Patricia Heffernan

Patricia Heffernan operates Helios Recovery Services LLC and Helios Heuristic. She supports families at the intersection of substance use, domestic violence and the child welfare system. She knows this world well from her own experience. She collaborates with government and community organizations to end the ongoing opioid epidemic. She works to create legislative change regarding substance use. She started as a volunteer, helping others navigate the road to recovery and has since made this work her life's mission. When not tirelessly advocating for her community, Patti finds happiness with her family, her roller derby girlfriends and music.

Patti wears her passion well, like a powerful shield. She stands up to power with impressive results. In the juvenile justice system, she fought for herself when no one else would. She read every legal document and advocated for her rights. Recently, she helped pass a law which provides Medicaid reimbursements to substance use recovery coaches. Few get to see her softer side and her caring heart. She feels deeply for the working poor in the United States. Like many of them she was born into generational poverty and never had the luxury to feel inspired. She is grateful for everyone who helped her and for lifesaving programs such as FoodShare and Women, Infants and Children (WIC). Patti does not want to be the poster child for resilience. Firmly centered in her current life, she adores her family. Her eyes light up with love when she talks about her children.

Strongly connected to other women, Patti built a supportive community of social workers, community volunteers and lawmakers. She collaborates to change people's minds regarding substance use and poverty. Patti respects the courage of black women. She knows that she had better chances of survival than black girls she came up with in the juvenile justice system, simply because of her blonde, green-eyed complexion. She wishes we would honor black women's contributions to the women's rights and the civil rights movements. Patti believes in healthy boundaries. She knows that we can heal the world by healing ourselves. Our company should validate us and see our potential. Most importantly, we should believe in ourselves and never give up.

- Written by Juliane Troicki of Illuminating Project