U.S. Army Garrison Yuma Proving Ground’s Army Community Services (ACS) named Clarissa Benavides formerly Ayala, as its new director. Benavides was hired in April of 2023 as the Family Advocacy Program Manager.
Prior to this position, Benavides 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.
Benavides 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 her 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 even realizing it.”
As the director of the community centered directorate, Benavides hopes to, “Increase awareness to all the programs and services ACS offers not only to active-duty members and their Families, but to DOD civilians and their families as well. Hopefully starting with an ACS Open House in the near future.”
Benavides along with the rest of the ACS team is located on the Howard Cantonment in building 309 and are available 6 a.m.-4:30 p.m. or by calling 928-328-3224.
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