Jamelia Hand, CEO of Vantage Clinical Consulting, advises healthcare systems, corporate organizations, and advocacy groups in their efforts to reduce the national emergencies of opioid addiction and drug overdose via strategy consulting, training, technical assistance, and Program Development. Her areas of expertise encompass behavioral Health, digital health and AI integration, compliance, and health equity. Among the topics we discussed:

1. Her remarkable career trajectory, taking her though through just about every sector of substance use treatment—from direct clinical services, to corporate/private organizations, compliance, to digital health.

2. Her “secret shopper approach” in evaluating treatment organizations before formal engagement.

3. The critical gaps between the treatment business and the business of treatment (billing, regulatory compliance, revenue operations) and how treatment organizations can fill those gaps.

4. Why organizations struggle with digital and AI adoption, and what leaders can do to promote tech/AI literacy and adoption.

5. Her weekly LinkedIn “In the Field” posts – what she covers and why it’s been so well-received by people in the field.

Whether you're a healthcare executive, clinician, or policy advocate, this episode is your essential guide to navigating the complex world of behavioral health, digital transformation, and organizational resilience.

Karen Sours and Angela Marinas-Mackenzie are Community Health Navigators with Chestnut Health Systems, whose persistent community outreach bridges gaps in housing, healthcare, and social support. In this episode, they discuss how they help individuals navigate complex systems for disability and housing, tackling issues like food insecurity and transportation that prevent access to care, and they turn dire circumstances around with small, meaningful wins. You'll discover:

• How community health workers serve as vital connectors, stepping into the community instead of waiting for people to come through clinic doors
• The specific day-to-day activities that make an immediate impact—like helping people get into housing or acquire necessary IDs—leading to tangible outcomes such as stability and hope
• The challenges of emotional toll and resource limitations, and how these frontline heroes stay motivated through small wins and deep community bonds
• Common misconceptions about their roles—clarifying that community health navigators are advocates and guides, not medical providers—and why understanding this distinction matters
• The surprising ways these workers build trust, overcome systemic barriers, and keep their community resilient

Angela and Karen share stories of how persistent, compassionate outreach help overcome systemic barriers, change lives…one at a time, and at scale.

Most healthcare leaders overlook one of the most critical factors threatening their workforce’s sustainability: burnout is escalating, and traditional solutions aren’t enough.

We’re joined by two industry veterans who have dedicated their careers to transforming healthcare work culture: Mitchell Best, CEO of Vital Work Life, and Derek Bell, Vice President of Solutions. Mitch and Derek reveal how the healthcare sector has evolved over the past 25 years, and why we’re now at a pivotal crossroads. You'll discover how the shift from reactive to proactive wellbeing strategies, driven by data and COVID-19’s stark realities, has reshaped organizational priorities. They share concrete frameworks like the 'Flourishing Scale' and discuss the profound impact of integrating wellbeing into everyday leadership—beyond benefits and check-box initiatives—to foster genuine resilience and engagement. We break down:

• The key inflection points that have made mental health and wellbeing a top C-suite concern
• How data-driven approaches uncover the unseen costs of burnout, including turnover and patient safety
• Practical strategies for embedding wellbeing within organizational culture, leadership training, and daily workflows
• The transformative potential of AI to reduce administrative burdens while amplifying personalized support for healthcare workers
• Why traditional wellness programs fall short, and how holistic, interconnected solutions can revolutionize workforce health
• How this approach enables healthcare organizations to retain top talent, improve care quality, and build resilient organizations ready for future challenges

Most states are overwhelmed by the rising tide of homelessness and grappling with its various downstream effects. Max Seely, Director of Government Affairs at the Supportive Housing Providers Association (SHPA), joins us to discuss the complex root causes of homelessness and what SHPA is doing to turn the tide. Max reveals how flexible, individualized supportive services—like addiction treatment, mental health care, and job support—are significantly reducing homelessness. In this episode, we break down:

• What people (policymakers, business leaders, the general public) get wrong about homelessness.
• How Illinois’ full continuum of care (prevention → shelters → supportive housing) works as one interconnected system.
• Why criminalizing homelessness only makes the problem worse, and what actually breaks the cycle.
• The staggering costs of underfunding these services.
• The single biggest policy change that could dramatically reduce homelessness.

If you care about social justice, urban solutions, or what it will take to fix America’s homelessness crisis, this is essential listening.

Most people underestimate the rapid rise of sports gambling addiction—until it hits close to home. Amanda Arrowsmith, Associate Director of Residential Programs with Chestnut Health Systems, exposes the “hidden epidemic,” fueled by mobile betting apps, aggressive marketing, and the normalization of in-game wagers.

This is a particularly timely topic as sports gambling is very much in the news, as we recorded this during the NCAA basketball tournament, when offices around the country are obsessed with betting pools – a far more benign manifestation of the broad, rapid, and alarming rise of sports gambling that’s going on in our country right now.

Amanda breaks down how sports betting has exploded from $400 million in revenue in 2018 to over $13 billion today, with nearly 40 states now legalizing it. She discusses the subtle signs that indicate someone is developing a gambling problem—like obsessive score-checking, mood swings, and secrecy—and why these behaviors often go unnoticed because sports betting lacks the physical cues of substance abuse.

You’ll discover how the brain’s reward system is hijacked, making recovery even more complex. We delve into practical steps to help loved ones -why simply offering money often worsens the problem -and what supportive interventions like professional therapy, family counseling, and behavioral health programs look like. Amanda highlights Chestnut’s proactive approach: universal screening for gambling disorder and community education about recognizing and addressing risky behaviors. She warns that without proper regulation and awareness, we risk amplifying a crisis that can lead to devastating consequences, including higher suicide rates among compulsive gamblers.

Employment law expert Jon Hyman joins us to unpack the groundbreaking $6 million judgment that held social media giants Meta and YouTube liable for addictive design, which caused the plaintiff to develop severe mental health issues, including anxiety, body dysmorphia, and suicidal ideation, starting from age six. Could this case reshape the future of mental health, workplace liability, and digital/AI ethics?

We discuss how courts could attribute liability for psychological harm from addictive apps, what this would mean for employers requiring social media use, and potential openings for future litigation. We break down the core arguments: from social media's addictive algorithms to the broader conversation about AI’s role in mental health and workplace safety, and whether organizations will be required to undertake expanded duty-of-care responsibilities.

Whether you're a mental health professional, business leader, legal professional, or simply curious about the future of digital/AI addiction and accountability, you’ll leave with a clearer picture of the challenges ahead in our increasingly AI-driven world.

"Meeting our current challenges requires that we reform and strengthen criminal justice systems, following where the evidence leads to promote public safety, and to integrate such measures within the broader portfolio of economic development, health, and social services to address the causes and consequences of crime. Meeting these challenges also requires active collaboration among the public health, social work, and law enforcement communities." Engaging the Victim’s Voice in Public Safety Research

Dr. Harold Pollack, one of the foremost authorities on public health and social justice, joins us to share insights from his decades of work on harm reduction, restorative justice, and community engagement. We discuss:

• How his training as an electrical engineer applies to his work.
• Why public policy experts must improve how they communicate - clear, relatable messages are far more effective at building public support.
• His collaboration with Chestnut Health Systems (calling them “the best at what they do,” with special praise for their exceptional communication skills. Thank you, Dr. Pollack).
• The critical importance of listening to victims' voices. Harsh treatment serves no useful purpose—a more meaningful way to honor crime victims is to truly listen to them, address their needs, and respect their values.
• The persistent resistance to harm reduction strategies, in contrast with their proven effectiveness (such as syringe exchange programs in preventing HIV transmission and reducing overdose deaths).
• What both the political right and left often get wrong on these issues—with thoughtful prescriptions for bridging the divide, at least in the realms of public health and social justice.
• How his book "The Index Card: Why Personal Finance Doesn't Have to Be Complicated" (2016) connects to his public health work.
• How the rise of AI intersects with public health and social work.

Dr. Harold Pollack is the Helen Ross Distinguished Service Professor at the University of Chicago and the faculty codirector of the University of Chicago Health Lab. In addition to his academic work, Dr. Pollack’s writing has appeared in the New Republic, the Atlantic, the Washington Post, Politico, Vox, among other leading publications.

The pace and scope of change buffeting behavioral health organizations – large and small – is unprecedented, yet some organizations are thriving while others struggle to keep the lights on. Michael Allen is Executive VP with Open Minds, where he provides executive oversight and leadership for provider and payer client engagements. Michael lays out the most pressing short-term and systemic changes – from federal policy to aging populations to digital transformation – and explains why traditional strategies no longer suffice. He describes concrete frameworks, such as scenario planning and the 6 Ps, that empower leaders - and their organizations - to stay resilient amid uncertainty and rapid, sweeping change. We discuss:

• Why systemic changes are more challenging to navigate and often hard to reverse.
• How scenario planning helps organizations prepare for multiple futures.
• Why investing in AI and data management is crucial for future success.
• The importance of focusing on infrastructure to support growth.
• The lowering of stigma in asking for help among leaders today.
• The increase in collaboration among competitors in the behavioral health space.
• Why understanding market metrics is essential for strategic planning.
• The growing need for integrated care approaches in the industry.

This conversation is essential for executive leaders, strategic planners, and innovators seeking insights and guidance on navigating these changes and preparing for long-term sustainability.

For further reading on these topics, I recommend OPEN MINDS Circle Executive Briefings, authored by OPEN MINDS Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Monica E. Oss. Each day, a new briefing is released covering the latest industry developments paired with insights and expert analysis.