THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2022 Page 11 Baker issues CHA citation for Gambling Disorder Screening Day G overnor Charlie Baker issued a citation recognizing Tuesday, March 8 as Gambling Disorder Screening Day in Massachusetts, praising the Division on Addiction at Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) for its “tireless efforts to spread awareness about Gambling Disorder throughout the Commonwealth.” Gambling Disorder leads to financial, emotional, social, occupational, and physical harms. It is a treatable mental health condition, yet many cases go undetected and untreated. Failure to detect gambling harm is due, in part, to limited screening for this problem. The Division on Addiction encourages all organizations and providers to participate in this annual event. “We join Governor Baker in commending the Division on Addiction for establishing Gambling Disorder Screening Day,” said Dr. Assaad Sayah, CEO of CHA. “Like many other behavioral health conditions, Gambling Disorder disproportionately impacts minoritized communities. Bringing much-needed attention to the need for routine screening for Gambling Disorder, and improving access to treatment through statewide professional development activities, will help alleviate these disparities in line with CHA’s mission to provide care to the people.” Gambling Disorder Screening Day is in its ninth year. This international event has grown to include screeners and supporters from Cambridge Health Alliance, Massachusetts and New England, the United States, and around the world. This year, Gambling Disorder Screening Day has more than 50 confirmed supporters and event hosts. They range from college health centers, employee assistance and wellness programs, prevention-focused organizations, community-based mental health organizations, gambling operators, and academics and researchers. The Division on Addiction distributed 1,350 free pocket screening guides to 27 Screening Day hosts in 17 states. “We’re so proud that people have embraced Gambling Disorder Screening Day. What started as a small grassroots effort in 2014 has grown to an international event with more participants than we ever anticipated,” said Dr. Debi LaPlante, director of the Division on Addiction and associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. “We will continue to support this event for years to come and look forward to bringing more awareness to this issue. Our hope is that by helping people understand their own gambling, we’ll connect people to needed help and the path to recovery.” Because of lack of awareness about the need for routine screening and persistent Correction Officer Exam Registration Open for Middlesex Sheriff’s Office MSO offering $2,500 sign-on bonus for new officers B ILLERICA, Mass. – The Middlesex Sheriff’s Office is seeking correction officer candidates to join our 46th Basic Training Academy (BTA). Starting base salary for new officers is $60,885 with the ability to earn over $10,000 more in potential bonuses and overtime. Candidates who successfully graduate the BTA and complete a probationary period will also be eligible for a $2,500 sign on bonus. The 46th BTA is currently slated to begin in late summer. Candidates may sign up for the exam by visiting middlesexsheriff.org and completing the registration form by 5 p.m. on Monday, April 4. The exam will be offered on a rolling basis with prospective candidates able to select from one of nine sessions between March 28 – April 9. Those who pass the written exam will be invited to take the office’s fitness test on April 16. Potential recruits interested in learning more about the job, hiring process or Middlesex Sheriff’s Office are encouraged to attend an upcoming Virtual Q&A with members of the office. The first Q&A will be held at 7 p.m. on International Women’s Day (Tuesday, March 8) and will feature a panel of entirely female staff discussing careers in corrections. The second session will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday, March 14. Additional information regarding the events and how to participate will be available on MSO social media accounts (Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook). MSO staff will also be parMEFA offers five smart tips on how to pay for college I t’s the time of year when high school seniors and their parents receive the much-anticipated college acceptance letters and financial aid offers. College remains a great investment in the future, so it’s important for families to make wise decisions when selecting a school and then creating a strategy to pay for it. But that process can be complicated. Here are five smart tips from the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority (MEFA) to help students and parents make their college decision and determine a plan to pay the upcoming college bill. Consider financial fit: Choose a college that makes financial sense. Students and families should think about what they can afford to pay, and remember that this is, most likely, a four-year commitment. Carefully analyze financial aid offers, as the college with the highest sticker price might become more affordable based on the types of aid offered. MEFA’s College Cost Calculator can help famiMEFA | SEE PAGE 23 ticipating in career events at Fitchburg State University, UMass Boston, Bunker Hill Community College, Plymouth State University, UMass Lowell, the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Bridgewater State University and Salem State University during the months of March and April. All applicants must be 21 years of age at the date of the examination and be legally eligible to work in the United States in compliance with federal law. Candidates must also have a high school degree or equivalent and possess a valid motor vehicle license. A bachelor’s degree and/or prior law enforcement or security experience is preferred. To learn more about the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office, please visit us at middlesexsheriff.org. Individuals with questions regarding registration may email recruitment@sdm.state.ma.us for assistance. stigma against people experiencing Gambling Disorder and other expressions of addiction, rates of help seeking for Gambling Disorder are low. Routine gambling screening is especially helpful for individuals seeking treatment for substance use disorders and other mental health conditions, which commonly co-occur with Gambling Disorder.
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