Focus on the Future Conference a Huge Success!

Focus on the Future was a huge success this year! Last week (April 25–26), ECPG staff, Board members, speakers from across the country (even one from Denmark!), and attendees came together to learn about and discuss problem gambling awareness, addiction, and the part we play within the recovery community.

One of the most talked about keynote sessions was presented by Jim Wuelfing, CPP-R, NRPP, Director of Prevention and Recovery for the Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling, and Fred Chappelle, MSW, Vice President of Chappelle Consulting and Training Services. Jim and Fred spoke on the Racism of the Well-Intended: Not Knowing What You Don’t Know in which attendees were challenged to look at how power and privilege plays a part in how they may relate to society and other cultures and race.

A number of other sessions explored mindfulness, the neurology of addiction, impulsivity, suicide, creating healthy relationships, professional stress, group therapy, and much more. Pre-conference sessions were also available, which included Basic and Advanced Problem Gambling Counselor Training. Recovery Coach Academy was a very unique training opportunity also offered, which was a four-day workshop that taught participants how to serve as a personal guide and mentor to someone in recovery. Thank you to all of our wonderful presenters!

A very special thanks goes out to our conference partners, Oregon Council on Problem Gambling and Oregon Health Authority, and our scholarship and training partner, Washington State Behavioral Health and Service Integration Administration (formerly DBHR—a division of Department of Social and Health Services).

Thank you also to our conference sponsors!

• Oregon Council on Problem Gambling
• Oregon Health Authority
• Muckleshoot Indian Tribe
• GTECH
• Red Wind Casino (Nisqually Indian Tribe)
• Upper Skagit Indian Tribe
• Bridgeway Recovery Services
• The Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation
• Recreational Gaming Association

If you missed the conference or a special session, please visit the Focus on the Future website at http://fotf.evergreencpg.org. You can view PowerPoint presentations from the speakers, learn more about our conference partners, and view photos of the conference.