Summer 1998

Staff from Lao Family Community of Minnesota, United Cambodian Association of Minnesota and the Minnesota Institute of Public Health joined together in 1997 to develop a new culturally appropriate problem gambling prevention curriculum for middle school youth. The Southeast Asian Youth Gambling Education Program is for Hmong, Laotian and Cambodian youth in grades five through eight.

The new curriculum was developed in response to a growing concern over gambling problems within the Southeast Asian communities. According to Lon Meak of the United Cambodian Association, "There are many examples of families who have been affected by gambling. Some have heavy debts, lost homes, lost jobs, or have divorced because of gambling." Christina Erickson of Lao Family Community adds that, "Virtually everyone knows about someone with a gambling problem."

Research from the Minnesota Student Survey found that while Southeast Asian youth in Minnesota gambled at about the same rates as other students, they were more likely to report that "they couldn't stop betting" and that "they felt bad about the amount of consequences of their betting."

There is concern among Southeast Asian community leaders that gambling is a serious and growing problem. The leaders also believe that culturally appropriate prevention programs that target youth, newly arriving refugees and immigrants and people who do not now gamble but live in poverty are a priority.

The five session curriculum is very interactive and includes: an introduction to gambling; reasons why people gamble and do not gamble; gambling risks; refusal skills and ends with a pledge to not get involved in any gambling activity that results in the loss of money, possessions or can hurt any personal relationships with family and friends. The adapted materials were not translated into Hmong or Cambodian for two reasons. First, Lao Family Community and UCAM youth staff are highly skilled in English and translation of technical language would consume excessive amounts of time with little benefit. In addition, most youth involved with the project are not sufficiently literate in Hmong or Cambodian to be able to understand translated materials. Most have excellent English skills. Both youth and staff use Hmong and Cambodian orally in pro-ject activities. A pre and post test are also included.

Lon Meak says that, "The kids are initially reluctant to talk during the first session, they don't want to get parents or themselves in trouble. But after time, trust develops and they begin to talk about problems when they find out we aren't out to get them." Meak adds that, "The curriculum really is a way to open up discussions, help kids to begin to see risks associated with playing cards, dice, betting on sports and see the potential for addiction."

Christina Erickson says, "The curriculum is short, easy to follow, flexible, easy to adapt, and the kids like it." Meak emphasizes that, "That there still is not enough time for kids to talk about serious issues. That's why social workers, various agencies, schools and families all need to work together to prevent gambling problems."

The curriculum project was funded by the Minnesota Department of Human Services Gambling Program. For further information contact Lon Meak, United Cambodian Association of Minnesota, at (651) 222-3299 or Christina Erickson, Lao Family Community, at (651) 221-0069.