Partnering with the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to Address Problem Gambling
Spotlights |

Each year, approximately 6 million (3%) U.S. adults engage in problem gambling—gambling that compromises, disrupts, or damages their personal, family, or vocational pursuits.[i] Many of these individuals also struggle with related behavioral health problems, including substance use disorders. Recognizing these connections, states and communities have begun developing systemic supports that address these related problems in a coordinated way.

Iowa is one of these states. In 2018, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Iowa HHS) established the Substance Use and Problem Gambling Services Integrated Provider Network (IPN), a statewide, community-based, resiliency- and recovery-oriented system of care for substance use and problem gambling services. Under this initiative, 19 funded communities have been tasked with reducing substance use and gambling problems through public education, evidence-based prevention, and early intervention services; and increasing remission and recovery from substance use disorders and problem gambling through timely, accessible, ongoing, and effective treatment services.

To prepare communities for this important work, Iowa HHS reached out to Prevention Solutions at EDC.

“We were thrilled that Iowa was approaching problem gambling and substance misuse in such a thoughtful and comprehensive way,” says Prevention Solutions at EDC Trainer Rebecca Bishop. “In so many ways, they are ahead of the curve. But we also understood that this was new territory for many in the IPN network. They needed the basics—a solid foundation for moving forward.”

Capacity and Planning

To provide this foundation, Bishop delivered a two-part webinar series to more than 40 contractors and Iowa HHS staff in early April. Part one explored the scope of problem gambling—both in Iowa and nationally, factors that place individuals at increased risk—including social determinants like poverty and racism—and the intersection between problem gambling and substance misuse. Part two focused on available strategies to prevent problem gambling—including policy change, advocacy and approaches for selecting strategies where evidence is limited.

“We explained that when evidence is lacking, it’s often helpful to apply lessons learned from preventing other behavioral health problems,” says Bishop. “For example, we know that limiting alcohol availability has been an effective strategy in reducing underage drinking. So it’s reasonable to assume that limiting the “availability” of gambling—that is, reducing hours of operation, restricting the number of gambling establishments, enforcing zoning restrictions about where gambling can take place—could help to reduce problem gambling.”

The second webinar also explored best practices for developing a comprehensive prevention approach—that is, an approach that includes multiple strategies targeting individuals at different levels of risk. For example, a comprehensive approach might include a school-based program for high school students on gambling risks, dissemination of gambling prevention resources at substance misuse treatment facilities, and training to prepare people working in gambling establishments to identify persons exhibiting problem gambling behavior.

“No single prevention strategy is going to provide the answers,” say Bishop. “We have to address the acute needs of people who are engaged in problem gambling and provide the support needed to get them into treatment when they’re ready. But we also need to think upstream, and educate people about the dangers of problem gambling before it becomes a problem.”

Implementation and Expanded Awareness

In 2022, the 19 service areas working under the Substance Use and Problem Gambling Services Integrated Provider Network (IPN) grant, were moving further into implementation. Iowa HHS reached out once again to Prevention Solutions to support their next steps. Prevention Solutions at EDC provided virtual training to continue building their capacity to utilize the strategic prevention framework and gain a deeper understanding of working with impacted populations including youth and individuals with co-occurring conditions. Prevention Solutions also provided training on emerging issues in Iowa such as Gaming, Online Gambling, and Sports Betting.

Iowa HHS sought to expand the level of awareness, support, and buy-in for problem gambling prevention professionals to include a broader audience of stakeholders including community leaders, coalitions, public health, human services, and behavioral health treatment providers. Prevention Solutions delivered virtual training statewide to this audience offering topics such as An Introduction to Problem Gambling Prevention and A Public Health Approach to Problem Gambling.

"The great state of Iowa has a longstanding history of providing effective substance misuse prevention services statewide," says Katie Bee, Project Manager for the Iowa HHS Office of Problem Gambling. It’s an exciting time to build on this foundation by expanding our work to focus on problem gambling prevention. The information provided by Prevention Solutions was of great benefit as it continued to increase knowledge of the issues and identified approaches to reducing the impacts of problem gambling.”

Integration Across the Continuum

In the spring of 2023, Iowa HHS will develop a problem gambling strategic plan to integrate problem gambling services across the continuum of care. Prevention Solutions will provide consultation to develop goals and define the audience for a strategic planning process that will be facilitated by Prevention Solutions in the early summer. The strategic plan will bring together a group of relevant stakeholders who work in other parts of the continuum from mental health promotion to recovery. This group of innovative leaders will inform a strong statewide problem gambling strategic plan that is focused on protecting and improving the health of Iowans.

Related Resource

(Podcast) Preventing Problem Gambling in Massachusetts

To learn more about Prevention Solutions at EDC's problem gambling work in Iowa, contact Rebecca Bishop at rbishop@edc.org.

To find out about new Prevention Solutions at EDC resources and upcoming events, subscribe to our email list.

______________________________________

[i] National Council on Problem Gambling. Retrieved April 21, 2019, from https://www.ncpgambling.org/help-treatment/faq/

Gambling Workforce Development

Each year, approximately 6 million (3%) U.S. adults engage in problem gambling—gambling that compromises, disrupts, or damages their personal, family, or vocational pursuits.[i] Many of these individuals also struggle with related behavioral health problems, including substance use disorders. Recognizing these connections, states and communities have begun developing systemic supports that address these related problems in a coordinated way.

Iowa is one of these states. In 2018, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Iowa HHS) established the Substance Use and Problem Gambling Services Integrated Provider Network (IPN), a statewide, community-based, resiliency- and recovery-oriented system of care for substance use and problem gambling services. Under this initiative, 19 funded communities have been tasked with reducing substance use and gambling problems through public education, evidence-based prevention, and early intervention services; and increasing remission and recovery from substance use disorders and problem gambling through timely, accessible, ongoing, and effective treatment services.

To prepare communities for this important work, Iowa HHS reached out to Prevention Solutions at EDC.

“We were thrilled that Iowa was approaching problem gambling and substance misuse in such a thoughtful and comprehensive way,” says Prevention Solutions at EDC Trainer Rebecca Bishop. “In so many ways, they are ahead of the curve. But we also understood that this was new territory for many in the IPN network. They needed the basics—a solid foundation for moving forward.”

Capacity and Planning

To provide this foundation, Bishop delivered a two-part webinar series to more than 40 contractors and Iowa HHS staff in early April. Part one explored the scope of problem gambling—both in Iowa and nationally, factors that place individuals at increased risk—including social determinants like poverty and racism—and the intersection between problem gambling and substance misuse. Part two focused on available strategies to prevent problem gambling—including policy change, advocacy and approaches for selecting strategies where evidence is limited.

“We explained that when evidence is lacking, it’s often helpful to apply lessons learned from preventing other behavioral health problems,” says Bishop. “For example, we know that limiting alcohol availability has been an effective strategy in reducing underage drinking. So it’s reasonable to assume that limiting the “availability” of gambling—that is, reducing hours of operation, restricting the number of gambling establishments, enforcing zoning restrictions about where gambling can take place—could help to reduce problem gambling.”

The second webinar also explored best practices for developing a comprehensive prevention approach—that is, an approach that includes multiple strategies targeting individuals at different levels of risk. For example, a comprehensive approach might include a school-based program for high school students on gambling risks, dissemination of gambling prevention resources at substance misuse treatment facilities, and training to prepare people working in gambling establishments to identify persons exhibiting problem gambling behavior.

“No single prevention strategy is going to provide the answers,” say Bishop. “We have to address the acute needs of people who are engaged in problem gambling and provide the support needed to get them into treatment when they’re ready. But we also need to think upstream, and educate people about the dangers of problem gambling before it becomes a problem.”

Implementation and Expanded Awareness

In 2022, the 19 service areas working under the Substance Use and Problem Gambling Services Integrated Provider Network (IPN) grant, were moving further into implementation. Iowa HHS reached out once again to Prevention Solutions to support their next steps. Prevention Solutions at EDC provided virtual training to continue building their capacity to utilize the strategic prevention framework and gain a deeper understanding of working with impacted populations including youth and individuals with co-occurring conditions. Prevention Solutions also provided training on emerging issues in Iowa such as Gaming, Online Gambling, and Sports Betting.

Iowa HHS sought to expand the level of awareness, support, and buy-in for problem gambling prevention professionals to include a broader audience of stakeholders including community leaders, coalitions, public health, human services, and behavioral health treatment providers. Prevention Solutions delivered virtual training statewide to this audience offering topics such as An Introduction to Problem Gambling Prevention and A Public Health Approach to Problem Gambling.

"The great state of Iowa has a longstanding history of providing effective substance misuse prevention services statewide," says Katie Bee, Project Manager for the Iowa HHS Office of Problem Gambling. It’s an exciting time to build on this foundation by expanding our work to focus on problem gambling prevention. The information provided by Prevention Solutions was of great benefit as it continued to increase knowledge of the issues and identified approaches to reducing the impacts of problem gambling.”

Integration Across the Continuum

In the spring of 2023, Iowa HHS will develop a problem gambling strategic plan to integrate problem gambling services across the continuum of care. Prevention Solutions will provide consultation to develop goals and define the audience for a strategic planning process that will be facilitated by Prevention Solutions in the early summer. The strategic plan will bring together a group of relevant stakeholders who work in other parts of the continuum from mental health promotion to recovery. This group of innovative leaders will inform a strong statewide problem gambling strategic plan that is focused on protecting and improving the health of Iowans.

Related Resource

(Podcast) Preventing Problem Gambling in Massachusetts

To learn more about Prevention Solutions at EDC's problem gambling work in Iowa, contact Rebecca Bishop at rbishop@edc.org.

To find out about new Prevention Solutions at EDC resources and upcoming events, subscribe to our email list.

______________________________________

[i] National Council on Problem Gambling. Retrieved April 21, 2019, from https://www.ncpgambling.org/help-treatment/faq/

Date
Resource Type
Spotlights
Topics
Gambling
Practice
Workforce Development