CLERGY/LAY MINISTER CERTIFICATION UPDATE NEWS!!! (Post 106)

FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2018

Post 106

CLERGY/LAY MINISTER CERTIFICATION UPDATE NEWS!!!
SPRING / SUMMER 2018

INTERNATIONAL ISSUE

In 1984, the International Certified Gambling Counselor (ICGC) program was developed to promote a competency-based certification program for professionals treating problem and pathological gamblers and their families. The International Gambling Counselor Certification Board (IGCCB) oversees the credential. IGCCB contracts with the International Council on Problem Gambling to administer the program.

There are two levels of clinical certification: ICGC-I and ICGC-II. Counselors must demonstrate a specific number of hours in gambling-specific training, clinical experience treating gamblers, and successful completion of the Certification Examination. A third designation, BAAC, denotes ICGC-II counselors who have acquired sufficient training, clinical experience, and supervision skills and are approved to provide supervision to ICGC applicants.

ICOGS: In 2015, the IGCCB introduced the International Co-Occurring Gambling Specialist Certificate. The ICOGS is specifically designed to be relevant to counselors working with clients with primary substance use and mental health disorders who have co-occurring gambling problems.

CLERGY: As a new certification program in 2014 implemented by the American Compulsive Gambling Counselor Certification Board, the Clergy/Lay Minister Certification was adopted in 2016 by the newly merged IGCCB (IGCCB with the American Board). The IGCCB provides a process for recognizing and certifying clergy and other faith-based workers who are proficient in gambling addiction prevention, education, awareness, and supportive spiritual outreach, non-clinical care.

www.igccb.org/home.html

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION: To date, the countries of the United States, Japan, Singapore, and Bermuda are in association with the IGCCB.

BERMUDA … here we come!

In association with the National Council on Problem Gambling, the country of Bermuda is the most recent of IGCCB international connections! During this past winter, two visits to Bermuda were made by a Team of representatives from both the International Board and the National Council on Problem Gambling. First came the introductory work of meetings, initial trainings for counselors, and exploring the possibility of IGCCB Clergy/Lay Minister Certification to be started. As a result, the second trip to Bermuda included further clinical trainings – training 50-60 counselors on disordered gambling issues - and the initial Clergy/Lay Minister Modules! Interestingly, the clergy are often the first point of contact for those struggling with behavioral/health problems/addictions. Hear the words of a Team Member as she emphasizes the role of the faith community and describes the setting and her experiences, through emails, while implementing the first trainings to this island nation!

Bermuda is like an extended family… the system of care is not like ours in the U.S. How then can we provide the people with a support system? They have no GA meetings or Gam-Anon here. We are trying to get a Helpline in place.

The culture impacts openness to the [IGCCB Clergy/Lay Minister] Training as you all are aware with this being a very religious country and individuals/families/communities not necessarily [being] comfortable with gambling. I want to tell you that the Training was a success! Went very well! The folks were really engaged. A dynamic group! This group had two out of thirteen pastors and eleven lay persons, with approximately five who were mental health professionals. They are more than ready for the Certification!

They took me to a play tonight hosted by the African Methodist Episcopal Church; and wouldn’t you know in the script were scenes about the church treasurer who gambled and embezzled church funds! We loved it and said [it was] right on time – and what a message they sent to this room of close to two-hundred or more watching. Amazing!

As we continue to expand, there will be new joys in helping others to be the bearers of hope to a hurting world. I will close with a final word describing the Trainings:

Spirituality comes through! [wording from an evaluation of the Module Trainings]

IN MEMORIAM

JEFFREY M. BECK

This past March, our Co-Coordinator of the IGCCB Clergy/Lay Minister Certification program past away, peacefully but quite unexpectedly. Those of you who met Jeff knew him as the embodiment of recovery. Whenever Jeff shared his story, we were continuously inspired. Jeff’s joy in life was helping and caring about others. To students in our Certification classes who would ask if they might ask a question or share an insight, his answer was always, Always! Jeff never tired of saying that the Clergy/Lay Minister program was a “labor of love” … and we knew it by his passion for reaching out to extend hope and always help. The following words are those from the National Council on Problem Gambling website www.ncpgambling.org

It is with the greatest sadness that we learned of the death of our colleague and friend, Jeffrey M. Beck, who passed away on March 10 at his home. On behalf of all of us here at the National Council on Problem Gambling, we offer our deepest sympathy to the Beck family and Jeff’s friends and colleagues, who could not have been prepared for this sudden loss.

Jeff was a trailblazer in the problem gambling world. At the time of his passing, Jeff was employed with The Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling, as its Clinical Director. Jeff had previously been Assistant Director of Clinical Services, Research and Treatment at the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey. Jeff practiced law for 18 years before returning to school to get a Masters in Addiction Counseling and completing all course work and qualifying exams for a Ph.D. in Social Work.

He worked at the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey for many years; served on the Board of Directors of the National Council on Problem Gambling from 2009 through 2015, including as vice president; Jeff had been chairman of the Problem Gambling Awareness Month campaign for the last 6 years and served on many NCPG Committees including Help-line, Education, Bylaws, Prevention, Recovery, SPRIG and Affiliates. Jeff was also president of the American Certification Board for many years and vice president of the International Gambling Counselor Certification Board after the merger of the two organizations.

Most importantly, Jeff inspired many people with his intellect, his dedication to recovery, and his compassion. Jeff was such an extraordinary person, his passing is a truly great loss to the problem gambling community as a whole. He will be profoundly missed by everyone whose lives he touched.

Those who wish to make a donation in Jeff’s memory consider making a gift to NCPG.

?? INTERESTED IN ATTENDING THE FOUR MODULE TRAININGS THIS SUMMER/FALL?

There are possibilities for additional sets of upcoming Trainings.

Contact IGCCB at (202)547-9204 for details and if your area is interested in hosting the Trainings. REMEMBER! Any number of the Modules may be taken, whether you are starting out or if you have missed Module(s) … and, of course, you are welcome to take all four Modules, sequentially.

32th ANNUAL CONFERENCE

of the NATIONAL COUNCIL ON PROBLEM GAMBLING

July 18-19 Preconference July 20-21 Conference

Hilton Cleveland Downtown, Cleveland, Ohio

www.ncpgambling.org/training-certification/national-conference/

ALSO: the National Council on Problem Gambling Calendar has webinars

https://www.ncpgambling.org/training-certification/calendar/

Blessings,

Rev. Janet Jacobs, CCGSO

Founding Director

Gambling Recovery Ministries

www.grmumc.org