Aboriginal Responsible Gambling Programme

Goals & Objectives

To improve the quality of life for urban Aboriginal people experiencing or living with problem gambling through the development of responsible gambling awareness materials and the delivery of culture based problem gambling awareness workshops.

The objectives are:

To reduce the levels of problem gambling amongst the urban Aboriginal population;
To reduce the harm associated with problem gambling;
Minimize or eliminate the factors that contribute to the development of problem gambling;
To negotiate new programme components, adequate levels of funding and new contracts to enhance the existing ARGP mandate to better address community needs;
To conduct research activities to document the programme model and support negotiations for programme expansion and on-going programming; and,
To network and collaborate with other Aboriginal and non Aboriginal organizations who provide problem gambling services to Aboriginal peoples.

Programme Summary

The key recommendations from the Analysis Report on Friendship Centre Gambling Survey, OFIFC, October 2000 initially formed the basis for the ARGP. These recommendations continue to be consistent with the recommendations in the recently completed Aboriginal Problem Gambling Needs Assessment and Environmental Scan, OFIFC, July 2007.

That funding be sought and secured to develop an in-depth analysis of the extent of the problem gambling within all Ontario Friendship Centres.
A problem gambling reduction strategy be developed and implemented in all Friendship Centres across the province to address the issues and examine the means to reduce problem gambling and the effects among Aboriginal people;
Provide Aboriginal specific counselling services to community members; and
Design, develop and deliver culturally relevant promotion and prevention materials for all in the life cycle.

Focus on Success

Research indicates that there have historically been high levels of denial regarding the extent of problem gambling within Ontario's Aboriginal communities. There has been a noticeable shift over the past couple of years. Through culture based awareness and education we are seeing a move from denial of problem gambling to Aboriginal people beginning to talk about problem gambling from a perspective of concern about their family or community members' level of problem gambling involvement. This is a positive move toward being able to strategize solutions to reduce the impact of problem gambling.

Development

Aboriginal Responsible Gambling Awareness workshop facilitation training is a support service provided to staff at Friendship Centres to encourage them to offer responsible gambling awareness workshops within their communities. If requested, the ARGP Trainer is available to attend the Friendship Centre's community workshop to provide support to staff facilitating the session. Workshop topics include:

Gambling Addiction is Not Part of My Heritage;
On the Turn (youth workshop);
There's Nothing Traditional About Losing Everything (programme staff);
Understanding Slot Machines (programme staff/ can be adjusted for presenting to community members);
Jeremy and the Magic Ball (children's workshop); and,
Facilitating Support Circles for people living with problem gamblers.

The ARGP provides information and fact sheets on current issues to educate community members. Issue based resources include:

Problem gambling fact sheet for parents;
Internet gambling brochure;
Gambling related criminal activity brochure; and,
Jeremy and the Magic Ball children's book

The ARGP Trainer sits on the Ontario Aboriginal Responsible Gambling Programme Working Group (OARGP-WG). The OARGP-WG membership consist of Coordinator's from the seven other First Nation and Metis groups currently receiving funding to address responsible gambling awareness. This WG has the responsibility to direct the research approaches and utilization, programme design and evaluation, cultural resource development and professional development and certification. The WG members retain independence in funding and maintain organizational programme decisions.