LaNora Godfrey Named Hamilton County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board CEO
Long-time agency veteran brings new passion and purpose to the role
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 24, 2023 (Cincinnati, Ohio) The Board of Trustees of the Hamilton County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board (MHRSB/Board) voted today to appoint LaNora Godfrey as the organization’s new Chief Executive Officer/President. Godfrey is a 23-year veteran of the agency that serves more than 26,000 Hamilton County residents who receive mental health and recovery services.
“LaNora has the expertise as well as the visionary thinking to support and build our staff, further foster collaborative relationships within our provider community and forge new partnerships with our business community and state and local leaders,” said Board of Trustees Chair Tom Gabelman.
Godfrey’s vision is to create a future where mental health and addiction services are understood, accepted, and expected by the community; not just seen as a necessity. Her immediate priorities are to improve access to mental health services, help stabilize the behavioral health workforce, and implement technologies that will exponentially improve things like management of and access to the agency’s services.
“I am honored and privileged to lead the Board into its next chapter,” said Godfrey. “This organization and the work we do is so important to our community. We touch and improve the lives of thousands in Hamilton County. I look forward to furthering our mission and increasing our positive impact on the community.”
For Godfrey the opportunity is not just work or a job, it’s her purpose in life. She says like many she has a personal connection through family to the services the agency provides, which gives her a fuller perspective of the community’s need. She’s “grown up” with the organization, she says, which gives her a deep understanding of and a passion for the agency’s work and the community it serves.
“It is widely accepted that our nation is facing a behavioral health crisis. It is no different in our community,” said Gabelman. “The Board is a leader in bringing the community together and creating partnerships to strengthen our county’s continuum of care and meet these challenges. LaNora has been key to these efforts and can now play an even greater leadership role as CEO/President.”
The Board of Trustees voted unanimously Thursday morning to appoint Godfrey after conducting a nationwide search for the role. Godfrey assumes the position immediately which was held by Interim CEO/President Erik Stewart and Linda Gallagher since the passing of former CEO/President Pat Tribbe last October.
The MHRSB provides leadership in public behavioral health care with planning, funding, managing, and evaluating behavioral health care throughout Hamilton County. The agency contracts with non-profit agencies to provide direct care in a community-based setting, including crisis care, outpatient, residential and housing, to more than 26,000 mental health and addiction clients annually.
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Libby Coulton @ Coulton Communications
libby@coultoncommunications.com
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