Vali holds both a BA degree in Social Welfare and an MSW from UC Berkeley. She had eleven years' prior experience working all phases of child welfare cases at a California county before coming to AASK in 1995. Vali is motivated by a strong interest in facilitating safe and secure permanency for children. As Director, she is responsible for overseeing and facilitating all agency functions including program development, financial operations and board relations. She enjoys encouraging AASK's growth and diversification.

Brooke joined AASK in 2008 with over ten years of experience advocating for children and families. Prior to AASK, Brooke worked as a Case Supervisor for Court Appointed Special Advocate's (CASA) at Marin Advocates for Children as well as the Program Manager for Full Circle’s Vesta Family Preservation Project. She holds a Master’s Degree in Social Welfare with a concentration in Management and Planning from the University of California at Berkeley. She also has a B.A. in English Literature and an Elementary Education Credential from the University of Colorado. Brooke is passionate about helping children and youth secure safe, loving, and permanent homes.

Jill has worked with families and children in a variety of mediums. Jill’s previous experience includes school-based counseling with elementary school children, therapeutic supervision with San Francisco’s Department of Human Services Reunification Program, and directing/teaching children’s theatre. She holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology with a concentration in Drama Therapy from California Institute of Integral Studies. Most recently, Jill served as the Children’s Theatre Director at Children’s Fairyland, bringing together diverse children and families toward team-work and theatrical production. Jill also teaches, directs, and performs improvisational theatre for both entertainment and self-development through the San Francisco-based theatre company, Lila Theatre.

Liz's career in development started with volunteering to help with the fundraising efforts at her daughter's preschool.  Three years later, it had become a vocation.  You may find her busy on the development committee or working for an auction at schools her daughter attends in the East Bay.  She joins the team at AASK from a 3-year stint as Development Director at the 640 Heritage Preservation Foundation, where she was involved in a capital campaign to preserve an historic building.  She is currently serving on the Board at Park Day School. Liz holds a BA in Environmental Biology from the University of Colorado.  She is excited to apply her passion for children with her skills as a fundraiser.

Michele has worked for over fifteen years in a variety of social service settings, including community health clinics and hospitals, services for elderly, and children and families. She has worked for over seven years as both a case manager and a supervisor for families of children with developmental delays through the Early Start Program at the local regional center. Michele joined AASK in 2005 and holds a B.A. Degree in Social Work from San Francisco State University and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from UC Berkeley.

Eleni was born and raised in the Boston area, studying English and Computer Science at Boston College and Business at Harvard. She first began volunteering with AASK in 1997, assisting with mailings and developing a computer database of adoptive families and children. Ten years later, she formally joined the AASK Staff as our Program Assistant, guiding new families through the application portion of the adoptive process. Eleni herself was adopted at the age of 9 months by her parents, and loves helping others to find their forever families.

Valerie Keller, Social Worker, MA, MFTI

Valerie comes to AASK with a background in mental health and family therapy.  She holds a Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology from Lesley College in Massachusetts.  In the Bay Area for 10 years, Valerie has worked in a variety of social services settings including residential treatment and Kinship adoption services.  She worked previously for AASK as a program assistant and social worker.  After several internships, she has returned to AASK to help families through the adoption process.  Valerie enjoys reading and the outdoors and loves being a caretaker for a wonderful young woman with multiple disabilities.  She is also getting ready to take the California licensing exam for Marriage and Family Therapists.