Throughout the recent holiday season, the LSSI community captured the spirit of Christmas kindness...
Friends of LSSI Make Holidays Special for Clients
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Homepage Highlights
National Adoption Day Makes Forever Homes Official
Many Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI) foster care offices and adoptive families...
Counseling Center Staff Set Up Ad-Hoc Pantry for Clients
In late October, staff at Lutheran Social Services of Illinois’ (LSSI) Portage Cragin Counseling...
Adoption Support Strengthens Families
By Dominick Mucciante, Adoption Support and Preservation Counselor November is National Adoption...
True Friend Benefit Offers Children Statewide Bright Futures, Big Dreams
Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI) celebrated its 44th Annual True Friend Celebration...
LSSI Joins National Advocacy Committee
Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI) President and CEO Mark Stutrud has joined Lutheran...
LSSI Celebrates 158 Years of Hope and Vision
On October 31, 1867, a boy named Edward from Galesburg was the first to cross the threshold of a...
105-Year-Old Client Shares Unique Bond with LSSI Caregiver
When Juanita Stokes first stepped into the home of Frank and Viola Paulus as a temporary Home Care...
LSSI Sponsors Life-saving Overdose Treatment at NW Side CTA Station
Nestled between the vending machines for tickets and bottles of pop at Chicago’s Jefferson Park...
Rep. Lindsey LaPointe Named “Legislator of the Year” by LSSI and Lutherans Unite for Illinois
Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI) and Lutherans Unite for Illinois recently honored...
LSSI Honors Gov. JB Pritzker with “Paul Simon Courage in Public Service” Award
Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI) and Lutherans Unite for Illinois on Sept. 16, 2025,...
Teams Exceed Goals to Place Clients in Independent Living
The Behavioral Health Services (BHS) Colbert and Williams Consent Decree teams at Lutheran Social...
LSSI Community Helps Students Prep for Back to School
The Children's Community Services (CCS) and Behavioral Health Services (BHS) teams at Lutheran...
A Response to the Passage of the Budget Reconciliation Bill
Statement from LSSI President and CEO Mark Stutrud: A Response to the Passage of the Budget...
LSSI Receives Grant from Chicago White Sox Charities
LSSI’s Families Together foster care pilot received $20,000 from the Chicago White Sox Charities...
LSSI Partners with Elk Grove Church: Respite Care Works Both Ways
This story was recently featured in the Daily Herald newspapers. A Godsend. Vital. A lifesaver....
Download our Illinois mental health resource guide
At Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI) we strive to serve the whole person. If you or...
Statement from LSSI President and CEO Mark Stutrud
Statement from LSSI President and CEO Mark Stutrud: Advocating for the People We Serve Lutheran...
Son Becomes Intouch Caregiver for Grateful Dad
Son Becomes Intouch Caregiver for Grateful Dad When Chris...
John and Liz Rudy to Receive “True Friend” Award
Called to Serve: John and Liz Rudy to Receive “True Friend”...
Advocacy Update from Mark Stutrud
Advocacy Update from Mark Stutrud: Potential Federal Cuts and Their Impact on LSSI Dear Friends, ...
Foster Parents Make a Difference
Nearly 18,000 children live in foster care in Illinois. As one of the largest, private providers...
LSSI Featured in Metro Word Magazine Regarding Funding Cuts
LSSI recently was featured in the Spring 2025 issue of Metro Word, the magazine of the...
Read the Latest Issue of Inspired Newsletter
Good Shepherd Sunday is May 4
For churches planning to celebrate Good Shepherd Sunday this weekend, visit LSSI.org/GSS to access...
Statement from LSSI President and CEO Mark Stutrud
Statement on Inflammatory Social Media Posts Regarding Lutheran Service Organizations: Lutheran...
Advent Greetings from LSSI President and CEO, Mark Stutrud
Lisa Seymour Recognized with Excellence in Leadership Award
Lisa Seymour, MS/P, MDiv, Associate Executive Director of Program Support at Lutheran Social...
Celebrate Giving Tuesday with LSSI
Community-Focused Mission Since 1867
On October 31, 1867, in the town of Berlin Illinois, (now Swedona), the doors of a new orphanage...
LSSI Names New VP of Human Resources
Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI) is pleased to announce the hiring of Teddy Umstead...
Success in the New School Year
By now most students are settling back into a new school year routine. Excitement about the...
LSSI Launches Instagram Page
Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI) expanded its presence on social media by joining...
LSSI’s Cornerstone Foundation: Since 1984
Lutheran Social Services of Illinois was founded in 1867 as an orphanage for children who were...
Save the Date: The 43rd Annual True Friend Celebration is October 5th
Visit LSSI.org/TrueFriend to learn more.
LSSI Honored by Illinois Collaboration on Youth (ICOY)
Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI) was honored by the Illinois Collaboration on Youth...
Meet LSSI and Learn about Our Work (VIDEO)
This overview video highlights the core work and programs of Lutheran Social Services of Illinois.
Make a Difference in the Life of a Child: May is Foster Parent Appreciation Month
As May unfolds, Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI) joins the chorus of voices celebrating...
LSSI Launches Emergency Foster Parent Pilot Program in Five Illinois Communities to Provide Critical Support for Vulnerable Youth
Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI), the largest private provider of foster care services...
Mobile Crisis Team Helps 12-Year-Old Boy
Nate, an LSSI professional mobile crisis counselor, heads to a junior high where a 12-year-old...
Read the New Issue of Inspired Newsletter
The newest issue of Inspired newsletter focuses on our work in foster care across multiple programs.
LSSI/Endeavor Health Partnership Expands Access at the Welcoming Center
LSSI/Endeavor Health Partnership Expands Access at the Welcoming Center LSSI is proud to announce...
Read LSSI’s Impact Statement
Annually, LSSI publishes an Impact Statement: a one-page, two-sided resource providing a glimpse...
LSSI’s Storybook Project Featured on Radio Broadcast
Chicago Public Radio Station WBEZ, Illinois Public Radio, and Vocalo partnered with LSSI’s...
Blog: Adoption Support and Preservation
November is Adoption Awareness Month. At Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI), this is a...
Counselor Supports Mother and Child at Hospital
At Thorek Memorial Hospital in Andersonville, Candy waited patiently with her young child for her...
Innovation and Community Focus Since 1867
On October 31, 1867, in the town of Berlin, Illinois (now Swedona), the doors of a new orphanage...
Join the Pumpkin Pie Fun Run!
Have fun, exercise, raise money for LSSI, and get a cool T-shirt! Event starts Nov. 23. Register...
Video: Victoria Fights to Save Her Daughter’s Life and Finds LSSI
Victoria, mother of an LSSI client with Prader-Willi Syndrome who lives at an LSSI group home,...
Read the latest issue of Inspired newsletter
Read the latest issue of Inspired newsletter, featuring articles about this year's True Friend...
Blog: Tips for supporting your student this school year
Back-to-school season is a good time for a refresher on how to support your student this school year and beyond!
LSSI to Honor The Rev. Wayne and Pam Miller at 42nd Annual True Friend Celebration
Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI) will present the 2023 True Friend Award to The Rev....
Prevention Go-Getters
“Go-Getters” is how Chris Mills, Program Director for LSSI’s Project LEAD and Youth WORKS, would...
Expanding a Family through Love and Foster Care
Meet Oscar and Kaylee Gordon, LSSI foster parents in southern Illinois, pictured with their...
2022 Annual Report
Learn about several recent LSSI program expansions in the latest annual report.
Bernice’s Big Heart
Meet Bernice, an LSSI foster parent and superhero. Bernice began fostering in 1995 and has...
Families Together Pilot Aims to Decrease Stay in Foster Care
Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI) has partnered with the Illinois Department of Children...
Watch Coffee with Pastor Kelly Weekly Video Series
Watch all episodes of this new series on YouTube as Pastor Kelly highlights LSSI programs with a...
LSSI Receives Federal Funding to Launch Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic
Lutheran Social Services of Illinois was among the first Chicago organizations to receive federal...
Coffee with Pastor Kelly – New Weekly Video Series
Watch the first episode now of "Coffee with Pastor Kelly," a new LSSI weekly video series...
Crisis Workers Rescue Man from Bridge
Suicidal and ready to jump off a Chicago bridge, a man called LSSI’s Mobile Crisis Line. The...
Good Shepherd Sunday is April 21
Learn more about this year's event and access resources for your congregation.
On the Road to Sobriety
Michael struggled with addiction until LSSI helped him down the road to recovery and sobriety.
Ash Wednesday Prayer Service
Watch a video of Pastor Kelly's Ash Wednesday Prayer Service as you reflect on the Lenten season.
Read Inspired Newsletter
The latest issue profiles two LSSI employees, a 90-year supporter of LSSI, and more.
The Kenmore Center in Chicago: Providing a Needed First Step in Recovery
An epic rate of heroin/opiate use is affecting Illinois residents, and the recently opened...
Learn about Our Visits to Mom Program
We provide free transportation for children and their caregivers to visit mothers who are incarcerated.
LSSI’s True Friend Celebration
We would like to thank our individual and corporate sponsors, and all those who attended this year’s event and helped make it a success!