The program is designed to educate, raise awareness, and share resources and ideas about gambling and other addictions among active duty service members and veterans. The program’s format will consist of six panels comprised of leaders in the military/veterans communities, and in the areas of behavioral health, law enforcement, criminal justice and government. Our keynote speaker will be Dr. Heather Chapman, the Director of the Gambling Treatment Program at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, the only residential treatment facility for gambling disorder in the VA health system. We will also hear from veterans in recovery from gambling addiction who will bravely share their struggles, challenges and successes as they faced gambling and other addictions.

This program offers 6.5 hours of CEU credits.

Program Schedule

8:00am-8:30am Registration and Continental Breakfast

8:30am-8:45am The Delaware Law Enforcement Color Guard

National Anthem: Staff Sergeant Joseph H. Linzy, United States Air Force

8:45am-9:00am Introduction and Welcoming Remarks

Jeffrey P. Wasserman - Program Chair, Judicial Outreach and Development Director, Delaware Council on Gambling Problems

The Honorable Tom Carper (video) - United States Senator from Delaware

Arlene M. Simon - Executive Director, Delaware Council on Gambling Problems

Ed Sutor - President and CEO, Dover Downs Hotel & Casino

Keith S. Whyte - Executive Director, National Council on Problem Gambling

9:00am-10:00am Panel: “Fundamentals of Gambling Disorder”

James Walsh, Ph.D, LPCMH, BACC -moderator - Gambling Addiction Counselor; Pastoral Counselor; Adjunct Instructor, Wilmington Universtiy

Hector Garcia, CADC, ICGC-II - Inter-Agency Services Expansion Director, Delaware Council on Gambling Problems

Jenna Tedesco, PsyD - PTSD Psychologist, Wilmington VA Medical Center

10:00am-11:00am Panel: “Personal Stories: Impact of Gambling Addiction on Service Members, Veterans and Loved Ones”

Heather Chapman, Ph.D - moderator - Director of the Brecksville Gambling Treatment Program and Deputy Director of the Veterans Addiction Recovery Center, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center

Dave Brode, United States Army (ret.)

Dave Yeager, United States Army (ret.)

11:00am-11:15am Morning Break

11:15am-12:15pm Panel: “Delaware Resources for Service Members, Veterans (and families) with Gambling and Other Addictions”

Larence Kirby, Ph.D Student, LPCMH, USAF(ret) – moderator - Executive Director, Delaware Commission of Veterans Affairs

Freddy Lee Allen, Jr. - Veterans Outreach Specialist, Vet Center

The Honorable Anthony Delcollo - State Senator, Delaware

Arlene M. Simon - Executive Director, Delaware Council on Gambling Problems

12:15pm-1:15pm Lunch and Keynote Speaker

“Special Considerations in the Treatment of Gambling and other Addictive Disorders among Veterans and Active Duty Military”

Heather Chapman, Ph.D - Director of the Brecksville Gambling Treatment Program and Deputy Director of the Veterans Addiction Recovery Center, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center

1:15pm-2:15pm Panel: “Law Enforcement’s Response to Service Members and Veterans with Gambling and Other Addictions”

Detective David M. Hanich – moderator - Division of Gaming Enforcement, Delaware State Police

OFC Nicholas Hurst - Veterans Response Team, New Castle County Police Department

Kathleen M. Jennings, Esquire - Candidate for Attorney General, State of Delaware; Former Chief Administrative Officer, NCC; Former State Prosecutor; Former Chief Deputy Attorney General

Detective Brian Shahan - Veterans Response Team, New Castle County Police Department

2:15pm-3:15pm Panel: “Justice Involved Veterans and Delaware’s Veterans Treatment Court“

Jeffrey P. Wasserman, MPA, JD - moderator - Judicial Outreach and Development Director, Delaware Council on Gambling Problems

Matia Bryan, MSW, CAADC, ICGC-II - Dir. of Criminal Justice, Delaware Council on Gambling Problems

Cecilia Gonzalez, MSW, LCSW - Veteran Justice Outreach Specialist

The Honorable Jan R. Jurden - President Judge, Superior Court of Delaware

The Honorable William L. Witham, Jr. - Kent County Resident Judge, Superior Court of Delaware, Veterans Treatment Court Judge

3:15pm-3:30pm Afternoon Break

3:30pm-4:30pm Panel: "National Trends: Gambling and Other Addiction Issues Facing Service Members and Veterans."

Keith S. Whyte - moderator - Executive Director, National Council on Problem Gambling

C. Stephen Keener - Assistant Vice President Casino Operations, Dover Downs Hotel & Casino

Loreen Rugle, Ph.D - Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland and Program Director of the Maryland Center of Excellence in Problem Gambling

Jymayce Y. Wescott - Constituent Services Director, US Senator Thomas R. Carper