Virginia Partnership for Gaming and Health

In late May, Lisa Cochran, Matthew Britt, Sean Fournia and Elizabeth Childress—all peer recovery specialists with the Virginia Partnership for Gambling and Health—spoke about the role of peer support at the 2025 Research to Recovery conference at VCU. Hosted by VCU Rams in Recovery, the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, and the […]

Carolyn Hawley, executive director of VPGH and president of the Virginia Council on Problem Gambling, and Sean Fournia, a certified peer recovery specialists with VPGH, appeared on CBS6’s Virginia This Morning to share their insights on problem gambling and how VPGH is helping support seekers.

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 […]

Peer recovery specialists play an important role in addiction recovery, drawing on their own lived experiences to support another person’s recovery. While certification isn’t required to offer this support, the process provides additional training on person-centered, relationship-focused, and trauma-informed care. A certified peer recovery specialist (CPRS) also benefits from at least 500 hours of supervised […]

The confidential Virginia Problem Gambling Helpline is a critical first step for any support seeker looking to begin their recovery journey. Within a few hours of calling the helpline (888-532-3500) or completing the VPGH referral form, you’ll hear from a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) who will assess your needs and connect you with the […]

Humphrey Fellow Hari Nugroho is spending 10 months at Virginia Commonwealth University researching connections between methamphetamines and problem gambling, as well as adolescent drug use, prevention, and treatment methodologies. As a physician and addiction counselor with the Indonesian government, Hari Nugroho has long sought to improve approaches to substance use treatment. However, 10 years ago, […]

VPGH staff regularly engage in community outreach to build relationships and raise awareness about available services and resources for those seeking support for problem gambling. These engagements range from presentations to local and state organizations and tabling at public events to podcast appearances and meetings with problem gamblers. The following is a look at just […]

Staff Carolyn E. HawleyExecutive Director Carolyn E. Hawley is a professor in the Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling Program in the VCU Department of Rehabilitation Counseling. Hawley has experience related to counseling, training, research and education in treatment, employment and community service needs of individuals with disabilities. She has also worked in programs specializing in […]

Peer recovery specialists (PRS) are often the first point of contact for support seekers who connect with the Virginia Partnership for Gaming and Health (VPGH) through direct referral or after calling the Virginia Problem Gambling Helpline. A PRS conducts an initial screening of support seekers, offers emotional support, fosters a sense of belonging and connection, […]

Last year, the Virginia Partnership for Gaming and Health received 562 new referrals, 90% of which were referred for treatment. In our annual report, we provide a look at who sought support and their long-term outcomes, as well as VPGH’s efforts to reach more individuals in need of services. Photo by Lukas Blazek on Unsplash