MCPG continues mission
The Montana Council on Problem Gambling (MCPG) continues its mission to train treatment providers for compulsive gambling while developing therapy groups and treating those in need of it.
MCPG Executive Director Donna Johnson recently reminded the Montana Tavern Times that when first launched, the treatment program had just nine certified clinicians, and conducted 110 group therapy sessions with 210 participants. Ten years later MCPG programs boast 34 treatment providers, 948 groups and 3,379 participants.
The growth reflects an effectively administered program with better funding and more reach, rather than exponential growth of the problem, said Mark Kennedy, president of the council.
The MCPG also announced its fall seminar will feature Tom Oberweiser, the Eastern District Supervisor for the Montana Department of Justice Gambling Control Division, Gambling Investigation Bureau. The session is sponsored by the Montana Tavern Association, Gaming Industry Association, Montana Coin Machine Operators Association and Town Pump.
Oberweiser has been a sworn law enforcement officer for 28 years and is an instructor in the areas of gambling and tobacco investigations and police ethics with an emphasis on organized sports bookmaking.
He serves on the Board of the Montana Council on Problem Gambling. He has been a football official for over 25 years. In 1998 Supervisor Oberweiser was awarded the Montana Governor's Award for Excellence and was selected Montana Department of Justice Employee of the Year.
It is suggested that social workers, counselors, school administrators, teachers, prosecuting attorneys, probation and parole officers, white-collar detectives, vice unit agents, front line and traffic unit police officers would all benefit from attendance.
The fall session is scheduled for the Best Western GranTree Inn, Bozeman, Friday, Aug. 20, 2010. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. followed by an 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p. m. presentation by Oberweiser with a lunch break from noon to 1 p.m.
It continues Saturday, Aug. 21 with Oberweiser from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Council said 10 continuing education units (CEUs) are available for LCSW, LCPC and LAC. The total cost is $100; or Friday only for $60 and six CEUs or Saturday only for $50 with four CEUs. There is a $90 group discount for five or more. Check, money order or purchase order will be accepted. There is a $25 cancellation fee. Exhibit opportunities are available.
A brochure produced and distributed by the MCPG states: "The Montana Council on Problem Gambling is a non profit agency dedicated to alleviating gambling related social and personal distress through the provision of a toll-free confidential 24-hour help line and referral service to their outpatient treatment program. That number is 1-888-900-9979.
The program has trained therapists in 22 Montana communities. The Council is dedicated to fund treatment groups across Montana and provide training for mental health professionals to do these groups. They also provide education to compulsive gamblers, their families and other concerned Montanans.
"The Council provides two workshops or conferences each year. These are held over two days in opposite areas of the state. The object is to train therapists to better work with gamblers and educate the public about availability of treatment and local support. In 2009 we had workshops in Missoula and in Billings with 60 total participants.
"We put on eleven community presentations, four radio talk shows and six prevention documentaries at Community Seven.
"We are putting special emphases on the Native American gambler and our goal is to have treatment groups on each reservation. We also have gambling treatment groups in the Women's Prison and plans for targeting the adolescent gambling population."