Vantage Clinical Consulting LLC

01/22/2026

Earlier this month, the Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) extended telemedicine flexibilities for prescribing Schedule II–V medications through December 31, 2026. This stability matters for access and continuity of care.

In my blog, I speak directly to the broader landscape telehealth sits within, including how it is shaping substance use disorder treatment and what technology developers need to understand about clinical realities, compliance expectations, and real-world implementation.

If you are building or scaling telehealth solutions in this space, let’s talk:
➡️ https://www.vantageclinicalconsulting.com/post/telehealth-in-substance-use-disorders-treatment-opportunities-advice-for-tech-developers

Jamelia Hand

By: Jamelia Hand MHS CADC CODPGina was one of the most exceptional counselors i’ve worked with. Her ability to connect with patients and guide them toward recovery was unmatched, and her dedication to their success made her indispensable at her organization. When I was brought in to help implement...

01/22/2026

Sharing on behalf of the Rush University Medical Center Substance Use Disorder Center of Excellence

Faith leaders are on the front lines of community needs, and the opioid crisis is no exception.

This is an important opportunity for clergy, religious educators, lay leaders, and interfaith teams to deepen their impact and equip their congregations with lifesaving knowledge.

FAITH-BASED OPIOID USE DISORDER SYMPOSIUM
📅 February 20, 2026
⏰ 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
📍 Southland Equity Initiative
646 Chicago Rd, Chicago Heights, IL 60411

This is a practical, grounded, community-centered experience covering:

• Understanding Opioid Use Disorder, Truth, Trauma, and Stigma
• Naloxone Training
• Becoming a Certified Recovery Church
• Break-out group conversations to build real capacity

They’ll provide a light breakfast, lunch, and a Certificate of Completion.

Faith communities can be a powerful force for recovery, resilience, and hope but only if we’re prepared. This event empowers you with the tools, confidence, and network to act.

👉 Register now: https://forms.fillout.com/t/gLCE7Vnua8us

Jamelia Hand

01/21/2026

For those of us whew grew up in the 80’s, we probably watched the TV show, Knight Rider.

Every little boy in my neighborhood wanted to be the main character, Michael Knight. Knight was not powerful because he had all the answers. He was powerful because he had his car “KITT”, a system that listened, analyzed risk, surfaced blind spots, and helped him make better decisions in real time.

KITT did not replace Michael.
It supported him.

Fast forward to today.

Addiction counselors are navigating complexity, burnout, ethical landmines, and rapidly emerging technology, including AI, often without a safe space to ask real questions. No hype. No fear. Just grounded conversation.

That is what my upcoming session is about.

I am honored to open the NAADAC Engagement in the Black Community Virtual Summit 2026 with a conversation that centers ethics, culture, and human connection, not technology for technology’s sake.

Friday, February 6, 2026
12:00 to 1:00 PM ET
Opening Session, 1 CE

Staying Grounded: Ethical Considerations for AI in Addiction Counseling

We will talk openly about bias, privacy, fear, real world risks, and how AI can be used as a supportive tool, not a replacement for the counselor client relationship at the heart of recovery.

If you have been curious, cautious, or quietly concerned about AI, this session is for you.

Register and view the full summit schedule here:
https://www.naadac.org/ebc2026-schedule

Jamelia Hand

01/19/2026

Today on Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we honor a legacy of dignity, justice and opportunity for all. That’s why the new Illinois Clean Slate Act matters as it moves us closer to a society where a person’s past doesn’t permanently lock them out of their future.

By automatically sealing eligible nonviolent records, the law cuts through bureaucratic hurdles that have kept too many from decent jobs, stable housing and full participation in community life. This isn’t about erasing accountability; it’s about removing barriers long after justice has been served. This is a humane, practical approach that Dr. King would have advocated for.

🔗 Read the official announcement:
http://prez.ly/0U4d

Jamelia Hand

01/19/2026

Before you scroll, take a moment to listen…

Music is one of the most overlooked tools we have for regulation, connection, and healing. Especially during Dry January, it’s a powerful reminder that relief doesn’t have to come from a substance.

What are you listening to this month?

01/15/2026

Less than 24 hours later…

The Trump administration reversed proposed cuts to mental health and substance use disorder grants under SAMHSA less than 24 hours after issuing termination notices that would have eliminated roughly $2 billion in funding. The sudden reversal followed immediate bipartisan backlash and strong warnings from providers and public health leaders about the destabilizing impact on treatment access and frontline services. While funding was restored, the episode exposed how fragile our behavioral health safety net remains when policy decisions shift without notice.

Sweeping cuts to mental health and addiction programs worth more than $2 billion are being reversed. After a political backlash from Republicans and Democrats, the grant money will be restored.

01/14/2026

Major Behavioral Health Funding Just Terminated by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

SAMHSA has canceled as much as $1.9 billion in grants supporting mental health and addiction treatment programs across the U.S. Sources say the cuts could affect up to 2,800 awards, including funds for , services, / , and more. These terminations were communicated directly to grantees and are reportedly final as part of a shift in agency spending priorities.

This is a structural blow to community behavioral health infrastructure; thus, affecting recovery services, prevention initiatives, and local providers who depend on federal grants to maintain capacity and continuity of care. The disruption to services could be felt immediately across multiple states and populations.

More details here:
https://www.statnews.com/2026/01/14/samhsa-grant-cancellations-alignment-trump-priorities/

We need to be honest about what this means operationally, financially, and ethically for our field.



Jamelia Hand

SAMHSA canceled up to $1.9 billion in grants without staff consultation, accelerating the mental health agency's deterioration under President Trump.

01/13/2026

A 46-year-old Cambodian immigrant, died in Philadelphia after being held in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody and treated for severe drug withdrawal. According to ICE, he was found unresponsive in his cell, given CPR and multiple doses of naloxone, and later hospitalized where he experienced organ failure and was pronounced dead.

From a strategic public health and systems standpoint, this situation highlights critical gaps in detention medical protocols, especially around substance withdrawal management and continuity of care. Experts and advocates are calling for more transparent oversight, clearer clinical standards for handling acute health needs in custodial settings, and stronger accountability mechanisms when people in custody present with serious medical conditions. Failure to address these systemic issues erode trust, pose legal and ethical risks, and result in preventable loss of life.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/ice-detainee-dies-at-philly-hospital-after-drug-withdrawal-treatment/ar-AA1U0E9I

ICE said in a statement that Parady La, a Cambodian immigrant, was arrested Tuesday, Jan 6, outside his home in Upper Darby and detained at the Federal Detention Center at 7th and Arch streets.

01/02/2026

January pulls double duty. It is Substance Use Treatment Awareness Month and it is also when many people choose to participate in Dry January. That overlap is not accidental. It reflects a growing awareness that substance use exists on a spectrum and that intentional pauses, treatment, and support all play a role in health.

Through my work at Vantage Clinical Consulting LLC, I see how powerful this moment can be. For individuals, January can be a low pressure entry point to reflect on their relationship with substances. For organizations, it is a time to assess whether systems are truly equipped to support recovery with access, quality care, and culturally responsive practices.

Here is the part we need to say out loud. Motivation alone does not sustain change. People need clear pathways to care, consistent messaging, and environments that reduce stigma rather than reinforce it. Treatment works when systems are designed to meet people where they are, not where we wish they would be.

I have pulled together practical resources for providers, leaders, and community partners who want to move beyond awareness and into action. These include implementation insights, workforce considerations, and policy informed guidance grounded in real world experience.

Visit vantageclinicalconsulting.com to access resources and tools you can use this month and throughout the year.

January is a reminder that recovery is not a resolution. It is a strategy, a commitment, and a shared responsibility.

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.