Gateway for Good Spotlight Series - Casa of New Jersey

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Liza Kirschenbaum

Associate Director

Liza is the Associate Director of CASA of New Jersey. She helped to start CASA and became its first Executive Director when the organization began operation in January 2000. She left behind the practice of law after nine years at the Morristown office of Riker, Danzig, Scherer, Hyland & Perretti, LLP, where she helped to start the Morris County Bar Association’s Child Advocacy Project, training attorneys too represent children and youth in child welfare cases. Liza earned her Juris Doctorate from New York University School of Law after graduating, summa cum laude, from Rutgers University.

Gina Balsamo

Advocate Supervisor

Gina was previously an advocate with CASA for nearly four years. In 2018, joined the staff of CASA of Mercer & Burlington Counties after being motivated during her time as a Peer Coach to share her passion for CASA’s mission with even more volunteers. Gina also manages CASA of Mercer & Burlington’s new Youth Services program, expanding support to local young people aging out of the foster care system.

Gina has a long history of service and volunteerism. She previously served as a Pretrial Services Officer for the Washington D.C. Pretrial Services Agency, and volunteered in her school district, recruiting and training hundreds of volunteers to participate in programming for students in preschool through eighth grade. Gina received both her MS in Justice, Law, and Society and her BA in Law and Society from American University.

Jennifer Valentine

Director of Programs and Partnerships

Jennifer has spent her career making a difference for children and families. She first became involved with CASA as a Volunteer Advocate, later moving into staff roles that included Case Supervisor, Program Manager, and Director of Program Services. Since 2023, she has served as CASA of New Jersey’s Director of Program Services, helping CASA programs across the state strengthen their work for children in foster care.

Before CASA, Jennifer worked for 15 years in social services, in roles ranging from child protective services and after-school programs to psychiatric care and substance abuse treatment. She brings that breadth of experience to every conversation, whether she’s supporting a local program or contributing to state and national committees dedicated to improving outcomes for children.

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