Northstar Problem Gambling Alliance

THE MINNESOTA ALLIANCE ON PROBLEM GAMBLING IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE LIVES OF THOSE AFFECTED BY PROBLEM GAMBLING THROUGH ADVOCACY, EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND RESEARCH. WE DO THIS BY BRINGING TOGETHER A DIVERSE GROUP OF STAKEHOLDERS WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT GAMBLING DISORDER IS A SERIOUS PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE THAT IS BOTH TREATABLE AND PREVENTABLE.

STATEMENT OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS FY 2021-2022COMMUNITY PRESENTATIONS:MNAPG EXHIBITS AT ALL THE MAJOR HEALTHCARE CONFERENCES AROUND THE STATE. WE PROVIDE RESOURCE MATERIALS AND MAKE PRESENTATIONS ABOUT PROBLEM GAMBLING, THE PARTICULAR POPULATIONS MOST VULNERABLE AND EDUCATE THOSE WHO HAVE HAD NO EXPOSURE TO PROBLEM GAMBLING, GAMBLING DISORDER. IN ADDITION TO TABLING AT 10 MAJOR CONFERENCES, WE ATTEND COMMUNITY HEALTH FAIRS, SPEAK TO COMMUNITY GROUPS, PTAS, AND STAFF OF TREATMENT CENTERS.MNAPG HIRED A NEW COMMUNITY EDUCATOR TO BROADEN OUR OUTREACH EFFORTS AROUND THE STATE. SERVICE ON STATE AND NATIONAL BOARDS WITH TOUCHPOINTS TO PROBLEM GAMBLING:MNAPG PARTICIPATED IN THE DHS ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETINGS, WHERE WE DISCUSSED WAYS IN WHICH THE DELIVERY OF SERVICES CAN BE IMPROVED. WE HAVE SERVED ON THIS COUNCIL SINCE ITS INCEPTION OVER 13 YEARS AGO. THIS YEAR FOR THE FIRST TIME WE GAINED A SEAT ON THE STATE SUICIDE PREVENTION TASK FORCE. THOSE WITH GAMBLING ADDICTIONS HAVE THE HIGHEST RATE OF SUICIDE THAN ANY OTHER ADDICTION, AND THE STATE PLAN DID NOT MENTION IT AT ALL AS A RISK FACTOR. WE WERE ALSO INVITED TO SERVE ON THE HENNEPIN COUNTY ADULT MENTAL HEALTH ADVISORY COUNCIL. AGAIN TO PROVIDE NEW AUDIENCES EDUCATION ABOUT THE CO-OCCURRENCE OF ADDICTION AND MENTAL HEALTH. PREVENTION TOOLS:MNAPG CONTINUES TO OFFER A FREE SUBSCRIPTION TO GAMBAN AN ONLINE BLOCKING APP, WHICH BLOCKS OVER 65,000 WORLDWIDE GAMBLING SITES. BETBLOCKER WAS ADDED THIS YEAR. IT DOESN'T BLOCK AS MANY SITES BUT IS COMPLETELY FREE AND THE USER CAN LOAD WITHOUT THE NEED TO CONTACT MNAPG. WE ADDED THE HELPLINE VENDOR TO OFFER THE SUBSCRIPTIONS WITHOUT THE NEED TO CONNECT WITH MNAPG. MNAPG ADDED A NEW EVIDENCE-BASED SURVEY TOOL TO ANY MINNESOTAN WHO IS INTERESTED IN COMPARING THEIR GAMBLING HABITS TO OTHER MINNESOTANS. RESEARCH SHOWS BEHAVIOR CAN BE INFLUENCED IF A FREQUENT GAMBLER REALIZES THAT MOST OF THE POPULATION IS NOT GAMBLING AT THE SAME RATE. TRAINING:ALL TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES (ONLINE AND INSTATE) FOR PROBLEM GAMBLER COUNSELORS ARE SUBSIDIZED BY MNAPG, TO ELIMINATE BARRIERS. FULL SCHOLARSHIPS WERE OFFERED TO NCPG'S PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS AND AGAIN TO THEIR VIRTUAL FULL CONFERENCE. NORTHERN LIGHT - QUARTERLY JOURNAL:MNAPG PRODUCES A QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER WITH A DISTRIBUTION OF OVER 14,000 HARD AND ELECTRONIC COPIES. EACH QUARTER READERS ARE PROVIDED THE MOST UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ABOUT GAMBLING TRENDS FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF THE INDUSTRY, INFORMATION ABOUT CONFERENCES/TRAININGS, A RECOVERY STORY AND USUALLY A PIECE ON SOME RECENT RESEARCH. TREATMENT PROVIDER MEETINGS - QUARTERLYSTARTING IN 2019, MNAPG CONTINUES TO BRING THE COUNSELORS TOGETHER FOR NETWORKING, SHARING IDEAS, UNDERSTANDING THEIR NEED FOR ADDITIONAL TRAINING AND SOME PROBLEM SOLVING. ADVERTISING:MNAPG CONTINUED TO SPEND A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF PROGRAM DOLLARS ON PREVENTION MESSAGING AND EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT FREE TREATMENT AND WHERE TO TURN FOR HELP. ADS WERE PLACED IN TARGETED JOURNALS AND WITH THE ABILITY TO GEO-FENCE PARTICULARLY DEMOGRAPHICS/TYPES OF USERS, WE SAW SOME IMPROVEMENT IN OUR OPENING RATES OF DIGITAL ADS AND INCREASED WEBSITE VISITS. REBRANDED AND REVISED MNAPG RESOURCES:WITH A NAME CHANGE IN NOVEMBER 2021, ALL OF OUR RESOURCE MATERIAL NEEDED TO BE REBRANDED AND PROVIDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO UPDATE AND REVISE. EXISTING PIECES WERE REWRITTEN, NEW BROCHURES WERE CREATED AND SEVERAL OF THE PIECES WERE TRANSLATED INTO 4 DIFFERENT LANGUAGES REFLECTING THE CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS IN MINNESOTA. EXPANSION OF GAMBLING IN MINNESOTA:TWO SPORTS BETTING BILLS WERE INTRODUCED LAST SESSION; A HOUSE AND SENATE BILL. MNAPG IS NEUTRAL ON GAMBLING LEGALIZATION, BUT WE HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS WITH THE AUTHORS OF THE BILLS, MAKING SUGGESTIONS TO IMPROVE THE BILL WITH REGARD TO SUPPORTING GAMBLING ADDICTION SERVICES, RAISING THE AGE TO 21, FUNDING FOR INCREASED RESEARCH AND MORE COUNSELING SERVICES FOR FAMILIES, LIMITING THE EXPOSURE TO GAMBLING ADVERTISING IN AREAS WHERE CHILDREN ARE PRIMARILY PRESENT. WE ALSO CONTINUE TO SEEK LEGISLATIVE SUPPORT TO OVERHAUL THE DELIVERY OF PROBLEM GAMBLING SERVICES.