Natalia Alarcon has been promoted to director of Family & Youth Services (FYS) at CommUnify, a Community Action Agency, the CommUnify Board has announced.
Alarcon, who is a member of the Carpinteria City Council, is a licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT) with some 10 years of experience in program development, operations and administration, as well as direct services to children, youth, and families with such organizations as Family Service Agency and Domestic Violence Solutions.
She started with CommUnify in February 2019 as Family Self-Sufficiency program manager. In that newly created position, she led the implementation of a program providing intensive case management and support services to individuals seeking to improve their job skills, education, and training with the goal of becoming economically secure.
Alarcon then held the position of assistant director, Community Services Department, directing program activities for financial literacy training, case management, and utility payment assistance.
As FYS director, Alarcon will oversee such programs as Familias Seguras/Secure Families, Cal-SOAP, Adolescent Family Life Program, Los Compadres (including Youthful Offender Block Grant), and South Coast Youth Safety Partnership, and will supervise 31 full- and part-time staff throughout CommUnify’s service area.
“CommUnify recognized Natalia’s talent and commitment to our mission, and we are so excited that she will be joining our leadership team,” said Patricia Keelean.
“Her particular skill set and compassion for the residents in our community along with her deep understanding of the needs of the people we serve will help us fulfill our mission of helping families to become financially secure and self-sufficient,” Keelan said.
Alarcon was elected to her first term for Carpinteria City Council in December 2020 and is currently serving as vice mayor. She has also served as a board member for the organization AHA!, and as co-president and board member for Parents For Aliso in Carpinteria.
In 2022 Alarcon was recognized by the Pacific Coast Business Times “40 under 40” for her contributions to the community.
“As a parent raising children in our community, I am personally familiar with the challenges families face in Santa Barbara County,” she said. “I am honored to join CommUnify’s committed leadership team, and to provide programs and services to our community which help our local families and strengthen their economic resiliency.”
Alarcon is a long-time resident of Santa Barbara County and grew up in Carpinteria. She graduated from Carpinteria High School, and earned her BA in history from UCSB, and her master’s degree in clinical psychology from Antioch University.