The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) on Monday announced $3.1 million in grants to community-based organizations to support two initiatives intended to address the impacts of problem gambling on state residents.

Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s OPGS will fund a $2.1 million Youth Leaders in Problem Gambling Prevention initiative

DPH’s Office of Problem Gambling Services (OPGS) will fund a $2.1 million Youth Leaders in Problem Gambling Prevention initiative. The OPGS is expected to provide $1 million in funding for Project Build Up 2.0 as well.

The Youth Leaders project is a peer-to-peer program designed to actively engage young people (ages 12-21) in problem gambling prevention. Project Build Up 2.0 provides workforce development opportunities to recruit and retain employees for outpatient substance use programs.

“Our focus remains on supporting and promoting prevention, referral, and treatment options to help those with a gambling problem, which is particularly important as access to gambling expands,” said Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, MD, PhD.

“These two initiatives will augment our efforts to prevent problem gambling among youth. [They will] help fortify our workforce capacity in the outpatient substance use and gambling treatment space.”

The Youth Leaders in Gambling Prevention project will build programs that guide young people. The project will prioritize problem gambling prevention, advocacy, and community strategies.

Additionally, the project will be led by three organizations: Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center in Boston, Public Health Institute of Western MA, and The Latino Education Institute at Worcester State University.

Each organization will receive $700,000 annually to implement the program. Approximately $5,000 will also be awarded in scholarships for higher education for youth participants who complete the project.

Up to 20 organizations will receive $25,000 annually for two years to support workforce development

As part of its treatment support services, OPGS has awarded a new round of grant funding for Project Build Up 2.0. The project is an existing workforce development program for outpatient substance use and gambling treatment agencies.

In fact, a maximum 20 organizations will receive $25,000 annually for two years to support workforce development. The funds will also support staff recruitment and marketing strategies to promote problem gambling treatment.

Health Resources in Action, Inc. (HRiA) has been selected to design and implement the grant selection process. Community input will be considered in order to establish an advisory committee to evaluate and select grantees.

Moreover, about $1 million will be awarded annually through June 30, 2029, for a total of $5 million. Problem gambling can affect an individual and their family, relationships, social interactions, and employment.

Compulsive gambling has been linked to worse academic performance, anxiety, and overall poorer quality of life. Such a disorder can impact career goals and social relationships. The 2021 Massachusetts Youth Health Survey found that 42.4% of high school and 43.47% of middle school students had gambled in 2020.

“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… [allow] our outpatient treatment programs to address problem gambling.”

“These two initiatives help further our community engagement. [This] allows us to build on this important work, reach more people, and create additional partnerships that can truly change lives,” said Hafsatou Diop, DPH’s Assistant Commissioner for Health Equity. “We are ready to get to work.”