Ask an Expert: Module 7

Welcome to Ask an Expert: Learning about Problem Gambling from Researchers, Clinicians, Advocates, and People with Lived Experience. In Module 7: Implementing Racial Equity, you will learn from five experts on the topics of (1) reducing barriers to behavioral health treatment among minoritized groups, (2) recruiting and retaining a diverse, culturally competent behavioral health workforce, and (3) promoting gambling wellness to culturally diverse communities. Module 7 includes 3 videos and a 10-question quiz. These videos have been professionally captioned, and we recommend watching them with closed captions turned on.

Learners will earn 1.0 hour of continuing education (CE) credit for completing each module, which includes passing a 10-question post-module quiz.

About the Experts

Ms. Valeria Chambers, CPS, Ed.M, CAS, is founder of Black Voices: Pathways4Recovery, a state-wide advocacy and leadership support network for Blacks and African Americans. She has used her lived experience as a Certified Peer Specialist trainer and facilitator in the mental health peer support arena for the past 18 years. Ms. Chambers is a research consultant at the Health Equity Research Lab, Cambridge Health Alliance and the Center of Excellence for Psychosocial and Systemic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital. She works with researchers, policy makers, and other stakeholders to address mechanisms underlying mental health care disparities to ensure that the lived experience perspective is present throughout all phases of the research process: community engagement, co-creation/co-learning, conceptualization of the research question, data collection, analysis, interpretation, and finally, dissemination back to communities. Her goal is to increase access to trauma informed, culturally responsive mental health services for underserved communities via advocacy, research, and peer support services. 

Dr. Benjamin Lê Cook, PhD, MPH, is Director of the Health Equity Research Lab at Cambridge Health Alliance, Director of Research in the Department of Psychiatry at Cambridge Health Alliance, and Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. His research interests are in improving methods for measuring disparities and applying these methods to understanding the mechanisms underlying mental health and substance abuse treatment disparities, the association between acculturation and mental health, and geographic differences in mental health service use disparities. Dr. Cook received a Ph.D. in Health Policy at Harvard University concentrating in Evaluative Science and Statistics, an MPH from UNC-Chapel Hill in the Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, and a BA in psychology from Swarthmore College.   

Ms. Sarah Jalbert, MA, MS, is the Executive Director of the Institute for Community Health. As Executive Director, she is responsible for all aspects of the Institute’s operations, including research and evaluation projects, staffing, budget and finance, and business development. Her research interests include justice system reform, the justice system, behavioral health, learning disorders, and health equity. Ms. Jalbert holds a BA in Sociology from Northeastern University and a MA in Applied Sociology and MS in Public Policy from the University of Massachusetts, Boston. 

Dr. Ranjani Paradise, PhD, is the Director of Evaluation at the Institute for Community Health. She directs the Institute’s staff training program, oversees visibility and communications, and leads the development and growth of the Institute’s evaluation services. Dr. Paradise is the project director for mixed methods research and evaluation projects across a range of topic areas, including language access, workforce development, health systems advocacy and transformation, social determinants of health, substance use disorder treatment, and health equity. Her work primarily focuses on programs that occur within or intersect with healthcare delivery systems, and she has extensive experience working with community health centers and other community-based healthcare providers across Massachusetts. Dr. Paradise holds a BSE from Princeton University and a PhD from MIT. 

Dr. Deborah Haskins, PhD, LCPC, MAC, ICGC-II, is Retired Associate Professor in Counseling/Director of Counseling Programs at Trinity Washington University (DC) and Owner/Chief Clinical Consultant of MOSAIC Consulting and Counseling Services. She has advocated for gamblers and loved ones for 20 years and provides support to cultural communities, including faith/spiritual communities, in enhancing wellness in all areas.

Continuing Education (CE) credits

• American Psychological Association (APA) – The Division on Addiction, Cambridge Health Alliance is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Division on Addiction, Cambridge Health Alliance maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
• National Association of Social Workers (NASW) – This program has been approved for 1.0 Social Work Continuing Education hours for re-licensure, in accordance with 258 CMR. NASW-MA Chapter CE Approving Program, Authorization Number D91244.
• Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) – The Massachusetts Technical Assistance Center for Problem Gambling Treatment is authorized by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to sponsor, conduct or approve continuing education programs for alcohol and drug counselors/assistants (LADCs). This program offers 1.0 hour of continuing education (CE) credit.
• NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals – This course has been approved by the Division on Addiction, as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for educational credits. NAADAC Provider #84058, the Division on Addiction is responsible for all aspects of the programing.
• The Massachusetts Board of Substance Abuse Counselor Certification (MBSACC) – MBSACC does not accredit online trainings but will recognize most online trainings approved by NASW.