Association for Mental Health and Wellness (MHAW) Announces New COO

The Association for Mental Health and Wellness (MHAW), a not-for-profit provider of programs, services, and advocacy for people facing mental health challenges in Suffolk County, announced the appointment of Marianela Casas, MPA, as its new Chief Operating Officer. In her role, Casas will oversee all licensed and non-licensed behavioral health programs for children and adults; Housing Programs and Services; health home care management; and the administration of the agency’s corporate compliance program.

Marianela has vast interdisciplinary experience in government, policy, and non-profit management which uniquely qualifies her at this critical time. With more than 25 years of experience, Casas has expertise in a myriad of complex issues from sexual abuse, homelessness intervention, race and inclusion work, health disparities work, language access issues, mentoring young professionals, immigration, trauma-informed police reform, domestic violence, and serving limited English populations.

Casas is sought after as a trusted advisor and collaborator by organizations and government officials to assess stakeholders' needs and to establish and implement strategic plans and initiatives to promote the greater good. Prior to joining MHAW, Casas most recently worked as a strategist and special advisor to Congressman Tom Suozzi and as the Assistant Commissioner for Community Engagement for the Nassau County Police Department, and Advisor to the County Executive.

“Marianela is sure to be a tremendous asset to MHAW. We are thrilled to welcome her aboard,” said Merlo. “She brings a wealth of expertise and passion to our cause. With her deep commitment to issues of mental health, emotional development, and trauma, she is well-equipped to further our mission to help support the people of Suffolk County.”

“It is an honor to join the extraordinary team at MHAW and come alongside their mission to bring mental health and wellness services to the people of Long Island,” said Casas. “I feel especially privileged to serve in this role at this pivotal point in time. The Covid-19 pandemic has caused a great deal of emotional distress, but it has also brought an opportunity to reimagine how programs are linked to communities to bring healing and wellness. One key takeaway post-pandemic is that issues of mental health affect our families, employees in the workplace, and our schools in ways we hadn’t fully recognized. If left unaddressed, this can have a devastating impact on our resilience lasting way beyond our economic recovery. Now is the time to act on this newfound awareness and create new partnerships to focus on the vital importance of mental wellness.”

A recipient of many awards, Casas has been honored as the NYS Women of Distinction Honoree for the NYS Legislature (2018), the Town of Hempstead Hispanic Heritage Honoree and Keynote (2018), and the LI Press Power Women Honoree Distinguished Women in Business (2018), among others. Over the years she has served as a proactive board member of the Girl Scouts of Nassau County, Health Welfare Council of Long Island, and the Federally Qualified Health Centers, now Harmony Healthcare.

Casas will succeed Paula Fries, LCAT ATR-BC CGT CPRP, who is retiring. Fries has dedicated her career to helping vulnerable populations and has lent her expertise to MHAW since 1993.

“Paula has been an integral part of MHAW’s growth and evolution for the past 30 years and her contributions to the organization are immeasurable,” said Merlo. “Not only has she been an invaluable colleague to me, but she is also a good friend. She will truly be missed.”

About the Association for Mental Health and Wellness (MHAW)

The Association for Mental Health and Wellness, a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation based in Ronkonkoma, NY, with the mission to empower and inspire people of all Suffolk County communities to identify, pursue and sustain healthy, meaningful lives. MHAW provides programs, services, and advocacy for people facing mental health challenges with an enhanced focus on serving Veterans. MHAW is committed to the core practice values of empowerment, hope, recovery, and cultural humility. All of the agency’s direct service workers are trained in the importance of addressing health from trauma-informed and whole-person perspectives with an enriched understanding of the social and economic conditions that contribute to physical and mental health and substance abuse. Central to our mission is the belief that mental health is just as important as physical health. As the local affiliate of Mental Health America (MHA) and the Mental Health Association in New York State (MHANYS), we drive evidence-based practices and care, and provide information, education and resources to the community and behavioral health workforce. Our goal is to ensure that policy makers, educational institutions, hospital and healthcare systems businesses and individuals across our region prioritize social and emotional wellness.