Promoting Problem Gambling Treatment Services (Fall 2026)

This training will provide valuable guidance and insight on effective ways to promote your organization’s problem gambling services in your community. Participants will step away with ideas and strategies for disseminating promotional materials. This training is interactive. We expect participants to come to the training prepared to engage in creative discussion, ideally with cameras on and microphones functioning. You must stay the full length of the training to receive CE credit.

Cost: Free

Location: Virtual

Number of CE(s): 1.0

Instructional Level: Introductory

Agenda:

1. Problem Gambling 101
2. Promotion Best Practices
3. Skills Practice: Fix the Mistake
4. Exploring Massachusetts Health Promotion Clearinghouse Resources
5. Additional Resources

Learning Objectives: 

As a result of completing this training, you will be better prepared to…

1. Explain key messages for promoting problem gambling awareness and services.
2. Describe community and audience factors to consider when creating promotional materials. 
3. Apply best practices to design and improve promotional materials using non-stigmatizing language and imagery.

Instructor Bios:

Instructor #1: Shantel Mercedes, MPH; Shantel is a Manager at Health Resources in Action and works on the Training and Education team for M-TAC. She has 3 years of experience working in the gambling addiction field and has facilitated online trainings on a variety of trainings related to Gambling Disorder. She is particularly interested in the cultural significance and influence regarding common problem gambling behaviors. She has a BA in Public Health and Health Equity from Mills College and an MPH from Simmons University.

Instructor #2: Kira Landauer, MPH; Community Health Educator Supervisor at the Division on Addiction at Cambridge Health Alliance and member of the Training & Education Team at the Massachusetts Technical Assistance Center for Problem Gambling Treatment. Ms. Landauer has developed and facilitated live trainings and online courses on a variety of topics pertaining to Gambling Disorder (with a particular focus on screening for Gambling Disorder) for Massachusetts social workers, mental health and addiction specialists, allied health professionals, recovery and support providers, and others. Ms. Landauer manages Gambling Disorder Screening Day—an international grassroots movement started by the Division on Addiction at Cambridge Health Alliance to support and encourage providers to screen clients for Gambling Disorder. She received her Master of Public Health from Boston University School of Public Health in 2019 and completed a Learning Design and Technology Graduate Certificate from Harvard Extension School in 2024.

Instructor #3: Glimar Rodriguez Parrilla, LICSW, LADCI; Glimar ” Glee” Rodriguez Parrilla is a bilingual clinician, consultant, and supervisor with 14 years of experience in substance use and behavioral health care.  Grounded in trauma‑informed, culturally responsive, and recovery‑focused care, she helps organizations and clinical teams strengthen their response to gambling‑related harm and co‑occurring disorders. Glee has led to the development of outpatient gambling treatment services and expanding access to care. She also provides clinical supervision for clinicians working with substance use and gambling disorders, supporting skill development and integrated treatment approaches. As a professional recovery and trained recovery coach, Glee brings lived experience to her leadership and consultation work, helping organizations build effective and inclusive programs. She partners with statewide stakeholders to strengthen system‑wide capacity through targeted training, consultation, and technical assistance. Committed to health equity and program innovation, Glee works to elevate care for people impacted by Substance use and addictive behaviors.

Approval Statements:

• 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.
• National Association of Social Workers (NASW) – This program has been approved for 1.0 Social Work Continuing Education hours for relicensure, in accordance with 258 CMR. NASW-MA Chapter CE Approving Program, Authorization Number D10615-2.
• 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 continuing education credits.

Funding Statement: The Division on Addiction and Health Resources in Action collaborate to produce M-TAC trainings, courses, and resources, which are funded by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Office of Problem Gambling Services. The instructors have no financial interests that might create a conflict of interest in the development or delivery of this training. Click here to access our full list of our funders and conflict of interest/grievance policies and procedures.