiction Prevention, Education, Awareness

and Spiritual Outreach Care    

I am very pleased to share with you breaking news about a brand-new, first ever, certification - of national stature - for clergy and lay ministers, provided by the American Compulsive Gambling Counselor Certification Board (ACGCCB). 

The American Board  now provides a process for recognizing and certifying clergy and other faith-based workers who are proficient in gambling addiction prevention education, awareness, and supportive outreach, non-clinical care.  With specialized training leading to certification, knowledgeable clergy/faith-based workers, can offer guidance, educational materials, support, hope, spiritual care, and other resources, and  help lead people to certified gambling counselors and recovery support groups.  

Generally, there are few, if any, formal systems of support within faith-based structures for persons affected adversely by disordered gambling. Responding to this need, the ACGCCB Clergy / Lay Ministers Certification is designed to provide basic knowledge about gambling addiction and treatment and recovery resources, to enhance the clergyperson’s skills at recognizing compulsive gambling, and to provide information for the gambler’s family on dealing with their loved one’s addiction. 

Additionally, ACGCCB Certification assures that Clergy and Lay Ministers possess high standards of training, competency, skills, and knowledge.  This enables people with compulsive gambling problems to have confidence that they have  professionals who can provide the very best  first responder care to persons affected, directly or indirectly, by problem gambling.

For more information on attaining this new Clergy/Lay Ministers Certification, starting the process of certification, and the locations and dates of the required Core Curriculum Training, contact the following:

                                                       

 ACGCCB

 3635 Quakerbridge Road, Suite 7

 University Office Plaza 1

 Hamilton, NJ   08619

 Phone:  609-588-9338

 www.certificationboard.com

As I stated at the beginning of Post 60, this gambling-specific Clergy/Lay Ministers Certification is a pioneering project of national scope.  Vision with me ... faith communities (all faiths!) across the country

• lead by clergy and lay ministers knowledgeable about gambling addiction and recovery issues
• equipped with a wide variety of educational materials on problem gambling
• providing information of referral to gambling-specific certified counselors and treatment programs
• welcoming Gamblers Anonymous and Gam-Anon to meet in their faith-centers

Vision with me and pray for clergy and other faith-based workers to catch this vision and join in this new frontier of outreach to those in need of healing and hope!

Blessings,

Rev. Janet Jacobs

Founding Director, Gambling Recovery Ministries

For more information on problem gambling and recovery issues, visit www.grmumc.org