Staff Spotlight -
Jennifer Valentine
“The fact that you have ordinary community members doing extraordinary things is humbling,” she says. “I admire them. It’s an honor to be able to coach and support them in their efforts.”
Eighteen years ago, what began as a volunteer opportunity for Jenn Valentine became a career dedicated to advocating for children, youth, and families. After moving to the area from Philadelphia, Jenn had already worked in child welfare, the school system, and adult mental health and substance use services. The local thing to do at the time was become a real estate agent! While working at an agency, she learned about CASA through the broker’s wife, an attorney with Fox Rothschild who supported the organization. Intrigued, she did some research and attended the next information session. The rest is history...
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That history began in the fall of 2007, when she became a CASA volunteer assigned to a case involving three children. Just a few months later, she applied for a full-time Case Supervisor position. From there, her career continued to grow alongside the organization - from Case Supervisor to Senior Case Supervisor, Director of Program Services, and beyond.
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After 18 years, it’s the mission that continues to motivate Jenn. Her earlier work in child welfare gave her a firsthand understanding of the challenges facing children and families. Later, working in adult mental health and substance use services gave her a new perspective on family systems. CASA became a way to bring those experiences together and support children and families from a different side of the system. “I was looking for a way to support children and families in a different way. CASA was that pathway,” she says.
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Jenn credits CASA’s volunteers as one of the most meaningful parts of the work. “The fact that you have ordinary community members doing extraordinary things is humbling,” she says. “I admire them. It’s an honor to be able to coach and support them in their efforts.”
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During her time at CASA, Jenn has been part of some of the organization’s biggest changes and milestones. One of the most significant was implementing the Peer Coach model. The process involved months of planning, preparation, and uncertainty, but ultimately allowed CASA to expand its services while maintaining the quality of advocacy volunteers provide. The results were significant. The program was able to serve 681 children with 300 volunteers, something she believes would not have been possible without the model.
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She was also part of the transition from physical case files to the Optima database, a change that initially came with plenty of resistance and uncertainty. Many were panic-stricken not having physical files, but now we can’t imagine operating any other way! And, of course, there was the expansion into Camden, a major milestone in CASA ACC’s continued growth.
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Not every part of the journey has been easy. Over the years, Jenn has experienced the heartbreak of losing children on CASA caseloads, as well as volunteers who have poured their hearts into advocating for children. Those moments are among the hardest parts of the work. However, the difficult moments have reinforced her belief that CASA’s work matters.
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Her advice to staff and volunteers is rooted in that belief: "Quality isn’t the same as compliance. Meeting benchmarks is great, but we always have to strive to do better. We’re on a journey toward excellence, and that journey never ends. Children deserve it.”
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Jenn is beginning a new chapter as Director of Training and Quality Assurance, supporting advocacy efforts across New Jersey. She doesn't see it as saying goodbye. Looking back, she is most grateful for the support she has received from CASA staff, volunteers, and community partners. This work is emotional and challenging, and knowing she was surrounded by a supportive team made all the difference.
If she could offer one piece of advice to someone beginning their CASA career, it would be simple: Be patient, be persistent, and be persuasive. When asked if her 18 years at CASA had a soundtrack, she chose “Bittersweet Symphony” by The Verve; a fitting choice for a journey filled with challenges, change, heartbreak, and plenty of meaningful victories. As Jenn moves into this next chapter, one thing remains unchanged: her commitment to advocacy and to putting children and families first.