When the Helper Needs Help: Navigating Federal Funding Cuts as a Public Health Entrepreneur
- jameliahand
- Feb 18
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 8
By: Jamelia Hand MHS CADC CODP
On January 27, 2025, President Trump announced a federal funding freeze, issuing a memo through the Office of Management and Budget aimed to pause all activities related to the obligation or disbursement of federal financial assistance. While a federal court temporarily denied the Trump administration's request, there are appeals pending and the shockwaves sent throughout federal agencies can’t be undone.
In the immediate aftermath of this announcement, I reached out to my existing clients and those with whom I was negotiating contracts. Calls went unanswered, and emails received no replies. Days later, I began to learn that most of my trusted contacts had been terminated, laid off or had resigned, as their agencies faced abrupt changes. The relationships I had spent years building vanished overnight, along with the contracts they supported.
Devastated, I sat on the edge of my bed, grappling with the reality that the work I had already begun (much of it unbilled) might never come to fruition. The sudden shifts not only threatened my livelihood but also jeopardized the critical public health initiatives we had set in motion.
For years, i’ve worked with organizations to help them stabilize funding, navigate compliance, and secure contracts that allow them to continue delivering critical Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and Mental Health (MH) services. I’ve guided providers through financial uncertainty, helping them pivot and strategize when funding streams dried up or policies shifted.
But now, I find myself in the same position i’ve helped others overcome...
For those of us whose work is funded by federal contracts and grants, the recent dismantling of agencies and funding delays have had a catastrophic impact. In just a few weeks, i’ve lost more than half of my anticipated income for 2025, not because the work isn’t needed, but because the funding that fuels it is now uncertain.
This isn’t just a professional setback; it’s personal. What happens when you’re the one in crisis?
The Reality of Relying on Federally Funded Contracts
Public health entrepreneurs, consultants, and small businesses often exist in the gaps bridging the space between policy and implementation. We help organizations stay compliant, train their teams, and build programs that serve vulnerable communities. But when federal funding is pulled, delayed, or redirected, it doesn’t just affect large agencies, it affects the entire ecosystem, including those of us who provide essential support.
For entrepreneurs in this space, financial security is often dependent on forces far beyond our control:
• Even with contracts, we must facilitate services first, then seek reimbursement. This puts small agencies like mine at an even greater disadvantage.
• A change in leadership can shift funding priorities overnight.
• A delayed approval can push a contract out by months.
• A dissolved agency can eliminate an entire funding stream in an instant.
The hard truth? No matter how good you are at what you do, your revenue is only as stable as the systems funding your work.
When the Unexpected Happens: What Now?
This experience has forced me to sit with the same advice i’ve given to so many others. Here’s some of what i’ve learned and what i’m actively working through:
Acknowledge the Emotional Toll
Losing expected income, especially when it funds your life and mission, is not just a business problem. It’s emotional. It’s frustrating. It’s disheartening and that’s okay.
• Give yourself permission to feel the loss.
• Recognize that this isn’t a reflection of your value or skill, it’s a systemic issue.
• Remind yourself of other moments when you’ve rebuilt before. You will again!
Shift from Panic to Planning
Financial uncertainty breeds anxiety, but action creates stability. I had to shift my focus from what was lost to what I could control.
• Assess cash flow: What do I have right now, and how long will it last?
• Identify quick revenue opportunities: Are there short-term projects or advisory roles I can take on?
• Look for gaps I haven’t monetized yet: Are there trainings, courses, or resources I can offer independently?
Diversify, Even if it Feels Late
One of the biggest lessons? Never rely too heavily on one funding source. This is what i’ve told my clients, but how do you prepare for what you don’t see coming? For years, my work has been contract-based, but now i’m looking at ways to generate direct revenue, such as:
• Expanding private sector partnerships.
• Offering consulting services to smaller organizations that aren’t federally funded.
• Creating on-demand resources and training that aren’t tied to contract cycles
Lean on Your Network
I spend a lot of time connecting people to resources, but i’ve learned that asking for help is just as important as offering it.
Who in my network is hiring?
What organizations need my expertise but aren’t dependent on federal dollars?
Are there collaborative opportunities I haven’t explored?
Stay Visible & Keep Advocating
One of the most tempting things to do in times of financial hardship is to go quiet, to retreat and figure things out alone. But the truth is, the work I do is still needed.
I will keep sharing insights, writing, and speaking on substance use, mental health, and our public health funding crisis.
I will also stay engaged in conversations around SUD/MH policy shifts.
I will continue to advocate for myself and for others affected by these funding changes.
Final Thoughts: The Work Is Still Worth It!
I won’t lie, this moment is challenging. But it’s also clarifying. It’s forcing me to rethink, restructure, and rebuild, not just for survival, but for long-term sustainability.
If you’re in a similar position where your funding has been cut, your contracts have been delayed, or your financial stability has been shaken, you are not alone. I’m open for strategic discussions and mutual support as we figure out what’s next.
Because even when the funding shifts, the need for the work remains.
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