Moment by Moment Wellness: What you can do in the here and now
Speaker: Theresa Knorr
Description: This interactive workshop will briefly explore some of the obstacles to feeling good at work and move into a moment by moment solution-oriented way of being in the workplace. Move beyond the wellness wheel into practical hands on methods to feel better NOW.
Continuing Education (Credits Pending): CARC, CRPA, OASAS/SW/LMHC
Using Data to Understand Trends in Problem Gambling and to Inform Decision Making in New York State
Speaker: Ashly Jordan
Description: The keynote address with present a range of NYS data including on perceptions of gambling harms and gambling prevalence, on excessive or problem gambling interventions such as voluntary self-exclusions, and on healthcare utilization related to problem gambling and gambling use disorder. We then focus on how the NYS Office of Addiction Services and Supports is using these data 1) to inform resource allocation and new initiatives and 2) to strengthen ongoing inter-agency collaborations on data, programming, and policy to reduce population-level gambling harms.
Continuing Education (Credits Pending): CARC, CRPA, OASAS/SW/LMHC
PGRC Regional Meetings
Join your local PGRC staff members to learn about the work being done in your communities and how you can stay connected.
The Hidden Hazards of Youth Gambling
Speaker: Monique Tricarico
Description: This workshop will explore a comprehensive, community-driven approach to preventing underage gambling in New York, a pressing issue heightened by the recent legalization of sports betting. Attendees will gain practical insights into creating effective prevention programs, raising awareness, and building community partnerships to reduce the risks and harm associated with underage gambling.
Continuing Education (Credits Pending): OASAS/SW/LMHC
Women & Problem Gambling
Speaker: Dr. Grace Hennessey
Description: As opportunities to gamble becomes more available in New York State, it is important to understand the characteristics of different populations with gambling problems to better inform prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery strategies. This workshop will review New York State data about women’s participation in gambling, clinical characteristics of women with problem gambling, and future directions for addressing problem gambling among women.
Continuing Education (Credits Pending): CARC, CRPA, OASAS/SW/LMHC
Supporting a Loved One with a Gambling Addiction: Securing YOUR Financial Future
Speaker: Melissa Murphy Pavone
Description: The goal of this workshop is to support families facing the financial and emotional challenges of addiction by providing actionable steps to protect their finances and restore stability. By blending effective financial strategies with the psychological support you offer, we can work together to empower these families to rebuild their lives and create a more secure future. This workshop is designed to equip individuals and families with the tools and knowledge needed to navigate the financial and emotional challenges of supporting a loved one with a gambling addiction. Participants will learn actionable strategies to safeguard their financial well-being, set healthy boundaries, and regain control of their financial future. By integrating practical financial planning techniques with psychological insights, this session aims to empower attendees to rebuild stability and confidence while supporting their loved ones through recovery.
Continuing Education (Credits Pending): CARC, CRPA, OASAS/SW/LMHC
Gambling and Justice: Exploring Social Determinants & Systemic Racism
Speakers: Venus Moore & Martha Dolmo
Description: This training is to help Professionals and community leaders gain a deeper understanding of the complex relationships between gambling, social determinants of health, and systemic racism. Participants will gain a better understanding of the ways socioeconomic inequalities, racial discrimination, and lack of access to gambling education can manifest in criminal justice or public health sectors.
Continuing Education: OASAS Initial- CPP/CPS/CASAC-G/CPP-G/CPGC; OASAS Renewal - CASAC/CPP/CPS/CASAC-G/CPP-G/CPGC
Many Pathways to Gambling Harms Recovery
Speakers: Brenda Harris-Collins, Moderated by: Scott Meyer
Description: This keynote will give an overview of the framework for recovery in NYS and highlight the multiple pathways people can enter recovery. After an overview of recovery for gambling harms, there will be a moderator and 3 panel participants who will share their unique pathway to recovery from gambling harms.
Continuing Education (Credits Pending): CARC, CRPA, OASAS/SW/LMHC
Not All Fun & Games: Youth and Mobile Sports Betting
Speaker: Chelsea Kehrli
Description: This workshop will review the curriculum that was developed in collaboration with a grant from NYCPG to assess community needs and take action to address youth gambling. This information will take a deeper look at the world of online sports betting and how this glamorized form of entertainment is having an impact on our young people. -Participants will learn about the emerging trends of online sports betting and identify warning signs of someone who is engaging in problem gambling. Participants will gain conversation techniques to better support young people who may be gambling.
Continuing Education (Credits Pending): OASAS/SW/LMHC
Invisible Struggles: Problem Gambling and Accessibility Gaps for Deaf & Hard of Hearing Individuals
Speaker: Keven Poore
Description: This presentation will explore the intersection of the Deaf community and gambling harm. While Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals engage in gambling at rates equal to or higher than the general population, they face significant barriers in accessing prevention, treatment, and support services. These barriers include communication access, a lack of culturally relevant resources, and pervasive stigma, which hinder their ability to receive equitable care for gambling-related issues. As a result, Deaf individuals may experience heightened emotional, financial, and social consequences. This session will discuss strategies to address these gaps, focusing on the need for inclusive, accessible, and culturally sensitive services. Attendees will learn practical approaches to better support Deaf individuals, including the importance of qualified sign language interpreters, adapting prevention programs, and providing accessible resources. By the end of the session, participants will have a deeper understanding of how to support Deaf individuals with gambling issues and promote equitable access to services.
Continuing Education (Credits Pending): CARC, CRPA, OASAS/SW/LMHC
Supervision is Self-Care
Speaker: Ruth Riddick
Description: Professionals agree that there’s a need for “supervision.” But what do we mean? For individuals working in structured environments, supervision is often identifiable only as a top-down management responsibility. But this management role by itself is insufficient to nurture and sustain a growing workforce, especially in non-traditional professions. Responsive models of mentor-based supervision are emerging, often as a result of worker advocacy. This workshop will suggest that, in addition to being a leadership responsibility, supervision is also self-care for professionals. To grow as professionals, we proactively define our needs in and for supervision; we expect supervision that speaks to our role performance and philosophy; we demand support for enhancing our particular skills, talents, and interests; and we invest in private supervision services as needed to support our role mastery and our personal lifelong learning commitment. We do this as a self-care practice. Join us for this important conversation about how, where, and when we practice self-care through supervision.
Continuing Education (Credits Pending): CARC, CRPA, OASAS/SW/LMHC
Strength in Vulnerability- Black Men's Perspectives on Mental Health and Gambling Addiction
Speakers: Dr. Tyrone Thaddaeus Brown, Ivan Braxton, Vassell O’Gilvie, Rodney Reid
Description: In this transformative roundtable discussion, Black men from diverse backgrounds come together to discuss the often-overlooked intersections of mental health and gambling addiction within their communities. Panelists will share personal stories, cultural insights, and professional expertise to address the unique pressures that Black men face regarding mental health and addiction, as well as the historical and societal factors that often make it difficult to reach out for help. Attendees will walk away with a deeper understanding of how cultural and structural issues shape experiences with mental health and gambling addiction, as well as practical steps for community-based support and wellness.
Continuing Education (Credits Pending): OASAS, SW, LMHC
Spotlight on Services: HOPEline & GamFin Overview of the resources and services offered in NYS
Speaker: TBD
Hidden Mischief
Speaker: Jessica McCarthy
Description:This interactive session will help participants learn possible warning signs of risky behaviors and how to start conversations with youth about making healthy choices by walking through a mock bedroom setup.
Advancing Innovation to Address Problem Gambling and Co-Occurring Substance Use and Mental Health Concerns Among New York State College Students
Speakers: Dr. Dolores Cimini, Jessica L. Martin, Laura M. Longo, Evan E. Ozmat
Description: The recent explosion of online sports betting in New York State has led to an increase in problem gambling among young adults, particularly college students. Studies indicate that many college students engaging in problem gambling also experience co-occurring substance use and mental health concerns including risk for suicide. It is critical for both campus staff members and community providers to understand and respond to this complex emerging issue using evidence-informed practices. In this presentation, we will explore the current landscape of problem gambling among college students, identify unique risk factors for problem gambling and co-occurring mental health and substance use concerns, and outline innovative research-based solutions for timely and culturally responsive prevention and intervention. Using the experiences of a large public university in New York State, we will highlight how evidence-based practices are being integrated into a comprehensive prevention approach to address problem gambling among college students and how predictive models using artificial intelligence are being used to identify risk and increase student engagement.
Continuing Education (Credits Pending): CARC, CRPA, OASAS/SW/LMHC
Developing a Plan of Action to Weave Problem Gambling into the Fabric of Recovery Services
Speakers: Rachel Lauria and Kristin Sweeter
Description: In 2024, select RCOCs collaborated with regional PGRCs to complete a community needs assessment to determine the level of readiness of communities surrounding RCOCs and their ability to address problem gambling. In this session we will outline the process that was undertaken to collect data and build relationships, provide a brief overview of the results, and speak to the capacity building project moving forward in 2025. Panelists will discuss project highlights, challenges, and next steps for problem gambling integration at RCOCs, as well as best practices for creating an organizational shift in readiness.
Continuing Education (Credits Pending): OASAS, SW
Military Veterans and Gambling Disorder
Speaker: Les Waite
Description: Presentation will outline the prevalence and treatment for gambling disorder provided at the Albany Stratton VAMC including group and individual therapies. Provide a general understanding of gambling and how it impacts the military Servicemember and Veteran populations Provide an overview of treatment options available for military Veterans Interact with military Veterans active in their recovery from Gambling Disorder.
Continuing Education (Credits Pending ): OASAS/SW
Scholarship Recipients Meeting w/ Alumni Association
Speaker: TBD
Anti Human Trafficking Awareness Presentation
Speakers: Eva Chavez
Description: Our training covers defining and understanding the severity and scope of human trafficking, identifying the red flags of trafficking, intersections between intimate partner violence and human trafficking, and trauma informed lens, resources, and tools to increase efficacy in supporting survivors of trafficking. Topics covered include the anti-trafficking legal framework, the prevalence of trafficking, red flags and indicators to identifying victims of trafficking and resources available to victims.
Continuing Education (Credits Pending): OASAS
Reversing Gambling Stigma
Speaker: Herman Taylor
Description: Reversing gambling stigma can be attributed to various psychological factors. One key factor is the power of storytelling. When individuals hear stories of others who have overcome challenges and achieved success, they are more likely to believe they can achieve their goals. Reversing Stigma will tap into positive psychology principles, which emphasize the importance of cultivating positive emotions, thoughts, and behavior. By encouraging individuals to focus on achievable their goals, and taken positive action towards those goals. Reversing stigma can help individuals develop a more optimistic and resilient mindset. Reversing stigma is a process that activates the reward system, and increasing feelings of motivation and inspiration. Participants will learn the Six steps to reversing stigma attendees leave Herman’s workshop transformed with: 1). A clear understanding of the five steps to reverse stigma, 1. story, 2. team, 3. intentionality, 4. gratitude, 5. motivation, and 6. affirmation and how with a positive mind-set you can manage your mental health and recovery. 2). The five steps to reversing gambling stigma will guide you in your pursuit of your mental health, recovery, and wellbeing. 3). The motivation to move past your gambling stigma and live a productive lifestyle.
Continuing Education (Credits Pending): CARC, CRPA, OASAS/SW/LMHC