Lutheran Services in America is the national office of a network of 300
Lutheran
Lutheranism is a major branch of Protestantism that emerged under the work of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German friar and Protestant Reformers, reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practices of the Catholic Church launched ...
health and human services organizations across the
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
. Headquartered in
Washington, DC
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and Federal district of the United States, federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from ...
, Lutheran Services in America amplifies the voice of its $23 billion network to aid community leaders and advance policies and practices that improve the lives of people and communities. It is recognized by the
Chronicle of Philanthropy
''The Chronicle of Philanthropy'' is a magazine and digital platform that covers the nonprofit world of philanthropy. Based in Washington, D.C., it is aimed at charity leaders, foundation executives, fund raisers, and other people involved in ph ...
and
Forbes
''Forbes'' () is an American business magazine founded by B. C. Forbes in 1917. It has been owned by the Hong Kong–based investment group Integrated Whale Media Investments since 2014. Its chairman and editor-in-chief is Steve Forbes. The co ...
as one of the nation’s top nonprofit organizations.
Lutheran Services in America leads collaborations with its member organizations and partners in philanthropy, academia, healthcare, and others to address the most critical challenges in communities and empower people to lead their best lives. It attempts to leverage the shared values, trust, and heritage of Lutheran social ministry to drive systemic change for children, older adults, families, people with disabilities, veterans, refugees, and others experiencing need in the United States.
Together with its member organizations and partners, Lutheran Services in America serves 6 million people in 1,400 communities across the United States each year.
History
Lutheran Services in America was founded in 1997 by the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is a mainline Protestant church headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The ELCA was officially formed on January 1, 1988, by the merging of three Lutheran church bodies. As of December 31, 2023, it ...
(ELCA) and
Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod
Lutheranism is a major branch of Protestantism that emerged under the work of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German friar and Protestant Reformers, reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practices of the Catholic Church launched ...
(LCMS). While it leads a network of organizations rooted in five centuries of Lutheran theology, many of which were founded more than 150 years ago, the Lutheran Services in America network offers services to people of all backgrounds.
Programs
Through partnerships and collaboration, Lutheran Services in America leads programs that address the policy and practice changes that
* advance equitable outcomes for children, youth, and families impacted by the child welfare system by expanding programs that reach families in crisis and prevent children from being removed from their homes;
* address gaps in care for older adults by leading collaborative projects to test and evaluate models of service that improve the quality and access to care so older adults can remain in their homes and communities;
* champion services and supports that empower individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live and work in the community of their choice independently; and
* support nonprofit leaders in honing their leadership skills, developing strategies to adapt to the changing needs of their communities, and shaping new paths for low-income people and families.
References
Further reading
*
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lutheran Services In America
Lutheran organizations
Organizations established in 1997