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Prevention of Problem Gambling
February 1999, Vol II, Issue 2

*A Monthly Newsletter on Problem Gambling Prevention Information, Research, and Initiatives*

"No progress has ever been made against an epidemic by treating only the casualties."

PREVENTION STRATEGIES CONTINUED:

CAPACITY BUILDING

In this month's Newsletter, we continue our focus on three of the high impact prevention strategies by addressing "capacity building". The December, 1998 issue focused on "community development" and the third of these strategies, "institutional change", will be covered in a future issue. Capacity building refers to activities that ensure that a community can continue its prevention efforts after the prevention professional and/or the monies leave. A prevention professional must always consider ways to build the capacity of community members to carry on by themselves. One should always be trying to be out of work! Each and every step taken in the development of a prevention program should have a capacity building component included unless members of a community already have the capacity. Not to do so encourages dependence on "outside" expertise and monies, which often dooms the project to ineffectiveness and eventual demise.

Examples of Capacity Building

• community asset mapping where community members are trained to assess existing assets

• training of trainers in appropriate curricula

• using peer leader/helper models in the development of grass roots organizations that have their own boards

•  broadening the expertise of other preventionists in the community

In both Connecticut and Massachusetts, capacity building is occurring on two fronts. Training curricula are being developed with accompanying training of trainers to produce a pool of resource persons capable of responding to divergent training needs among schools, agencies, civic organizations, and state departments. Additionally, rather than create a specific problem gambling prevention infrastructure, there is an ongoing effort to develop the capacity of existing prevention infrastructures to add problem gambling as an area of expertise.

Local Problem Gambling Helplines

Connecticut: 800-346-6238
Rhode Island: 1-877-9-GAMBLE
Massachusetts: 800-426-1234

Announcing Two Special Training Opportunities

"Gambling Issues and Special Populations: A Symposium on Working with African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans"

Featuring Roger Svendsen, M.S., CPS from the Minnesota Institute of Public Health.

March 11, 1999 - 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Holiday Inn, North Haven, CT

A researched, pragmatic presentation will be offered by Mr. Svendsen on the topic of successfully working with these populations. Practical guidelines and suggestions will be generated. For more information, please call the CT Council on Problem Gambling at 1-888-789-7777.

"March Madness or March Sanity? A Workshop on Adolescent Gambling"

Featuring Roger Svendsen, M.S., CPS from the Minnesota Institute of Public Health and Howard Shaffer, Ph.D., Director of the Division of Addictions, Harvard University, representatives from the NCAA and MIAA, and a panel of student leader athletes.

March 12, 1999 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Sturbridge, MA

This workshop will present a number of issues on adolescent gambling with a focus on sports betting and athletes. Nationally regarded experts will present the latest information and a panel of student leader athletes will "tell it like it is". For more information, please call the MA Council on Compulsive Gambling at 617-426-4554.