Amanda came to Alternatives in 2020 and has been instrumental in bringing Alternatives into the internet age.  She revamped our internet site, had our agency up and running with virtual services within a month of the Covid shutdown and has grown our DUI program to be a model in the State of California.  She comes from the corporate world with a background in ecommerce, marketing and business management.  Amanda is also a certified health coach and promotes wellness and lifestyle health to the agency.  Willing to take on any task, she is currently the co-facilitator of the Women’s group for women convicted of domestic violence.

Luis came to Alternatives in 2021 with an unstoppable drive and excitement to help others. Since joining the Alternatives team Luis has facilitated services in both English and Spanish becoming certified in Domestic Violence and becoming a level three certified drug and alcohol counselor. He has completed a bachelors degree in psychology and is currently pursuing a masters degree in Social Work from Loma Linda University. Luis quickly became a leader at Alternatives, always willing to lend a helping hand or just an ear for a client or fellow co-worker in need. Luis’s empathetic nature and positive attitude bring something truly special to the Alternatives team.

All Alternatives Programs are supervised by Joni Yacoe, Executive Director, a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Joni has been a practicing therapist in Napa since the early 1980’s. Joni started Alternatives in 1998 with Connie Millimaki, a Drug and Alcohol Counselor. Together their goal was to provide a kinder, more respectful approach to treatment. To this day Alternatives remains the only Outpatient Treatment option available in Napa outside of the County Services. In addition to her thriving private practice Joni facilitates the English speaking Domestic Violence classes as well as the Parenting classes and all Mental Health Services for Alternatives. Joni’s motto is and has always been “treating people with respect” and it is the very culture with which Alternatives was built on.

Renee came to Alternatives over 20 years ago as part of the Napa County Welfare to work program. She quickly became the office Tsar. Learning everything from bookkeeping to human resources to office management there is no task Renee has not been willing to take on. Her dedication to her work and Alternatives can be felt in everything she does. Alternatives is what it is today because of the hard work and dedication of staff like Renee. Renee continues to oversee all of Alternatives bookkeeping, billing and office management. She is always ready to drop everything to help a client in need and to ensure everyone gets the support they need.