Meet the Founder

Synergy Behavioral Health Professionals was founded in 2019 on the belief that stronger systems create stronger families. At the center of that mission is Paula McDowell, an accomplished child welfare and behavioral health professional whose career has been dedicated to improving the lives of children, families, and the professionals who serve them.
With more than 14 years of experience spanning child welfare, foster care, behavioral health, juvenile justice, family preservation, and human services, Paula has worked alongside state agencies, courts, attorneys, healthcare providers, educators, and community organizations to address some of the most complex challenges facing children and families today. Her work is grounded in the conviction that every child deserves safety, stability, meaningful relationships, and the opportunity to thrive.﻿
Throughout her career, Paula has developed expertise in child protective services, foster care case management, permanency planning, family reunification, kinship assessment, supervised visitation, behavioral health services, program operations, regulatory compliance, stakeholder engagement, and organizational development. Her experience across both frontline practice and systems leadership allows her to provide practical, informed guidance that strengthens organizations while keeping children and families at the center of every decision.﻿
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      Leadership Rooted In Service

Why Synergy?

Paula's commitment to service began long before her professional career. She is the great-niece of civil rights icon Rosa Parks, whose quiet strength, compassion, and unwavering commitment to justice profoundly shaped Paula's values. From an early age, Ms. Parks encouraged Paula to pursue higher education, to lead with integrity, and to recognize that lasting change often begins through consistent acts of service. Her influence also inspired Paula's lifelong commitment to promoting the well-being, dignity, and protection of children. These values continue to guide Paula's work and the mission of Synergy Behavioral Health Professionals today.