New York’s Responsible Play Partnership brings community-based services for problem gambling to Queens
NY Council on Problem Gambling leads effort with Queens community to raise awareness of and increase access to treatment for problem gambling
New York’s Responsible Play Partnership, comprised of the New York Council on Problem Gambling, the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substances Abuse Services (NYS OASAS), and the New York State Gaming Commission, announced today the opening of the Queens Center for Excellence, a unique community-based collaboration based in Forest Hills that offers localized assessment, treatment and referral services to those in need of problem gambling-related assistance.
The Center, a first-of-its-kind within New York’s five boroughs, is a program of the New York Council on Problem Gambling and is supported by NYS OASAS, the state agency charged with ensuring access to treatment for problem gambling in New York State and increasing awareness of problem gambling in local communities. The New York State Gaming Commission, the Queens District Attorney’s Office, Queens Community House and Resorts World Casino New York City are community partners in the effort.
The Center, under the leadership of Program Director Michael Suarez, a South Ozone Park resident, is headquartered at Queens Community House, 108-25 62nd Drive in Forest Hills. It provides training and educational resources to public and private agencies, including community organizations, partnering clinicians and gaming industry employees. The Center’s licensed clinical social workers conduct assessments of referred clients and help individuals map a course of treatment, connect to community-based treatment providers and determine if they have any additional service needs.
As part of the Center’s public awareness efforts, it is working with Resorts World Casino New York City to provide responsible gaming kiosks at its facility in South Ozone Park and at up to 20 other public areas around Queens by 2016. The kiosks provide information on responsible gaming practices, warning signs of problem gambling and information on how self-identified problem gamblers can exclude themselves from gaming facilities. Additional educational materials will be added, as needed.
To further expand access to services, the Queens District Attorney’s Office is working with the Center to ensure that individuals convicted of problem gambling-related crimes are referred for treatment and other services. The Center will be the primary referral source for these individuals to match them with appropriate care and services, close to where they live.
New York Council on Problem Gambling Executive Director James Maney said, “The Queens Center for Excellence will provide crucial resources for residents struggling with the consequences of problem gambling at no cost. We anticipate that this program will be a model for problem gambling services statewide.”
NYS OASAS Commissioner Arlene González-Sánchez said, “The Queens Center for Excellence is a collaborative, community-based effort to ensure that residents are aware of problem gambling and are connected with treatment services that are available to them right in their own community.”
New York State Gaming Commission Chairman Mark D. Gearan said, “The Responsible Play Partnership’s multi-faceted approach to addressing the challenges of problem gambling is bearing fruit, and I applaud my colleagues across all aspects of the industry for making the Center for Excellence a reality. Along with effective regulation, this type of comprehensive, community-based model will help countless individuals.”
Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown said, “My office has long recognized that the most effective approach with certain non-violent offenders is to offer treatment and services to address the underlying clinical issues that have contributed to their commission of crimes. Our Queens Treatment Court is one of many initiatives that has had great success in transforming the lives of offenders with alcohol or substance abuse dependence. We are delighted to partner with Queens Center for Excellence in this new initiative so that we can now also provide referrals for treatment and supportive services to criminal justice involved non-violent offenders in Queens with gambling problems.”
Resorts World Casino New York City Executive Scott Molino said, “Resorts World is committed to being a good neighbor in Queens. Our involvement with the creation and placement of the responsible gaming kiosks at our facility and in other public areas throughout Queens is just one way we are actively promoting problem gambling awareness and treatment in our community.”
Queens Community House Executive Director Ben Thomases said, “We are pleased to be working with the QCFE and believe the services they are providing will be valuable to our program participants, their families and the Queens Community as a whole.”
Queens Center for Excellence clinician Zoe Liang said, “I am very excited to learn that this important issue is finally being addressed and I am very interested in being a part of the QCFE program. I look forward to working with clients to improve their quality of life.”
The Center can also assist family members who are adversely affected by a loved one’s gambling problem. Individuals may be referred to recovery support services such as the 12-step group help programs, Gambler’s Anonymous and Gam-Anon. Statewide, referrals for treatment for problem gambling and information about problem gambling is available to all New Yorkers 24 hours a day, seven days a week through the New York State HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369). New Yorkers can also text 1-877-8-HOPENY to reach HOPEline professionals.