Patrice McKinney is the MHARS Board’s Administrative Services Director. She worked for the former mental health board from March 1995 through the merger with the former addiction board. 

A lifelong Lorain County resident, born in Lorain and now living in Elyria, she is a graduate of Elyria West High School, Tiffin University and Ohio Business College, formerly Lorain Business College. Patrice holds memberships in the National Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), National Association of Government Administrators Records & Archives (NAGARA), Elyria Sunrise Rotary Club and Southside Elyria Network. She is a past chair of the #HowICope Mental Health Fair. Patrice is also a past Membership Committee Chair of the Elyria Chapter of National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Club, Inc. (NANBPWC)

She is passionate about her work with the MHARS Board.

“I am a mental health and substance use disorder family member,” she said. “My mother was in recovery from mental illness before she passed away from cancer many years ago. One of my brothers suffered from schizophrenia and substance use disorder. He was on the path to recovery from SUD before he too passed away several years ago. Both received services from The Nord Center. I believe everyone suffering from mental illness and/or substance use disorder deserves a supportive, holistic network to guide them onto the road to recovery.”