Background. National Gambling Counselor Certification Board founded 1984 largely through the efforts of Joanna Franklin. Legalized gambling expanding throughout the United States. Efforts to define the field and assure competency – 1980 Pathological Gambling 1st included in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual III of the American Psychiatric Association. Home » Credentialing » Credential for Problem Gambling (PCGC) Credential for Problem Gambling (PCGC) As of March 15, 2019 the ICB will once again offer the PCGC credential.

An energetic and highly successful “serial entrepreneur,” Bea Aikens brings more than 25 years of expertise in sales, marketing and operational management. She has been at the helm of a variety of sales, marketing and financial organizations and has held executive-level casino positions within the Las Vegas community. She earned her Bachelor of Science from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and has served as a real estate broker and trust company owner.

Ms. Aikens is the founder and CEO of Lanie’s Hope, a national advocacy group dedicated to illuminating and humanizing the disease of compulsive gambling. Given her entrepreneurial spirit, she channeled her business skills with her personal experience as a recovering compulsive gambler and the survivor of a family member who died from a gambling-related overdose to launch Lanie’s Hope in 2010.

A motivational speaker, emcee and presenter, Ms. Aikens has been featured at numerous state, regional and national Gamblers Anonymous conferences. In 2011, she addressed the Nevada Association of Family Practitioners and succeeded in having physicians add gambling habits questions to their medical intake reports. Most recently she has served as the keynote speaker for 2011 Nevada State Conference on Problem Gambling as well as the 2012 keynote speaker for both the Arizona Office of Problem Gambling and the Vermont Council on Problem Gambling. Ms. Aikens serves as a key advisor and board member for the Pennsylvania Butler County Responsible Gambling Coalition due to that state’s position as the fastest growing gambling location in America. As a published author in two of the four Life Choices book series, Ms. Aikens was among a select group of authors chosen to kick-off the national tour for Life Choices: The Event, in Las Vegas, Nev.

Subject matter expert Ms. Aikens serves on the advisory board of the Butler County Community Resource Center Problem Gambling Coalition, Butler, Pa.; the Beaver Falls, Pa. Community Coalition on Problem Gambling; and the Red Tent Women’s Project problem gambling foundation. She has completed extensive studies on a broad range of problem gambling-related topics including mental health, recovery and treatment, and emotional impact, and is pursuing national accreditation with the American Compulsive Gambling Counselor Certification Board. As a national leader focused on creating social change in problem gambling, she is well-informed of the latest news, events and current legislation pertaining to this area. Her knowledge, professional contacts and personal experience make her a valuable resource on problem gambling.

A charitable member of the Las Vegas community, Ms. Aikens has been actively involved in a professional capacity for years. She served on the board of directors for several organizations including the Make-A-Wish Foundation, American Heart Association and National Association of Women Business Owners and as president of My Hope Chest.

A recognized community leader, Ms. Aikens is the recipient of multiple honors and distinctions including:
• “Women of Distinction Honoree—National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) 2011
• “Glass Ceiling” nominee—National Association of Women Business Owners 2007
• “Woman of the Year”—Women of Entertainment, Music and the Media 2002
• Congressional Recognition—seven time honoree

IGCCB Clergy / Lay Ministers Certification
Gambling Addiction
Prevention, Education, Awareness
and Spiritual Outreach Care

The International Gambling Counselor Certification Board (IGCCB) provides a process for recognizing and certifying clergy and other faith-based workers who are proficient in gambling addiction prevention, education, awareness, and supportive outreach, non-clinical care. With specialized training leading to certification, knowledgeable clergy and faith-based workers can offer guidance, educational materials, support, hope, spiritual care, and other resources, to help lead people to certified gambling counselors and recovery support groups.

The IGCCB Clergy / Lay Ministers Certification is designed to provide basic knowledge about gambling addiction and treatment and recovery resources, to enhance the clergy person’s skills at recognizing compulsive gambling, and to provide information for the gambler’s family on dealing with their loved one’s addiction.

Started in 2014, the initial Clergy/Lay Minister Training was implemented in New Jersey by the American Compulsive Gambling Counselor Certification Board. With the 2016 merger of the International and American Boards, the Clergy/Lay Minister Certification (Non-Clinical) is now included with the new merged Board. See below for contact information about current trainings.

Certification fees have been waived through 6/30/19 (with only a $50 Administrative Fee to be paid); and those wishing to enter the process are encouraged to enroll during the present year.

The specialized 24 Hour Training for Clergy and Lay Ministers leads to IGCCB Certification (Non-Clinical).

For more information on the Training Schedules and Registration, contact the following:

International Gambling Counselor Certification Board through Rev. Janet Jacobs at (812)290-3022 or jjacobs@grmumc.org

DETAILS

The Clergy/Lay Ministers Certification is granted by the International Gambling Counselor Certification Board and is of international certification status. This certification is for pastors/clergy/Ordained Deacons and designated religious workers or Lay Ministers who will be trained in both clinical information and spirituality issues, along with parish application.
There is a $50 fee which is the “Administrative Fee” for the International Gambling Counselor Certification Board’s administering the certification process of the applicant. This includes the instruction, class materials, and any mentoring for the applicant by the instructors. The actual Certification Fee of $185 is being waived through June 30, 2019, for those applicants taking the training sessions (4 Modules) and doing the required project and oral examination (more of an interview as to what the applicant has learned throughout the certification process).

The Re-Certification Fee, payable every three years, is $95 for the Clergy/Lay Ministers Certification. Re-certification requires documentation evidencing completion of 18 hours of gambling-specific CEU hours earned every three years.

Training For Gambling Counselors

The “Clergy/Lay Minister” Certification prepares those working and serving in parish settings to provide, for persons seeking help for problem gambling (directly and/or indirectly affected), initial intervention through education, referral assistance, support group referral and enhancement, and spiritual support specific to gamblers and their loved ones.

All four Modules of the Clergy/Lay Ministers Certification include workable and practical application for parish outreach (and in-reach too). Examples of this parish onsite approach are sermon topics, study groups, devotionals, materials for the parish on addiction and problem gambling, 12 Step information and the practical application of these Steps to Recovery, a “script” for initial contact with a gambler (and/or loved ones of gamblers), workshops, guest speakers for parish programs, and more.

Moreover – and very importantly – this Certification will equip clergy/lay ministers to serve as the best First Responders to persons seeking help for problem gambling. They will be able to provide knowledgeable consultation, be able to adequately refer individuals to Certified Gambling Counselors and Support Groups specific to gambling issues, and provide (again) knowledgeable outreach and education to persons within (and outside of) the parish. They will also be equipped to serve persons in a problem gambling-specific supportive way during the individual’s process through recovery.

Written by Reverend Janet Jacobs CCGSO

NEW CONTACT INFORMATION:

Rev. Janet Jacobs, CCGSO: jjacobs@grmumc.org,Cell (812) 290-3022

IGCCB CLERGY CERTIFICATION:
Gambling Addiction Prevention, Education, Awareness, and Outreach Care

Core Curriculum:

International Gambling Counselor Certificati…

• The dynamics and psychology of addiction
• Problem gambling defined and described; pathological gambling defined and described; the scope of problem gambling in American society
• The impact of problem gambling on families; the components of effective support for the loved ones of gamblers
• The financial issues that gamblers and their families/members of the problem face
• The goals of problem gambling treatment; the options for treatment (Note: the clergy certification process does not train clergy to be therapists; rather, clergy will learn about treatment and what individuals in treatment may encounter as they go through the recovery process.)
• Spirituality and its significant role within the recovery process: the spiritual issues commonly encountered by disordered gamblers and their loved ones
• The unique role of certified clergy within the recovery care process
• Problem gambling support groups: GA; Gam-Anon; Celebrate Recovery; others

Certification Requirements

Certification Training and Continuing Education

The required 24 hour core level training will assist clergy persons in meeting the International Gambling Counselor Certification Board (IGCCB) Clergy Certification professional requirements. The program’s emphasis targets (1) early intervention through prevention education, (2) awareness-outreach, (3) informed, supportive consultation to accompany referral care, (4) spiritual care and (5) recovery support.

The IGCCB Certified Clergy should have the following:

• Documented completion of 24 hours of IGCCB Clergy/Lay Minister Certification Training requirements
• Adherence to a Professional Code of Ethics
• Completion of the Recommended Readings. (See included list of required readings.)
• Attendance to at least one Open Gamblers Anonymous Meeting and one Open Gam-Anon Meeting including written reflections on both experiences
• Successful Completion of Class Project/Paper
• Completion of the Application for Certification and remittance of Administration Fee of $50.00
• Passing score on Oral Examination based on the Core Training and Recommended Readings
• Annual Accountability Attestation
• Documented completion of 18 hours of gambling-specific Continuing Education hours every three years following initial Certification.

The IGCCB Clergy/Lay Minister Certification is designated by the International Gambling Counselor Certification Board as one of national/international certification.