Vantage Clinical Consulting LLC

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

10/10/2025

Is Your Organization Ready for JCAHO’s Latest Requirements?

JCAHO:
✔️ Sets quality standards.
✔️ Evaluates an organization’s performance.
✔️ Provides an interactive educational experience.
✔️ Provides innovative solutions and resources.

In Aug. 1, 2024, the latest mandates from The Joint Commission emphasize the importance of offering MOUD as part of OUD treatment plans. But implementing these changes can be overwhelming, especially with so many competing priorities.

That’s where we come in! We provide comprehensive support, including staff training, system development, and resource sharing, to enhance your compliance with the latest standards. Don’t let compliance be a burden- let’s work together to streamline the process.

Take our self-assessment to gauge your readiness and contact us for expert assistance at:

https://www.vantageclinicalconsulting.com/

10/07/2025

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month💜

Domestic violence impacts people everywhere. It affects communities, our workplaces, and even in the places we go to heal. Substance use can turn domestic violence into an even more urgent crisis, and that’s why every act of support counts.

That’s why you’ll often see reminder signs in unexpected spaces, like the ladies’ room of a medical office: a simple way to say help is here.

Everyone can do something. No gesture is too big or too small when it comes to supporting those who are suffering.

➡️ National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
➡️ Chat online: thehotline.org

Join me in raising awareness, amplifying resources, and .

10/06/2025

Last week, we had the privilege of presenting with one of our favorite people in this work, Jill. She is a fierce recovery advocate, gifted speaker, and someone we deeply admire.

She shows up with purpose every single time we ask her to help. She is thoughtful, passionate, and grounded in the needs of those we serve. We’re always learning alongside her and remain grateful that she continues to say yes to opportunities that move this work forward.

Together, we facilitated a live case-based training on Supportive Autonomy in the treatment of cooccurring disordes, a model we developed to help providers strengthen recovery capital, build contingency plans with patients, and prepare for real-world disruptions before they happen.

A heartfelt thank you to Chicago Behavioral Hospital, and our host Maine Township for your partnership and commitment to equipping the workforce.

In the middle of a government shutdown, supportive autonomy is essential, not a luxury... Patients cannot wait for funding cycles or staffing fixes to maintain their recovery. We must prepare them now!

If crisis planning, supportive policy, and autonomy-driven care are not part of your infrastructure, we would love to help.

Join us in building systems that hold people up, even when the system itself is stretched.

10/06/2025

October is National Youth Substance Use Prevention Month…

When a parent finds recovery, they plant seeds of prevention in their children. Healing one generation can protect the next. This a time to focus on protecting our kids and this mug is for everyone who believes in the power of recovery.

Every time you sip from this mug, you’re supporting recovery and prevention. 10% of proceeds go to the Gregory J. Hand Addiction Recovery Scholarship at Governors State University helping future addiction counselors guide families to recovery. Get your mug here: https://www.vantageclinicalconsulting.com/category/all-products

Let the healing begin.❤️‍🩹