By Jamelia Hand MHS CADC CODP I Digital literacy is no longer a “nice-to-have.” Youth and adults are already using AI, apps, online communities, trackers, and digital tools between sessions. Pretending otherwise is how we lose visibility, miss risk, and miss opportunities for engagement. Here’s how to operationalize digital literacy directly into the clinical workflow. Start Every Intake With a Digital Use Screen Make it as standard as asking about substances, sleep, or socia

By Jamelia Hand MHS CADC CODP I Ms. Denise sat at the conference table clutching a folder of clinical reports that didn’t tell the whole story. She had been coordinating care for a young man with co-occurring disorders who had cycled through emergency rooms, jail, outpatient therapy, and homelessness. Each provider did their part, but no one owned the full picture. Every week, she found herself stitching together fragmented updates from hospitals, social service agencies, MCO

By Jamelia Hand MHS CADC CODP I Marcus walked into treatment determined to get his life back. After an overdose and a terrifying wake-up call, he started buprenorphine and felt stable for the first time in years. His first few months were strong. But then the real world showed up: unpredictable work hours, childcare challenges, missed rides, and eventually a missed appointment that snowballed into two. No one followed up. No one closed the loop. Marcus drifted out of care qui

By: Jamelia Hand MHS CADC CODP I “I felt the weight of responsibility, but never the freedom to decide how to respond.” That’s how Lisa*, a middle manager in a community-based substance use treatment program, described her daily reality. She oversaw operational departments including client engagement and staff scheduling, with ever-evolving policies. Yet, despite the heavy burden, every decision, from hiring relief staff to adjusting therapy group formats, required approval f

What are the potential implications for SUD and MH providers? So, Let’s Start with What Happend? Congress approved a short-term funding package to reopen the federal government after a record 43-day shutdown. The Senate moved first, followed by a narrow House vote. The President signed the bill, restoring agency operations and pay for federal employees. Reporting indicates House passage was 222–209 and that agencies are now directing staff to report and resume normal function

Safety Net at Risk: SNAP Uncertainty Deepens Behavioral Health Strain As the federal government shutdown continues, its ripple effects are reaching deeply into nutrition supports and the behavioral-health and substance-use treatment ecosystem. At the same time that frontline providers and clients are managing everyday challenges, executive-level decisions about funding and mandates are creating disruptions in programs that underpin stability and recovery. It is crucial to vie