Cope Family Center Announces Jeni Olsen as New Executive Director
NAPA, CA —Cope Family Center announced the appointment of Jeni Olsen as the nonprofit organization’s new Executive Director. A visionary and mission-driven nonprofit leader with over two decades of experience in strategic leadership, mental health advocacy, and community-based program development, Olsen will guide Cope into its next chapter of growth and impact serving families across Napa County.
Olsen joins Cope from Mentis, where she served as Director of Prevention and was part of the agency’s executive leadership team. In that role, she led a bilingual, trauma-informed team that expanded access to mental health and wellness programs for youth and families throughout the county, quadrupling the number of community members served. She also oversaw strategic planning, budgeting, and grant development for prevention programs, and built strong cross-sector partnerships to promote mental health equity and access.
Before her leadership at Mentis, Olsen founded and directed Teens Connect, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering young people with tools for resilience, connection, and mental well-being. Under her leadership, Teens Connect launched innovative youth-driven initiatives such as Wellness Cafés and the Teen Council, both of which continue to thrive as part of Mentis’s prevention work today.
Beyond her professional roles, Olsen has been a steadfast community leader in Napa County. She currently serves as President of the Napa Valley College Board of Trustees and as Founding Chair of the Napa County Suicide Prevention Council, where she co-authored the county’s three-year suicide prevention plan and spearheaded initiatives aligned with California’s Striving for Zero framework. She has also played leadership roles in local equity and health collaboratives, including the First 5 Napa Network, Live Healthy Napa County, and the Napa Valley Black History Committee.
“Jeni’s deep connection to our community, combined with her proven record of building effective, compassionate programs, makes her an outstanding choice to lead Cope Family Center,” said Millie Binz, President of Cope’s Board of Directors. “She brings not only strategic insight and collaboration skills, but also genuine empathy and dedication to supporting families and children.”
Olsen’s leadership and advocacy have been recognized with numerous awards, including a 2025 Resolution of Commendation from State Senator Bill Dodd for her contributions to mental health and the Napa Valley community.
“I am deeply honored and excited to step into the role of Executive Director at Cope Family Center,” said Olsen. “After spending the past decade developing programs that support the mental health and well-being of teens and young adults, I’m eager to move even further upstream leading an incredible organization dedicated to supporting and strengthening families at the most critical stages of growth and connection. Cope’s mission aligns beautifully with my passion for prevention and my belief that empowering parents is one of the most powerful ways to create positive childhood experiences and lifelong resilience.”
Cope expressed its gratitude to Stacey Nelson & Associates for its partnership in leading a successful executive search process, and to the NVCF Capacity Building Fund, a Community Impact Fund of Napa Valley Community Foundation, for providing the financial support that made the search possible.
