Department News
Addiction Service Trains Circut Court on Problems Gambling

The Circuit Court of Cook County recently asked that the Department's Addiction Services Division train Circuit Court staff members regarding the problem of gambling. To date, 200 Case Managers, Social Workers, and Assistant Prosecutors have participated in a series of seminars conducted by Terry Williams, M.S., and Julie Forth in identifying, evaluating and treating problem gambling and pathological gambling. Due to overwhelming interest, the Director of the Circuit Court asked that training be expanded into half-day workshops to provide more extensive training opportunities. The Division of Addiction Service's Patient Intake evaluation, which addresses questions that ascertain the presence and extent of gambling behavior, will serve as a model for the revision of the biopsychosocial evaluative instrument used by Cook County to assess all incoming offenders. UIC accepts referrals directly from Cook County to assure quality assessment and treatment for the growing population of problem gamblers in the state. The Addiction Services Division also announced that Mr. Williams was recently was named President Elect of the Illinois Council on Problem Gambling and will sit on the State Gaming Commission Board.