SEPTEMBER: FIRST RESPONDER Conference!! (Post 43)

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013

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 traveled 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  

Posted by Gambling Recovery Ministries at 3:41 PM