Gamblers Anonymous Announces Nationwide Toll Free Help Line

August 29, 2007 -- Gamblers Anonymous is doing a National Press Release campaign to announce their National Help-line, 888- GA-HELPS (888-424-3577). Gamblers Anonymous, is celebrating its 50 years anniversary on September 13, 1957, is a 12 step program for the person who believes that they may have a gambling problem.

888-GA-HELPS was officially launched nationwide on January 1st 2007. For the past 9 years GA-HELPS developed a strong partnership with some local Gamblers Anonymous area helplines which worked with-in a similar system. This partnership allowed G.A. constituents to get familiar with the new system while building up area volunteer support. All local areas were patched into one National toll free number, 888-GA-HELPS in January 07’

When a caller dials 888-GA-HELPS the system recognizes the caller’s area code and connects that caller to the same area they are calling from; at which point the caller has 2 national options and 2 local area options:

Option #1 is to connect to a “LIVE VOLUNTEER”. If selected, the caller is patched directly to a G.A. volunteer who is on call at that particular time slot. A G.A. volunteer accepts hotline calls for any location they choose and they volunteer for as little as 1 hour per week if they so choose. Multiple volunteers are usually available 24 hours per day and the system will quickly connect to another volunteer if an initial call attempt fails. There are approximately 600+ G.A. volunteers on 888-GA-HELPS. Obviously, it is the G.A. volunteers’ goal to get the caller to a meeting ASAP and not to solve all of caller’s problems on the phone. MEETINGS MAKE IT.

Option #2 is to find a “MEETING TIME & LOCATION” and then give recorded meeting information including meeting address and general location directions. The caller is given 3 ways to search for a meeting. They can find meetings by “DAY OF THE WEEK”, find the “NEXT AVAILABLE MEETING”, or find the “CLOSEST MEETING” to the caller’s location by entering their zip code. The first choice directs the caller to the closest meeting location at the earliest date and time. The second directs the caller to the closest meeting and the third choice informs the caller to all meetings in their area.

Local G.A. areas maintain and update their hotline information via a secured Internet connection so information is maintained locally for the most up to date meeting and volunteer contact information. The system supports a user-friendly interface and the training usually takes approximately 20 minutes. We found that is better to keep the control on the local side, because it supports the volunteer’s connectedness to helping local area callers, which in turn builds a feeling of unity.

Option #3 is to hear about GAM-AMON - a support group for the family, friends and loved ones of the compulsive gambler. This option is a local areas choice. Most areas choose to include it on their local system. Gamblers Anonymous, on a national level, has elected to leave Option 3 open to the local areas. The system plays a brief summary about GAM-AMON and usually plays the local GAM-AMON phone number.

Option #4 is a voice mail message box. This too is a local areas choice. A prompt is played for the caller, for example: “If you would like some information to be sent to you please leave a message”. Option 4 is also available as a regular voice message box for any other information that the caller may want to leave. Once the caller leaves a message, notification is immediately dispatched to the hotline coordinator via text message or email to the local area representative that handles this option. Usually it is the Public Relations officer or a Helpline coordinator.

Please note, that not ALL areas integrated with Options #1 or #2 within the 888-GAHELPS system, BUT ALL area information is delivered through 888-GA-HELPS. Some areas have chosen to remain on their existing system at this point. 888-GA-HELPS plays a ‘localized’ message for the callers in those areas and informs them of their local area helpline and gives them the local telephone number. You can call 888-GA-HELPS to identify specifically what area and services are in your local location. More areas are transferring to 888-GA-HELPS all the time.

In summary, 888-GA-HELPS is helping thousands of callers per month by connecting GA-Helps callers to LIVE volunteers for much needed assistance and support. It has strengthened GA membership unity and continues to increase the public awareness for Gamblers Anonymous.

More Information about Gamblers Anonymous:

GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from a gambling problem.

The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop gambling. There are no dues or fees for Gamblers Anonymous membership; we are self-supporting through our own contributions. Gamblers Anonymous is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy; neither endorses nor opposes any cause. Our primary purpose is to stop gambling and to help other compulsive gamblers do the same.

Gamblers Anonymous®
International Service Office
P.O. Box 17173, Los Angeles, CA 90017
(213) 386-8789 - Fax (213) 386-0030
http://www.gamblersanonymous.org/
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Sincerely Yours,
Gary S.
888-GA-HELPS – CHAIR