Scott Patterson-Alatorre joins CYFD as Family Services Director

For Immediate Release

Contact:
Jessica Preston
Deputy Communications Director
New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department
Jessica.Preston@cyfd.nm.gov
505-699-2262

Joining Deputy Secretary Kathey Phoenix-Doyle to lead division with community-based program

SANTAFE, NM – Scott Patterson-Alatorre has joined the Children, Youth and Families Department as the Director of the Family Services Division.

Scott spent the last 20 years working with New Mexicans in communities throughout the state to provide interventions and support services aimed at mitigating the impact of trauma on the daily lives of children, adolescents, and families. Most recently, Scott was the Statewide Behavioral Health Manager for the New Mexico Administrative Office of the Courts in Santa Fe.

“Scott’s expertise and experience are what we were looking for to help lead our Family Services Division,” said Teresa Casados, Secretary for the Children, Youth and Families Department. “It is critical for the department to keep engaging with leaders in prevention and intervention services who know about New Mexico and the needs of families and the children in the state so that we can offer programs they need most. The Family Services Division offers a proactive approach to supporting New Mexicans under Kathey and Scott’s leadership.”

“We are excited to have Scott join our team as the Director of the Family Services Division. This division is a relaunch of our prevention and intervention division within CYFD,” said Kathey Phoenix-Doyle, Family Services Division Deputy Secretary. “We have renamed the division Family Services to reflect our commitment to providing supportive services to families to increase family stability and well-being. The path for families to achieve stability is one with resources that support their daily living.”

The Family Services Division brings prevention and community-based programs together that were previously in Protective Services, Behavioral Health, and Juvenile Justice. The Family Services Division was the Prevention and Intervention Division originally. It was renamed to reflect the Department’s focus on early intervention and prevention to meet families and children before a crisis.

A graduate of both New Mexico State University and the University of New Mexico, Scott holds licensure as an Independent Clinical Mental Health Counselor and a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor. He holds additional training certifications in multiple modalities including Infant Mental Health Consultation, Trauma-Informed Care and Suicide Prevention.

“I am honored to be back at CYFD during this exciting time,” said Scott J. Patterson-Alatorre. “The Family Services Department’s programs will meet families and children in New Mexico where they are with critical services they need. At the CYFD Family Services Division, I aim to strengthen existing avenues for support and reduce barriers to ensure that more families and individuals have an opportunity to access care. My goal for the Family Services Division is to create a ‘”no wrong door” approach to accessing needed support in the individual’s home community.”

Scott’s recent work includes the development, implementation and oversight of community-created programs aimed at connecting individuals to supports, that include engagement and navigation services from individuals with lived experience.