Vantage Clinical Consulting LLC

12/29/2025

I will be honest. I actually wept while putting together this year’s highlights.

When you are a solopreneur in behavioral health, building and running a business is more than a notion. It is vision, grit, courage, exhaustion, reinvention, service, and faith all operating at once. This year reminded me of that in every possible way.

In 2025, I stretched and grew in ways I did not expect. Some of it was beautiful. Some of it was wonderfully painful. All of it shaped me into a stronger leader.

And when federal policy shifts wiped out more than two-thirds of my anticipated income, I had a choice: panic or pivot.
I chose to pivot.
I put my head down. I recommitted. I rebuilt. And I reimagined what Vantage could stand for going forward. After all, that is what this work requires of us.

Something else hit me as I was compiling the report. The importance of tracking metrics and outcomes is enormous. We often focus on this for our clients, but it is equally important for ourselves. Seeing the numbers laid out on paper forced me to acknowledge just how far I have come, how much I have accomplished, and whether I am investing my energy in the right initiatives. Metrics tell the story that emotion sometimes hides.

And here is the part that still moves me deeply.
I did not do any of this alone.

The partnerships and friendships that stood with me this year have been invaluable. Leaders who opened doors. Colleagues who shared referrals. Organizations that trusted me with their teams. Friends who checked in when the weight was heavy. I am so proud of them. I am so proud of us. Everything we accomplished, we accomplished together.

As you read this year’s Vantage Highlights Report, you will see the trainings, the reach, the policy work, the operational wins, and the growth. But what you will not see is the internal transformation behind it. The late nights. The grit. The pivots. The prayers. The quiet moments where I questioned everything and kept going anyway.

This year humbled me.
It strengthened me.
And it prepared me.

I hope these highlights remind someone that rebuilding is possible, reinvention is possible, and leading through uncertainty is possible. Even in the most difficult seasons, purpose has a way of calling you forward.

Thank you to everyone who partnered with me, encouraged me, hired me, referred me, or supported me this year. I am endlessly grateful.

Here are the 2025 Highlights from Vantage Clinical Consulting LLC.
I cannot wait for what 2026 brings.

https://www.vantageclinicalconsulting.com/post/2025-highlights-from-vantage-clinical-consulting-llc-a-personal-note-from-our-founder-jamelia-han

12/25/2025

As we reflect on the year, we are deeply grateful for your support of Vantage Clinical Consulting. Because of you, we’ve made significant progress in the treatment of substance and opioid use disorders, enhanced quality patient care, and reduced drug overdoses through impactful education and training initiatives.

We’re looking forward to sharing more about these achievements in our upcoming Annual Impact Report, stay tuned!

The holidays can bring a mix of emotions, and we’d like to send our warmest hugs and prayers to anyone whose season feels a little different this year. We also invite you to read our latest blog, where we share thoughtful tips on navigating the holidays with care and compassion. https://www.vantageclinicalconsulting.com/post/when-the-holidays-feel-complicated-in-healthcare

From our family to yours, we wish you a peaceful and joyful season filled with love and gratitude.

Warm regards,
Jamelia Hand
Founder, Vantage Clinical Consulting

12/18/2025

Last week, Chicago came together for the 3rd Annual Blue Christmas, and it was exactly what our community needed.

This gathering was not about programming or policy. It was about people. It was about remembering lives lost to opioid overdose, honoring grief that often goes unseen, and creating space for healing without judgment.

Held at New Mount Pilgrim Church, Blue Christmas brought together families, providers, advocates, and community leaders who showed up with honesty, compassion, and courage. Stories were shared. Tears were shed. Resources were exchanged. Most importantly, no one had to carry their grief alone.

We want to sincerely thank the organizations that made this possible and continue to show up long after events end:

Rush Substance Use Disorder Center of Excellence
CRCC
Above n Beyond
EDDR
South Side He**in Opioid Task Force
West Side He**in Opioid Task Force
WestCare Illinois

These partners do more than host events. They meet people where they are, reduce stigma through action, and save lives through consistent, community rooted work. Their impact is real, measurable, and deeply human.

Blue Christmas is a reminder that healing is collective, remembrance is powerful, and community care matters. Thank you to every sponsor, volunteer, storyteller, and attendee who made this space one of dignity, support, and hope.

We are grateful to stand alongside you and to witness this work in action.

12/13/2025

Cases like this highlight the importance of proactive education, legal literacy, and personal risk management for athletes, entertainers, and professionals working internationally. Systems often assume people will “just know,” but they do not. When the stakes include incarceration, careers, and family disruption, assumptions are not a strategy.

This is a hard reminder that context matters, especially when you are living and working across borders. What is legal or normalized in one country can carry life-altering consequences in another. That gap in awareness is not a character and the impact is REAL.

My thoughts are with him and his loved ones. This is bigger than one person. It is a cautionary lesson for organizations, leagues, agents, and anyone responsible for sending people into unfamiliar legal environments. Prevention is not permissive. It is responsible.

https://andscape.com/features/pro-basketball-player-jarred-shaw-sentenced-in-indonesia/

Jarred Shaw was arrested just hours after leading the Tangerang Hawks to a home victory, where he faced death or life imprisonment.

11/27/2025

Today, we’re taking a moment to pause and reflect with gratitude for the people and partners who power this work every day. Behavioral health and addiction treatment are demanding spaces, and yet so many of you continue to lead with compassion, innovation, and a commitment to doing what’s right for patients and communities.

At Vantage Clinical Consulting, we’re grateful for:

• Providers showing up with excellence even when the system makes it hard

• Leaders pushing for stronger compliance, better workflows, and equity in care

• Organizations investing in sustainable solutions that protect access for the people who need it most

• Partners who trust Vantage to support their growth, strategy, and impact

As we step away briefly to recharge and celebrate, we remain energized about the work ahead and the opportunities to strengthen our field together. Tomorrow, we get right back to it.

Wishing you and your teams a safe, peaceful, and joyful holiday.
Happy Thanksgiving from Vantage Clinical Consulting LLC. andJamelia Handelia Hand🦃

11/19/2025

It’s a step forward, but far from justice...

While billions will finally reach communities and families who have waited far too long, no financial settlement can undo the human cost of nearly a million deaths. What matters most now is ensuring these funds reach the front lines: treatment providers, harm-reduction programs, and the families who are still navigating the fallout every day.

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/judge-formally-approves-opioid-settlement-for-purdue-pharma-and-sackler-family-members-who-own-the-company

Jamelia Hand

Thousands of victims of the opioid epidemic could be paid thousands of dollars each.

11/14/2025

Georgia is confronting a new and alarming opioid threat. Synthetic opioids disguised as gummies, candies, and liquid shots are being sold in gas stations and smoke shops, and they contain 7-OH, a substance up to 13 times stronger than morphine.

Attorney General Chris Carr warns that this could be the next wave of the opioid crisis, especially with children at risk. As of June 1, 7-OH is now a scheduled drug, and retailers who sell it face serious criminal penalties.

If you work in prevention, treatment, education, or community outreach, now is the time to stay alert, educate families, and monitor what is being sold in local stores.

Public safety starts with awareness.

https://www.walb.com/2025/11/13/safety-alert-deadly-synthetic-opioid-like-products-flood-market/

State leaders say a new opioid-like substance could be the next wave of the opioid crisis. 7-OH is flooding the market in Georgia.

11/04/2025

More employers are bringing mental health and substance use support in-house, but proximity doesn’t always mean safety. Employees want access, but they also want privacy, trust, and recovery-friendly cultures that don’t shame them for seeking help. My latest blog explores what’s working, what’s missing, and why general medical clinics may hold the key to stigma-free care.

Read more:
https://www.vantageclinicalconsulting.com/post/is-the-employer-built-mental-health-support-model-a-good-idea

When Jasmine’s manager suggested she meet with the company’s new on-site therapist, she hesitated. Working at a major airline meant her schedule was unpredictable, and she often felt stretched thin. But what stopped her wasn’t time, it was fear.“What if someone sees me walking in?” she tho...

10/28/2025

Vantage Policy Watch | Week of October 27, 2025

For weeks, i’ve been tracking how executive-level decisions shape real outcomes on the ground. This week, the federal shutdown is testing the strength of our safety net. SNAP benefits are at risk, putting millions of households and the behavioral health systems that serve them in crisis mode.

In Illinois, nearly 2 million residents could lose food assistance if funding is not restored. For organizations supporting recovery and mental health, this is a policy and continuity issue. When food access disappears, treatment stability does too.

This week’s Vantage Policy Watch outlines what is happening, who is affected, and how providers can prepare.

🔗 Read the full analysis: https://www.vantageclinicalconsulting.com/post/vantage-policy-watch-week-of-october-27-2025

Jamelia Hand

10/25/2025

At Vantage Clinical Consulting, we believe in celebrating organizations and leaders who redefine what it means to serve with heart, purpose, and impact. This week, we honor Thresholds Mental Health, its visionary CEO Mark Ishaug, and the dedicated Thresholds Board of Directors.

Thresholds stands out as a true model of what modern mental health leadership looks like. Once you spend time with these remarkable, welcoming individuals, it becomes clear why they are consistently recognized with the highest honors. Their partnerships are strong, their leadership is courageous, and their collaborative spirit is deeply inspiring.

The Thresholds Board has created a culture of growth that attracts builders—leaders who innovate, take meaningful risks, and engage in the important conversations that move the field forward. In today’s complex social and political climate, that kind of courage is both rare and necessary.

To be an organization with board members who stay 20, 30, even 40 years is a testament to how special Thresholds truly is. The dedication of its people runs deep, with many returning to serve again after years away. That kind of loyalty can only come from trust, inclusion, and a shared sense of mission.

At the center of it all is Mark Ishaug, one of the most impactful and authentic leaders of our time. His clarity of vision, commitment to people-centered progress, and steadfast advocacy for mental health equity are qualities we greatly admire at Vantage.

We’ve also added a few photos from Thresholds’ recent Annual Celebration at the Chicago History Museum, a beautiful evening that captured the essence of their community and purpose.

On behalf of Jamelia Hand, CEO of Vantage Clinical Consulting, we extend heartfelt Friday Flowers to Thresholds, Mark Ishaug, and the entire Board of Directors. Thank you for your leadership, your courage, and your continued example of what compassionate governance and collaboration look like in action. 🌻💐🌺

10/21/2025

I have to admit, most of my business happens over on LinkedIn. It’s been an amazing space for networking, collaboration, and meaningful conversations.

But I still value this space and the community here too! If you’re active on LinkedIn, come connect with me there, i’d love to keep building together.

http://linkedin.com/in/jameliahand

10/14/2025

I’m excited to join an amazing group of leaders for a panel on Virtual Empathy & Human Connection in Telehealth. 💻💙

We’ll be talking about how AI and technology can support the human side of care.

From my experience, the best results happen when tech is used as an adjunct to evidence based treatment by strengthening the provider/patient partnership. That’s when quality care is realized.


Jamelia Hand