Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota

Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota (LSS) is a social service organization headquartered in Saint Paul, Minnesota, with programs serving residents in each of the state's 87 counties.

Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota
AbbreviationLSS, LSS of MN
Formation1865
TypeSocial services
41-0872993
HeadquartersSaint Paul, Minnesota
Region
Minnesota
Key people
Eric Norelius, founder
Jodi Harpstead, CEO
AffiliationsLutheran Services in America Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Budget
$126 million (2016)
Staff
2,300
Volunteers
10,000
WebsiteLutheran Social Service of Minnesota

As the largest non-profit organization in Minnesota, LSS employs over 2,300 staff and is supported by 10,000 volunteers.[1] The organization traces its roots to 1865 when Reverend Eric Norelius took in four orphaned Swedish children, founding the Vasa Children's Home.

Mission

LSS "expresses the love of Christ for all people through service that inspires hope, changes lives, and builds community." The organization's vision is for "all people [to] have the opportunity to live and work in community with dignity, safety, and hope."[1]

Further, LSS envisions that its 2,300 employees would have "deeply meaningful work that changes lives, the opportunity for their unique gifts to shine and grow, and abundant and balanced lives."

History
Vasa Children's Home, 1907.

In 1865, Rev. Eric Norelius purchased ten acres of land near the site of his congregation, Vasa Lutheran Church in Welch, Minnesota, in order to dedicate a home for orphaned children while providing ample room for farming. His vision was realized in the founding of Vasa Children's Home, the state's first orphanage. Pastor Norelius managed the home until 1876 when he transferred supervision to the Minnesota Conference of the Augustana Lutheran Synod.[2] After being rebuilt twice due to tornado and fire damage, the home moved to its present Red Wing, Minnesota location in 1926.

On January 1, 1963, Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota was established through the merger of several predecessor organizations, including the Lutheran Welfare Society and the Board of Christian Service, which then administered Vasa Children's Home.

In 2012, LSS merged its adoption services with those of newly acquired partner Children's Home Society of Minnesota, forming the largest adoption agency in the state.[3]

Services

LSS reaches children, youth, families, people with disabilities, and older adults through more than 23 lines of service.[4] Among them are adoption and foster care services, behavioral health services, crisis shelters for children and services for youth experiencing homelessness, disaster response, employment services, financial counseling and debt management services, support services for people with disabilities, and support services for older adults.

In addition, LSS operates Camp Knutson, which hosts annual summer camps for children with special needs in Crosslake, Minnesota,[5] and Camp Noah, a program for children and communities impacted by disasters.[6]

Center for Changing Lives

In 2008, LSS opened the Center for Changing Lives, a hub for multiple community services and 48 units of affordable housing in the Phillips neighborhood of Minneapolis.[7] LSS opened a second Center for Changing Lives to serve youth experiencing homelessness in Duluth, Minnesota in June 2017.[8]

Affiliations

LSS is a member of the Lutheran Services in America (LSA) network.[9] President and CEO Jodi Harpstead serves on the LSA Board of Directors.[10]

The organization is affiliated with Minnesota's six synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Other faith-based partners include Thrivent Financial and Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service. Target is a corporate partner.[11]

References
  1. "About LSS".
  2. Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  3. Natalie Zett (July 3, 2012). "Children's Home Society and Lutheran Social Service merge adoption services". Twin Cities Daily Planet. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  4. "All Services". Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  5. "Camp". www.lssmn.org. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  6. "Camp Noah". Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  7. "Center for Changing Lives".
  8. "Center for Changing Lives Duluth".
  9. "Social Ministry Organization Directory" (PDF). Lutheran Services in America. April 2016. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  10. The LSA Board of Directors Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  11. "Corporate and Foundation Partners". Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
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