2016 Annual Report Highlights
View 2016 audited financials.
In 2016, the generosity of individuals, corporations, congregations and other partners allowed nearly 100,000 Minnesotans to receive critical support through LSS at the time they needed it most. While impossible to share all accomplishments across more than 24 lines of service, here are a few highlights showing the impact you made through your gifts.
Children, Youth and Families
Our goal is for every child and every family to have a safe place to sleep at night, stability in their lives and the opportunity to thrive in community.
- LSS took the next step in ending youth homelessness in Duluth by completing the fundraising campaign for the Center for Changing Lives and breaking ground on May 5.
- We supported nearly 19,000 individuals in their goals to achieve financial stability. 91 percent of debt management clients improved their credit scores.
- Three of the most pressing issues facing youth in our communities are sexual exploitation, a lack of resources in greater Minnesota and mental health. In 2016, LSS tackled these issues by launching a program in central Minnesota to provide specialized foster care to commercially exploited youth, a kid’s resiliency program in Baxter, and our first primary care/behavioral health partnership with North Metro Pediatrics.
People with Disabilities
We believe that all people should have the opportunity to make their own decisions and live the life they imagine for themselves.
- Turning our innovation inward, we developed a new program management structure that provides better support for both the 650 individuals in our care and the staff who work with them.
- More than 200 additional people relied on LSS support in their quest for directing their own care.
- Nearly 80% of people with disabilities are unemployed across Minnesota, due to lack of access to support and jobs. LSS’ person-centered approach to support includes helping people with disabilities find meaningful work; our Employment First Services currently provides support to nearly 60 people with disabilities with coaching, job skill training and their day-to-day employment needs.
Older Adults
We support older adults to live as independently as possible while maintaining health and well-being and providing opportunities to thrive in community.
- LSS launched Neighbor to Neighbor Companions, a new private-pay service that helps older adults continue to live safely in their homes.
- We piloted medical center partnerships across the state, in an effort to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions due to nutrition-related causes.
- LSS Senior Nutrition kept 16,500 seniors – 58 of whom are centurions – healthy, active and living independent lives by serving 376,000 group meals and 560,000 home-delivered meals in 2016.