Yoyo Yau, Chief Program Officer, Appointed to Addiction Services Subcommittee by Governor Baker

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Yoyo Yau, Chief of Program Officer, has been appointed as a member to subcommittee on Addiction Services, led by Gaming Policy Advisory Committee (GPAC).

This subcommittee was established to “develop recommendations for regulations to be considered by the Commission in addressing issues related to addiction services as a result of the development of gaming establishments in the Commonwealth, including, but not limited to, prevention and intervention strategies.”

Yoyo Yau has been involved in the Asian CARES Research Report to address problem gambling in the Asian immigrant and BIPOC communities. This research highlights the root causes of problem gambling, how pre-existing systemic conditions lead to problem gambling and its effects on the individual, children and families, as well as recommends creative solutions as supposed to the more traditional responses to as intervention and prevention measures. Read more about BCNC’s work in addressing problem gambling.

At the Asian CARES Research Report Launch Event on October 27th, Yoyo shared six key recommendations to bring systematic change to problem gambling. Read the full report here. The recommendations are:

  1. Fund and invest in ethnic-based Community Based Organizations (CBOs) to develop culturally and linguistically appropriate services for gambling prevention and intervention

  2. Develop new innovative reimbursement models for Community Based Organizations (CBOs) doing gambling intervention work beyond the traditional clinical model.

  3. Invest in spaces of belonging

  4. Expand the definition and use of “mitigation funds” to develop creative workforce development programs geared towards immigrants

  5. Conduct an equity audit for casinos focused on responsible gambling and advertising towards the Asian community

  6. Develop a steering committee of key community leaders such as partnering with Asian Pacific Islanders Civic Action Network (APIs-CAN) to address the root causes of problem gambling, particularly workforce development, healthy family functioning, behavioral health, and child support

At the event, researcher Dr. Heang Leung Rubin shared a few testimonials from families or individuals who have experienced problem gambling. She said “We hope this report sheds light on this intractable issue.  It also reveals where there is light coming in…Let’s not disappoint…the many others who participated in this research so that they know that heir stories, their pain, their experiences can make a difference.  We all want our immigrant communities to grow, thrive, and flourish.”