VPGH in the community
VPGH has a team of certified peer recovery specialists located across Virginia who work to build relationships with organizations and agencies in their communities and share resources with support seekers. In the early months of 2025, they could be found at conferences, on local news channels, and screening individuals for problem gambling risk factors.
Here are just a few of their recent community outreach efforts.
Warning signs and where to go for help
On multiple occasions, Lisa Cochran, CPRS, met with individuals in the behavioral health unit at Valley Health Hospital in Winchester where she reviewed the warning signs of problem gambling and talked about what to do if they or someone they know is struggling. She also met with staff at several racetracks and gaming facilities about reaching people in need of support and creating easier access to VPGH resources. Cochran also participated in a screening and resource fair in Woodbridge where attendees could take a brief problem gambling screening assessment.
Reaching those on the front lines
Approximately 60 percent of high school-aged students in the U.S. have gambled for money in the past year. To raise awareness about the risks of youth gambling, Matt Britt, CPRS, spoke with school resource officers and sheriff’s deputies in Fluvanna about signs and symptoms of gambling addiction. He also spoke with counselors, administrators and teachers at Fluvanna’s Abrams Academy about how to access VPGH resources. In addition, Britt met with the Fluvanna drug court team to talk about problem gambling and what support could look like for those in recovery court.
Speaking out
Elizabeth Childress, CPRS, attended several community conferences and events to share resources and the VPGH referral process, as well as advocate for support services. Events included the Southern Virginia Gambling Collaborative meeting, a problem gambling conference in Abingdon, and the Virginia Association of Addiction Professionals Hill Day in Richmond. Childress also met with Caesars Virginia staff during a Problem Gambling Awareness Month employee awareness event and presented to leadership of the Hard Rock Casino in Bristol.
Seeking support in the legal system
Azeem Majeed, CPRS, described his own journey from addiction to incarceration to recovery in freedom in several presentations. In February, he spoke to University of Richmond Law students in the Children’s Defense Clinic and, the following month, met with 220 inmates and 20 staff members at Lawrenceville Correctional Center. In both sessions, he shared the work of VPGH and its importance in the community.
Sharing personal stories
Sean Fournia, CPRS, shared his personal experiences with problem gambling during several media appearances in conjunction with Problem Gambling Awareness Month. He appeared alongside Carolyn Hawley, president of the Virginia Council on Problem Gambling, and Executive Director of VPGH, on CBS6’s Virginia This Morning. Fournia was also interviewed by University of Tennessee student Cooper Frye for a feature story on the rise of underage sports gambling and the role of marketing and daily fantasy sports platforms. For another student project, Fournia was interviewed by VCU media production major Mason Kaufmann for a documentary on the rise of sports betting among young men and the normalization of gambling in sports culture.
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