Valerie Mielke is the Assistant Commissioner for the New Jersey Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) in the Department of Human Services and serves as the Single State Authority (SSA) for Substance Abuse and the State Mental Health Authority (SMHA) as designated by the US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA). The Division is responsible for the coordination, administration, management and supervision of the community public mental health system, and is also responsible for regulating, monitoring, planning and funding substance abuse prevention, treatment and recovery support services. Ms. Mielke holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Fairfield University and a Master of Social Work degree from Rutgers University.

Valerie currently serves on the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) Board of Directors as the President. NASMHPD’s goal is to advance national, state and local mental health policy. Valerie also serves as Co-Lead of the NASMHPD Housing Task Force. Additionally, Valerie serves as a board member of the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors (NASADAD) Public Policy Committee. NASADAD’s goal is to advance national, state and local addiction policy.