Public awareness efforts will be dedicated to putting a face on problem gambling through collaboration with the Kansas Coalition on Problem Gambling, the Kansas Association of Addiction Professionals, and the Regional Prevention Centers. Since the treatment of problem gamblers is a new effort for SRS, the Department did not have ready access to an adequate number of trained professionals who could deliver these services. The Kansas Coalition, a section of the Kansas Association of Addiction Professionals, is affiliated with the National Council on Problem Gambling. Counselor certification training was implemented in November, 2000. Currently, we are in the third training session.
Trainers consist of professionals who are known nationally.
A core group of approximately 20 professionals from mental health centers, substance abuse treatment programs, and private practitioners are attending the certification training. Treatment Program Development. Providing treatment for those individuals suffering from pathological gambling within the funding that is available requires careful thought about how best to target these limited resources. Although efforts are being made to identify other funding sources, current planning is moving ahead on ways to provide services within the available funding. Target three areas, Topeka, Northeast Kansas, and the Kansas City area to provide some assistance for treatment of the pathological gambler.