Youth Leaders in Problem Gambling Prevention will build programs that empower youth led and developed problem gambling prevention, advocacy, and strategies to raise awareness of problem gambling. Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center in Boston, Public Health Institute of Western MA, and The Latino Education Institute at Worcester State University will lead the program. Each receives a $700,000 grant to implement the program.

The additional $1 million will support Project Build Up 2.0, a workforce development program which focuses on recruiting and retaining employees of outpatient substance use and gambling treatment programs. This existing program supports outpatient substance use and gambling treatment agencies. It will receive $1 million annually over five years.

“Reaching young people before they start down a path to gambling is critically important,” said Office of Problem Gambling Services Director Victor Ortiz. “Supporting workforce development for problem gambling treatment providers will build the capacity of our outpatient treatment programs to address problem gambling and co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders.”