Summary
NTN Topic Call on Problem Gambling
October 15, 2009
Participants:
States: Nitika Singh (AZ), Sonny Ferguson (AR), Mary McCann (CO), Don Sabang (Guam), Gajef McNeill (IL), Dean Austin (IA), Charles Bartlett (KS), Fran Belvin (KY), Quinetta Rowley Womack (LA), Kristen Jiorle (ME), Jeff Wieferich (MI), Nora Bock (MO), (NE), Tom Nightingale (NY), Spencer Clark and Smith Worth (NC), Kris Storbeck (ND), Joyce Starr (OH), (OK), (OR), Steve Seitchik (PA), Dave Felt (UT)
Association of Problem Gambling Service Administrators:Tim Christensen,
President
SAMHSA: Hal Krause, Shannon Taitt
NASADAD:Rick Harwood, Rob Morrison, Marcia Trick, Jasmin Carmona
Spencer Clark and Smith Worth discussed North Carolina’s Problem Gambling Program, in which the State partnered with Bensinger, DuPont & Associates (BDA) to provide a range of services including, for example, a help line, case management, follow-up contact,and billing administration. The lottery was recently passed in North Carolina, with one million dollars allocated to the problem gambling initiative. Excluding family members, 2.1% of North Carolina adults are affected by gambling problems.Under the program, a person in crisis can call a crisis help line, where a Master’s level staff member will refer the caller to a licensed clinician who specialized in training for gambling problems. With the caller’s consent, the help-line counselor will call within 72 hours to schedule an appointment with a treatment provider. Case management is a new role for the State and aims to improve the conversion rate from helpline caller to a client in treatment. The BDA fee for these services is pre-determined to dissuade self-interest when making a referral.
Phone counseling is available to clients who reside in remote areas; however, some clients decline assistance and assessments. In response, the “Call to Change” program was engendered for individuals who cannot or will not seek providers. These providers are not the same providers that clients are usually referred to. The program providers receive 15 hours of basic training, 15 additional hours of training over a 2 year time period, and monthly consultation calls with an experienced trainer to discuss clinical issues. The providers have addiction experience and are monitored annually. They can also receive an extra hour of continuing education once a month.The help-line receives 4,000-5,000 calls annually, but only 350 calls (35 calls per month) indicate that the caller has a gambling problem that needs assessment. If providers are able to get the caller to an initial assessment, there is an 80% client engagement rate.
Tim Christensen provided the NTN members a synopsis of the Association of Problem Gambling Service Administrators(APGSA), which was formed in 2000 to develop communication among the States regarding publicly funded services. State governments provide the majority of APGSA’s funding, while private organizations and gambling agencies contribute a significant amount of funding as well. A major activity is to survey all 50 States every two years and it is anticipated that the 2010 survey will employ additional resources and a more formal report will be developed. The APGSA developed a toolkit for problem gamblers, and each of the 31 State members has developed programs to address unique issues. Most States utilize mental health specialists, and States use a variety of ways to implement help lines; some just refer while others provide a change process. The majority of prevention programs are in the form of public awareness campaigns, not targeted at specific populations.
Arkansas has recently begun to plan a problem gambling initiative, and Federal legislation is pending.(Rob Morrison noted that NASADAD had hosted Keith Whyte of the National Council on Problem Gambling at a recent Board Meeting and sponsored a Policy call on the subject; the Board of Directors decided not to sign on to Federal legislation regarding problem gambling.) APGA’s website is and Tim Christensen can be contacted at 602-266-8299, Ext. 352 or at .
Nora Bock found Missouri’sAPGSA membership to be really helpful. Missouri provides public funding and is funded by admissions fees to casinos. The State provides outpatient procedures for problem gambling and free services to family members affected by problem gambling. Initiatives are currently at a standstill due to a financially fluctuating year.
The next NTN topic call will be on November 19, 2009 at 3pm EST regarding Electronic Health Records.