AWARENESS! PART 2 (Post 140)
MONDAY, APRIL 19
Post 140
AWARENESS: THERE IS HELP!
When a person is down in the world, an ounce of help is better than a pound of preaching.
– Bulwer-Lytton
Help thy brother’s boat across, and lo!, thine own has reached the shore.
– Hindu Proverb
You will be blessed as you offer blessings to others! Those were the words ending the March GRM Blog Post 139. I promised to continue the “Hope List” [DO LISTS that I HOPE churches, mosques, synagogues, and other faith communities will DO] in promoting awareness and providing support to persons impacted by disordered gambling. Indeed, there are many venues in which faith communities can be involved to help thy brother’s boat across when it comes to extending hope and real help to victims of addiction.
Here again, I’ll use the listing format to include opportunities of invitation in providing ways to engage congregants and community members alike in learning more about addiction and recovery issues.
· Host health fairs that include addiction treatment providers and support organizations, along with other health agencies/clinics/hospitals.
· Provide informational materials on problem gambling and other dependency issues (information booths at local fairs and celebrations)
· Supply hospital chaplains with materials on disordered gambling
· Create a Speakers Bureau type of service on problem gambling and recovery issues. This can be offered to community organizations and/or for events.
· Establish a hospitality drop-in center for persons in recovery for problem gambling
· Think beyond to Public Health Conferences, Social Work Conferences, Criminal Justice professional arenas, and Aging service providers; exhibit/supply materials about gambling addiction and recovery.
· Post GA and Gam-Anon Meetings information on community bulletin boards and community newspapers
· Establish relationships with retailers of lottery outlets and provide them with PG Helpline posters and brochures
· Create your own Problem Gambling Awareness and Recovery Blog!
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
This publication, The Gambling Culture, includes sermon ideas, study questions, theological perspectives, and examples of real-life outreach.
Research studies on many members of different religions on multiple topics!
Preventing and Addressing Alcohol and Drug Problems: A Handbook for Clergy
This self-help workbook for problem gamblers, developed by the UCLA Gambling Studies Program, is a tool for assisting people who are motivated to stop gambling or to reduce the problems associated with gambling. The workbook is currently being evaluated for effectiveness and it is NOT a substitute for professional help.
One more time: you will be blessed as you offer blessings to others!
Blessings,
Rev. Janet Jacobs, CCGSO
Founding Director
Gambling Recovery Ministries
855-926-0761
For more information on the IGCCB Clergy/Lay Minister Certification visit:
From IGCCB’s Resources for Coping with COVID 19:
https://personcenteredtech.com/tmh/clients (Online therapy preparation for clients)
https://gambling.easywebinar.live/replay (Jody Bechtold telehealth webinar)
https://youtu.be/dYUEjIFtT8E (Jody Bechtold telehealth webinar)
For more information on gambling disorder and recovery issues, go to:
www.indianaproblemgambling.org