Photo By Ana Henderson | Clarissa Benavides came on board in April of 2023 as the Family Advocacy Program...... read more read more
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Army Community Services added a member to the team who will provide a valuable resource to the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground (YPG) community.
Clarissa Ayala came on board in April as the new Family Advocacy Program Manager.
Prior to this position, Ayala worked as a social worker for a local hospice facility and mental health consultant with the Easter Seals Blake Foundation. The bulk of her career was spent as an advocate with Amberly’s Place of Yuma, which provides services to victims of abuse.
Ayala was born and raised in the Yuma community with family roots in Mexico. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Northern Arizona University, both in social work.
She originally started schooling to become a nurse but life led her to this career.
“I have a traumatic background, as far as my upbringing, coming from a parent who was in a domestic violence relationship, that kind of pushed me into this without me event realizing it.”
Acknowledging that being a social worker is a “difficult field” Ayala remarks, “I like to be that help and that support in those crisis situations. It’s really difficult for people to reach out and to feel safe and I just like to be that comfort in anyway.”
Now, Ayala hopes to bring her help and understanding to the YPG community.
“I just want them to feel comfortable and feel supported.”
She also would like the community to know that Army Community Services and the Family Advocacy Program has a variety of services and resources. Community members are welcome to swing by her office in building 301 to browse the resources material and books available and learn about the programs offered.
Two programs she wants to highlight are the New Parenting Support program. It’s available for parents of newborns up to five years old. FAP provides a basket filled with informational books. Also, the Exception Family Member for families of special needs children.
Ayala loves the small town feel of YPG and hopes to add to that feeling.
“I want to be that safe space for them.”
Ayala is available from 6am-4:30 p.m. or by calling (928) 328- 3224.
| Date Taken: | 07.03.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 07.03.2023 13:15 |
| Story ID: | 448339 |
| Location: | YUMA PROVING GROUND, ARIZONA, US |
| Web Views: | 34 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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