CorrHealth is thrilled to welcome Manuela Palacio, LPC, LPCC, LCDC, MBA, as our new Director of Behavioral Health Services. Manuela brings to our team an impressive background, a clear vision, and a heartfelt commitment to excellence in behavioral healthcare.
A Passion for Behavioral Health
Initially drawn to the legal field, Manuela discovered her true calling in behavioral health after taking her first psychology class. Driven by a deep curiosity about the brain and human behavior, she became increasingly aware of the critical need to address mental health stigmas and foster greater understanding. Manuela’s passion for helping others through empathy, innovation, and out-of-the-box thinking has been the cornerstone of her successful career.
Returning to Corrections with Purpose
Manuela’s decision to join CorrHealth was fueled by her desire to return to corrections, an area where she recognized significant opportunities for impactful mental health interventions. Early in her career, working at a halfway house in New Jersey, she witnessed firsthand the critical gaps in mental health care within the correctional system. Manuela now brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and dedication to addressing these challenges head-on.
In her role as Director of Behavioral Health, Manuela is excited to advance CorrHealth’s strong, compassionate mental health program, ensuring our team members feel psychologically safe and supported. She looks forward to enhancing patient care, increasing collaboration with county partners, and building upon the foundation set by her predecessors, including Mary Zold and our Chief Psychiatric Officer, Dr. C.J. Rush.
Vision and Priorities for Behavioral Health
One of Manuela’s immediate priorities is to establish greater consistency across CorrHealth’s facilities, particularly in documentation practices and clinical procedures. Strengthening suicide watch protocols to ensure the highest level of patient safety is another top goal. Additionally, she aims to expand mental health education and introduce more therapeutic in-cell activities to support inmate patient engagement and well-being.
Embracing the “Do Right” Philosophy
For Manuela, CorrHealth’s “Do Right” philosophy resonates deeply with her personal and professional values. To her, this means leading with unwavering integrity, accountability, and commitment—even when challenges arise. It means consistently showing up, thoroughly executing responsibilities, and treating everyone with respect and dignity. She’s dedicated to fostering an environment where clinicians feel supported, inmate patients experience compassionate care, and ethical and empathetic standards drive decisions.
Motivation and Commitment
Manuela is deeply motivated by her opportunity to inspire others and create meaningful change in the correctional healthcare field. Her role allows her to honor her own professional journey, acknowledging the growth and lessons gained along the way. She expresses profound gratitude for joining CorrHealth and is driven to make a positive, lasting impact on both patients and staff.
Life Beyond Work
In her personal time, Manuela prioritizes a clear mind and healthy routine through strength training and running—a new passion through which she’s completed several half marathons. Her sights are set on the NYC Marathon as a future challenge. Outside of fitness, Manuela cherishes quality time with family and her dog, enjoying long walks and beach days together. Additionally, she finds recharging moments in reading, always eager to dive into a good book.
CorrHealth warmly welcomes Manuela Palacio and looks forward to the incredible contributions and compassionate leadership she will bring to our team and the communities we serve.
