Communications
The Massachusetts Health Promotion Clearinghouse provides free health promotion materials for Massachusetts residents and health and social service providers in the Commonwealth. Funded by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the Clearinghouse develops and distributes health promotion materials on a wide variety of topics.
For many, gambling is a hobby or pastime. For others, it’s a serious problem. Gambling can make you feel depressed, desperate or angry, and even get you into legal trouble.
This brochure addresses the unique challenge gambling poses for people with a history of substance misuse.
Every day, since your child was born, you’ve likely asked yourself: How can I keep my child safe and healthy? The reality is risks are everywhere. They’re a part of life. There are certain risks we as parents cannot control, but there are other risks we can help our teens manage. As your teen grows up and explores limits – and, yes, takes some risks – you can guide them away from more problematic risk-taking, like alcohol, substance use, vaping and gambling. Their healthy brain development depends on it. Consider this your toolkit to start the conversation about gambling, today.
Research/Articles
In this op-ed, Victor Ortiz, MSW, LADC I, CADC II, Director of The Office of Problem Gambling Services, within the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, discusses the unique public health response this organization has taken to address problem gambling, informed by the principles of engagement, equity, and empowerment.
This article demonstrates an innovative approach to connect the field of problem gambling prevention to the community experience, using a public health and social justice lens. Others in the field should acknowledge the disconnect between problem gambling and the lived experience of those disproportionately impacted by creating opportunities for community voice to be at the center of programming.
Problem Gambling Prevention Impact Briefs
This impact brief focuses on early outcomes associated with the implementation of the Massachusetts Photovoice Project within five social service agencies supported between July 2018 and December 2020. Specifically, it examines early indicators of reach (engaging the community in adequate numbers) and effectiveness (implementing a project that has the potential to achieve its goal to prevent/reduce underage gambling and problem gambling).
This impact brief focuses on early outcomes associated with the implementation of the Massachusetts Photovoice Project within two social service agencies supported during fiscal year 2019. Specifically, it examines early indicators of reach and effectiveness. Evaluation of the Massachusetts Photovoice Project shows early evidence in reach and impact of the initiative as well as lessons learned and implications for continued improvement.
This is a cumulative brief that covers July 2018 (project development and pilot) to December 2020 (implementation and capacity building). The Ambassador Project is positioned to have a positive impact on priority populations and become a replicable model for other states.
This impact brief focuses on the early outcomes associated with the implementation of the Massachusetts Ambassador Project within two recovery-oriented organizations during fiscal year 2019. The Ambassador Project is positioned to have a positive impact on priority populations and become a replicable model for other states.
Regional Planning/Assessment Reports from Problem Gambling Prevention Projects
The Community Level Health Project (CLHP) is an innovative, upstream gambling prevention project that is centered on the engagement of community stakeholders and multi-sector collaboration. The purpose is for a community-based organization within gambling host communities to propose and implement a community level health improvement plan that through a community-driven assessment process will identify and address a specific gambling-related health concern that outlines and identify strategies to be implemented at the community level to address the prioritized gambling-related health concern. Below are the planning year reports from CLHP grantees.
The Community Health Worker Pilot is a multi-pronged initiative that trains community health workers (CHWs) to engage and educate local neighborhoods on gambling-related harms, resources, and community services available to them. CHWs are “frontline agents of change.” They often reside in the communities where they work, so they can reach community residents in the places they work, play, worship, and live (site). CHWs directly address inequities in health and access to prevention and care by building bridges among marginalized communities and systems of care. Below are the regional needs assessment reports from Community Health Worker Pilot grantees.
- Prevention for Problem Gambling – Community Health Workers and Interventions for Problem Gambling – Needs Assessment: Eastern Region (Everett, Malden, Chelsea, Revere area), May 2020
- Prevention of Problem Gambling – Community Health Workers and Interventions for Problem Gambling: Needs Assessment – Region B (Western Mass) – September 2018
- Prevention of Problem Gambling – Community Health Workers and Interventions for Problem Gambling: Needs Assessment – Plainville/Region C – July 2017
This report describes a regional planning process focused on the city of Everett, Massachusetts, where the Encore Boston Harbor casino opened in June 2019, and its surrounding communities. This regional planning process included outreach to community members and service providers, convening of local stakeholders concerned about the potential impact of gambling in their region, and identification of community assets and resources as well as gaps in services. The collection and analysis of this qualitative data informed the development of messages and strategies that directly addressed the local context and concerns.
This report describes a regional planning process in Springfield, Massachusetts, and surrounding communities where the MGM casino opened in late August 2018. This regional planning process included outreach to community members and service providers, convening of local stakeholders concerned about the potential impact of gambling in their region, and identification of community assets and resources as well as gaps in services. The collection and analysis of this qualitative data informed the development of messages and strategies that directly addressed the local context and concerns.
This report describes a regional planning process in the Plainville/Southeastern Massachusetts region where the Plainridge Park Casino is located. This regional planning process included outreach to community members and service providers, convening of local stakeholders concerned about the potential impact of gambling in their region, and identification of community assets and resources as well as of gaps in services. The collection and analysis of this qualitative data informed the development of messages and strategies that directly addressed the local context and concerns.
Problem Gambling Treatment
This center provides technical assistance to support the following:
- Increased treatment capacity
- Organizational capacity building to address problem gambling treatment
- Tracking and quality assurance standards
- Evaluation criteria
Additionally, the center administers and manages the Massachusetts Problem Gambling Specialist (MA PGS) Certificate, which is the official gambling treatment certificate of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
