News: Older Posts
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Date Posted: Jun 05 2020
President & CEO Mark Stutrud Reflects on the Pain of Racism, Disparity, and Inequity, and LSSI’s Role in Promoting Human Dignity
In a message to LSSI's supporters, President and CEO Mark Stutrud reflects on the pain of racism, disparity, and inequity, and the organization’s role in promoting human dignity.
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Date Posted: Mar 18 2020
President & CEO Mark Stutrud Provides Update on LSSI & Coronavirus (COVID-19)
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Date Posted: Mar 25 2019
WPSD-TV Interviews LSSI’s Marion Staff to Highlight the Need for Foster Parents
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Date Posted: Jul 20 2016
LSSI CEO & Other Human Service Providers on the Effect of the Recently Passed Stop-Gap Budget
While the temporary budget has helped slow the need for additional cuts, some providers say it's unlikely they will be able to bring back the programs they had to close or scale back because of a lack of state funding.
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Date Posted: Jun 01 2016
LSSI CEO Interviewed On Illinois Public Media’s The 21st
Illinois has been without a state budget for 11 months. Niala Boodhoo, host of Illinois Public Media's The 21st, interviewed LSSI CEO Mark Stutrud and others about the affects of the budget impasse so far and what's next.
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Date Posted: Dec 21 2015
VIDEO: Rebecca's Heartwarming Adoption Experience through LSSI
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Date Posted: Dec 16 2015
VIDEO: Dixon Group Home for Adults with Prader-Willi Syndrome
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Date Posted: Dec 08 2015
VIDEO: LSSI Lifebook Helps Adopted Foster Child Develop Her Identity
LSSI’s Lifebook, "My Awesome Life", helps Rebecca's adopted daughter put the pieces of her life together. The Lifebook exercises provide creative ways for Rebecca's daughter to process her memories as an adopted foster child. With the help of LSSI's Lifebook Specialists, Rebecca's daughter accessed letters and other materials from previous foster homes, which taught her things that she did not even know about herself!
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Date Posted: Dec 07 2015
VIDEO: LSSI Intouch Home Care Services Maximize Independence for Seniors
Shirley explains how Jason, a Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI) elder care coordinator, had a positive impact on her life. LSSI's Home Care Services provided Shirley with community resources that maximize her independence and enrich her life.
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Date Posted: Jul 09 2015
LSSI Featured in WBEZ Discussion about Issues Facing the Elderly
LSSI provides a variety of services that enable seniors to live as independently and safely in their communities as possible. Chicago public radio station WBEZ recently invited Carol Lentz, LSSI’s Associate Executive Director of Senior Services to be part of a “Morning Shift” program on issues of isolation and poverty among seniors. Listen to this program.
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Date Posted: Jun 30 2015
Dixie Downes Retires After 40 Years of Service
After 40 years of faithful service to LSSI, Dixie Downes retired this week. Among many who offered words of appreciation to Dixie was LSSI Board Chair Eric Draut.
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Date Posted: May 19 2015
Chicago Public Radio Station WBEZ Profiles LSSI’s Lifebook Program for Children in Foster Care and Those Who Have Been Adopted
SSI believes that every child deserves a Lifebook! Learn more about the impact of Lifebooks from this WBEZ public radio story.
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Date Posted: May 12 2015
“The Southern Illinoisan” Featured a Couple Whose Dreams of Parenthood Came True Through Foster Parenting & Adoption
By age 35, Jaime Lane thought she would have it all: the husband, the house with white-picket fence, the 2.5 children and the dog. Instead, when she reached that milestone a few years back, she was divorced and without children, and wondering if her dream life would ever come true.
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Date Posted: May 06 2015
LSSI Receives $10,000 Grant from Employees Community Fund of Boeing Chicago/Gary
LSSI is grateful for a $10,000 grant it received from the Employees Community Fund of Boeing Chicago/Gary for our Steps to Life program.
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Date Posted: Mar 19 2015
LSSI CEO Mark Stutrud Urges Lawmakers to Consider How Their Budget Decisions Will Impact At-Risk State Residents
The Illinois legislative session is underway and lawmakers must approve a state budget on behalf of the people of Illinois by May 31. It’s no easy feat — making decisions affecting 12.8 million Illinoisians. Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI) urges lawmakers to consider how their decisions affect at-risk state residents.
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Date Posted: Mar 03 2015
LSSI's Storybook Program Featured in Belleville News Democrat
Inmate Colter Liston was trying to decide between two children’s books on a table in the library at Southwestern Illinois Correctional Center in East St. Louis. It was his first time participating in the Storybook Project of Lutheran Social Services of Illinois, which sends volunteers to the prison once a month to record inmates reading books and mails the CDs and books to their children or grandchildren.
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Date Posted: Mar 03 2015
Legacy Corps Receives George Award
LSSI’s Legacy Corps program took home the inaugural “George Award” for “exemplary professional development in the past year” at the annual Legacy Corps National Conference held in January. LSSI Legacy Corps staff and volunteers were present to accept the award.
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Date Posted: Feb 13 2015
LSSI Seeks Retired Pastors & Lay Speakers to Serve as Guest Preachers on Good Shepherd Sunday, April 26
LSSI is seeking retired pastors, gifted lay speakers, and professional leaders to serve as guest preachers or ambassadors at ELCA congregations celebrating “Good Shepherd/LSSI Sunday” on April 26.
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Date Posted: Jan 29 2015
Marion Mommy and Son Dance to Benefit Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI) Foster Parent Support Services
Music, balloon animals, a photo booth, and a candy buffet are a few of the fun highlights in store for the Mommy and Son Dance, Friday, Feb. 20, 2015, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Pavilion of the City of Marion, 1602 Sioux Drive, Marion. Proceeds from the event will benefit the foster parent support services that are part of Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI) southern region.
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Date Posted: Jan 15 2015
Share Your Story
Has LSSI helped you make positive changes in your life? Has our mission inspired you to help those we serve through volunteer work or a charitable donation? We want to hear from you! LSSI is looking for stories that show how our services impact people’s lives. Tell us about your experiences to help us share our story.
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Date Posted: Dec 22 2014
Metro Chicago Coat and Toy Drive for LSSI Children
Thank you to the churches and individuals who adopted LSSI’s Head Start, foster, and Visits to Mom children by donating coats, boots, toys and gift cards! You made Christmas special for these children.
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Date Posted: Dec 15 2014
Adopt an Angel Project Collects Gifts in Rockford
For the 18th consecutive year LSSI’s Children’s Community Services in Rockford collected gifts for the Adopt an Angel Project. Approximately 2,000 Rockford-area kids received gifts this year.
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Date Posted: Dec 10 2014
Rich Miller, Publisher of Capitol Fax, Receives 2014 Amicus Certus Award from LSSI
On Oct. 25, 2014, Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI) presented Rich Miller, publisher of Capitol Fax and columnist for Crain’s Chicago Business, with the organization’s 2014 Amicus Certus (“True Friend”) Award at its 33rd Amicus Certus Celebration. Held at the European Crystal in Arlington Heights, the event’s theme was “Celebrating the Land of Lincoln” and raised more than $113,000 for programs serving people in need offered by LSSI.
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Date Posted: Nov 11 2014
Online Shopping Benefits LSSI
The AmazonSmile Foundation is the perfect way to combine your online shopping needs with support of your favorite charities—at no cost to you. When you sign up for AmazonSmile and choose LSSI as your charity of choice, a percentage of all purchases made on AmazonSmile—a portal to shopping on Amazon—will be automatically donated to LSSI.
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Date Posted: Oct 08 2014
Read the Fall 2014 issue of Inspired
Download the Fall 2014 issue of Inspired.
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Date Posted: Oct 08 2014
LSSI’s Lifebook Program Featured in Social Work Today
Where were you born? Who are your biological parents? Where did you live when you were 6 years old? For some children, these are simple questions with answers already known or easily obtained. However, for many children in foster care and for many who are adopted, they are mysteries and blurred memories. For those without answers, not knowing can be a tragedy.
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Date Posted: Oct 03 2014
Ogle County Takes Back Over 500 Pounds of Drugs
Oregon, IL — After alcohol and marijuana, the most common drugs abused in America are right in your home — prescription and over-the-counter drugs. To help prevent drug abuse, Ogle County Law Enforcement participated in the September 27th “National Take Back Day” sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
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Date Posted: Oct 01 2014
Mark A. Stutrud Named Chief Executive Officer of LSSI
Mark A. Stutrud has been appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI). Stutrud was unanimously elected to the position at a meeting of the LSSI Board of Directors on June 23 and began Oct. 1.
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Date Posted: Jun 06 2014
Featured in Quad-City Times-Illinois Budget Leaves State Agencies in Limbo
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois state agencies are restricting spending and bracing for the worst after lawmakers approved a budget that uses accounting gimmicks and punts on crucial decisions about where to find revenue until after the November election.
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Date Posted: May 28 2014
Hospital Acknowledges Project Impact with 2014 Spirit of Compassion Award
Swedish Covenant Hospital Foundation has selected Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI) Project Impact as the recipient of the 2014 Spirit of Compassion Award. This award recognizes outstanding individuals, and/or organizations who have made deep and lasting contributions to improving the lives of members of our community.
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Date Posted: May 20 2014
Eileen Wheeler receives LSSI’s 2014 Volunteer of the Year Award
May 20, 2014. Des Plaines, IL—Last month, Eileen Anna Schweinler Wheeler was chosen as Volunteer of the Year at Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI) Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) Volunteer Appreciation luncheon. One month before her 90th birthday, she was recognized for outstanding service of more than 2,000 hours each year, four years in a row.
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Date Posted: May 20 2014
Featured in Crain's: Income Tax Phase-Out Would Devastate Illinois' Social Services, Too
Link to article here: Letter from David Jensen
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Date Posted: Apr 04 2014
Good Shepherd Sunday
The fourth Sunday of Easter is Good Shepherd Sunday, a day to reflect on the question, "How does the church care for people in need in our community?" On this day, many congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) across the state celebrate their shared social ministry with Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI).
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Date Posted: Apr 01 2014
Seeing Stars 2013 Virtual Walk of Fame
Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI) is honored to recognize the following individuals and organizations with a star on our Virtual Walk of Fame. Each name represents generous support to LSSI programs in Lee and Whiteside Counties, that includes: substance abuse treatment for youth and adults, older adult services, residential treatment for adolescents (through Nachusa Lutheran Home), residential care for adults with developmental disabilities, and foster and adoption services.
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Date Posted: Feb 27 2014
Congestive Heart Failure
Heart failure, sometimes known as congestive heart failure (CHF), occurs when your heart muscle doesn't pump blood as well as it should. Chronic conditions, such as narrowed arteries in your heart (coronary artery disease) or high blood pressure, gradually leave your heart too weak or stiff to fill and pump efficiently (Mayo Clinic). When this happens, fluid builds up in the lungs and other organs, causing symptoms such as breathlessness, shortness of breath, swollen legs and ankles.
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Date Posted: Feb 04 2014
Reentry Services Has Expanded Their Reach to Rockford
Replicating the successful program structure of the southern part of the state while addressing the needs of the City of Rockford, Prisoner and Family Ministries (PFM) opened a new Reentry location.
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Date Posted: Jan 30 2014
Joy Medrano Appointed Vice Chair of Illinois Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster
Joy Medrano is the newly elected vice chairperson of the Illinois VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster) which is a part of the National VOAD. National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, membership-based organization that serves as the forum where organizations share knowledge and resources throughout the disaster cycle—preparation, response and recovery —to help disaster survivors and their communities.
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Date Posted: Jan 30 2014
Salem House has a New Name and Location
Salem House has a new name and a new location. As of January 15th, the new program name has changed to Intouch Chicago South. The new name highlights both the service and the service area.
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Date Posted: Jan 14 2014
A Place to Share Life
Intouch Adult Day Services, a program of Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI), has been serving older adults for more than 30 years. The program is designed, to help participants have a safe, socially enriching place to spend their days, along with providing respite for caregivers.
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Date Posted: Jan 14 2014
Heading Back to the Garden
“I enjoy serving people. It’s better to serve people than to be served.”
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Through GRO, returning prisoners find many kinds of growth.
For Glen Rizzie, the harvest has been good. Now almost 60, the thick-bearded Carbondale native grew up with his fingers in the dirt, his earliest memories rooted in his grandfather’s backyard garden in O’Fallon. Ever since, he has worked to make things grow.