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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News
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...
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....
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, ...
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...
Statement from LSSI President and CEO Mark Stutrud
Statement on Inflammatory Social Media Posts Regarding Lutheran Service Organizations: Lutheran...
Lisa Seymour Recognized with Excellence in Leadership Award
Lisa Seymour, MS/P, MDiv, Associate Executive Director of Program Support at Lutheran Social...
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...
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...
LSSI Honored by Illinois Collaboration on Youth (ICOY)
Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI) was honored by the Illinois Collaboration on Youth...
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...
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...
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....
LSSI Repurposes Medication-Assisted Detox Beds; Expands Residential Rehabilitation Services in Chicago
Effective July 1, 2023, Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI) will repurpose its 16...
Families Together Pilot Aims to Decrease Stay in Foster Care
Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI) has partnered with the Illinois Department of Children...
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...
LSSI Expands Therapeutic Foster Care Program: New Peoria Location to Serve Children with Severe Emotional/Behavioral Needs Throughout Central Illinois
Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI), the largest statewide provider of foster care...
Community Foundation of Fox River Valley Awards $5,000 Grant to LSSI
LSSI was granted $5,000 from the Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley to support the...
U.S. Surgeon General Issues Advisory on Youth Mental Health Crisis Further Exposed by COVID-19 Pandemic
As a provider of mental health and prevention services for children, LSSI is sharing an advisory...
Selma Cehic, LSSI Director of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Programs, was interviewed by WIFR-TV Rockford for a story about a shortage of mental health professionals
WIFR-TV looks into the reasons for the shortage of mental health professionals in Illinois.
Lurie Children’s Hospital, Chicago, has partnered with LSSI, to provide medical and social service coordination to children and families in the Belmont-Cragin and North Austin communities
Lurie Children’s Hospital and Community Partners to Help Children and Families Navigate Medical...
LSSI Celebrates 154 Years of Transforming Lives
On October 31, Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI) celebrates the 154th anniversary of its...
LSSI Executive Director for Children’s Community Services Jere Murry, MSW, Receives Lutheran Services in America Scion Award
LSSI Executive Director for Children’s Community Services Jere Murry, MSW, Receives Lutheran...
LSSI/Lutheran Disaster Relief of Illinois helps organize a Multi-Agency Resource Center (MARC) for people affected by the tornado that struck Naperville, Darien and Woodridge
For Illinois neighbors in the western suburbs of Chicago who were impacted by a recent tornado,...
Lutheran Social Services of Illinois to Honor Longtime Donors and Volunteers Beverly Moody and the late Richard Moody at Fall Gala
Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI), one of the largest statewide human services...
Aunt Martha’s Health & Wellness and Lutheran Social Services of Illinois Collaborate in Chicago’s Portage Park Neighborhood
Co-location to provide access to mental/behavioral health and primary care to individuals and...