University of Calgary PRISM: University of Calgary's Digital Repository Alberta Gambling Research Institute Alberta Gambling Research Institute 1996 Working with gambling problems in the Chinese community : development of an intervention model : experiences of Chinese Family Life Services of Metro Toronto Chinese Family Life Services of Metro Toronto Chinese Family Life Services of Metro Toronto http://hdl.handle.net/1880/461 Other Downloaded from PRISM: https://prism.ucalgary.ca WORKING WITH GAMBLING PROBLEMS IN THE CHINESE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTERVENTION MODEL EXPERIENCES OF CHINESE FAMILY LIFE SERVICES OF METRO TORONTO HV CHINESE FAMILY LIFE SERVICES OF METRO TORONTO 6722 A C22 C6 W926 1996 WORKING WITH GAMBLING PROBLEMS IN THE CHINESE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTERVENTION MODEL EXPERIENCES OF CHINESE FAMILY LIFE SERVICES OF METRO TORONTO Alberta ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Working with gambling problems in the Chinese community is a novel area where little has been done before. Although it is not an easy task, we are able to have the support of many individuals and agencies who have shared their knowledge and experiences generously during the process. Special thanks to Ms. Rose Yu, our social worker, for her hard work and dedication in preparing this report. We would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere thanks to: of Ministry of Health for her support Professor Tsang of University of Toronto for his valuable insights, clinical knowledge and support Ms. Neeta Patni, student of University of Toronto the University Settlement Recreation Centre the Donwood Institute the Addiction Research Foundation the Canadian Foundation on Compulsive Gambling the Credit Counselling Service of Metro Toronto the Chinese Chapter of Alcoholics Anonymous in Hong Kong the Ming Pao Daily News for sponsoring some of the publicity work all participants in the training workshops for their invaluable feedback especially on issues all clients for their participation, feedback and evaluation Board of Directors and the President of the Board, Ms. Isebella for their guidance all volunteers for their participation and support all staff members for their creative thinking and advice Our experience in working with the Chinese-Canadians on problem gambling has offered us an opportunity for professional growth and further development for our services. We hope that this consolidation of our ideas and experiences can serve as a first step to open up more research and clinical work in this area. We are confident that the Chinese Family Life Services of Metro Toronto will continue to grow and provide the best quality of services to the community. Patrick Au Executive Director Chinese Family Life Services of Metro Toronto Table of Contents Page Chapter 1 Background and Purposes 1 A. Introduction ............................................................................ 1 B. Purposes ................................................................................. 2 C. Limitation ............................................................................... 2 Chapter 2 What is Gambling? - A Literature Review ..............................!...... 3 A. Definitions ............................................................................... 3 B. Studies and Statistics on Problem/Compulsive Gambling .................... 4 C. Impact on the Individual and Family ............................................. 5 D. Theories on Etiology ...........................................................!...... 7 E. Treatment Models Commonly Used ............................................... 9 Chapter 3 A Cross-Cultural Intervention Framework ... 12 A. Factors affecting Cross-Cultural Counselling .................................... 13 B. Characteristics of a Culturally Sensitive Counsellor 13 C. Stages of Change 14 D. Motivational Interviewing Skills ..................................................... 15 E. Implications for Working with Gambling Problems in the Chinese Community ............................................................................... 16 Chapter 4 The Intervention Process 17 Part I Community Education ................ 17 I I . J. A. Understanding the Chinese Culture ................................................ 17 B. The Immigration Process 28 C. Implications D. Strategies Used at the Preentry Level .............................................. 31 Part n An Intervention Model for Chinese Clients .................... 35 Part Entry Level and Outcome Level 38 A. The Initial Contact ................................ 38 B. Intake Assessment ......................................................................I 42 C. Intervention .............................................................................. 51 j Part IV Working with Groups ................................................... 59 A. Self-help/Support Group ............................................................. 59 B. The GA Model 60 C. Group Work with Chinese Clients ................................................. 61 Chapter 5 Conclusion ........................................................ 62 SUMMARY it Gambling in the Chinese Community first appeared around 700 Some forms of gambling have become so intertwined with one's social life that they are considered acceptable, even healthy hobbies. Culture plays a definite role in shaping one's perception of both gambling and help-seeking behaviour. Subsequently, these factors would affect an individual's readiness to change. A cross-cultural counselling framework is presented to provide some guidelines on the socio- factors that have to be considered in determining culturally appropriate intervention approaches and strategies. Attention is also drawn to the importance for human service providers to examine their own cultural values and to identify any differences which may affect the worker-client relationship. On a practical level, a step-by-step and incremental approach should be used for goal setting. The central role of the family is acknowledged and is considered to be a unit of change. Strategies that provide clear and concrete guidelines as well as those that have a limited time- frame are deemed to be culturally more appropriate for Chinese-Canadian clients. In addition, group work with both psycho-educational and supportive components should be Cultural experiences and the personal expectations of the clients are the primary factors in determining treatment outcome. Treatment effectiveness is assessed according to the client's overall sense of well-being. Apart from changes in the gambling behaviour, satisfaction in family relationships and individual mental health are considered valid indicators with which evaluation of treatment outcome and progress can be made. Chapter 5 Conclusion ........................................................ 62 References ......................................................................................... 64 Appendixes D Appendix I Information Kit 67 Appendix II Assessment Tools 90 Appendix III Intervention Instruments 105 Appendix IV Report on the Profile of Clients Served by the Chinese Family Life Services of Metro Toronto and Preliminary Evaluation of Treatment Effectiveness 124 0 WITH GAMBLING PROBLEMS IN THE CHINESE EXPERIENCES OF CHINESE FAMILY LIFE SERVICES OF METRO TORONTO Chapter 1 Background and Purposes A. Introduction This project comes about as a response to the increasing number of people who have become addicted to gambling and the potential damage it may incur on these individuals, their families and the community. Funded by the Ministry of Health of the Government of the Chinese Family Life Services of Metro Toronto and the University Settlement Recreation Centre started a joint r project in May, 1995 to address this issue. The project consists of three major components: I The Chinese Family Life Services of Metro Toronto is mainly responsible for providing counselling and treatment services for gamblers and their family members in the Chinese community and developing a culturally appropriate intervention model with corresponding treatment tools. 2. The University Settlement Recreation Centre is responsible for organizing and delivering training workshops in several cities in Ontario to address the issue of gambling in a culturally diverse population and to develop a culturally appropriate training 3. Collaboration with the Addiction Research Foundation in conducting a social action survey to gather statistics and data on gambling behaviour and to identify service needs in various ethnic communities. 1 WORKING WITH PROBLEMS IN THE CHINESE COMMUNITY: EXPERIENCES OF CHINESE FAMILY LIFE SERVICES OF METRO TORONTO WITH PROBLEMS IN THE COMMUNITY: EXPERIENCES OF FAMILY LIFE SERVICES OF TORONTO This report illustrates the results of the intervention model the Chinese Family Life Services of Metro Toronto has developed based on its experiences in working with gambling problems in the Chinese community. B. Purposes To develop culturally appropriate intervention strategies and treatment/assessment tools by integrating existing theories in the treatment of compulsive gamblers with experiences we have had in working with the Chinese community. I I To serve as a resource for human service providers in working with problem/compulsive gambling issues in a multicultural setting and/or in racial community-based agencies. It is assumed that the service providers have already been equipped with basic counselling training. Limitation Treatment of compulsive/problem