Caregivers who provide 24/7 caregiving can quickly find themselves overwhelmed by care needs and are at greater risk for burnout that can impact a person’s ability to care for their loved ones. Volunteer caregivers can play an important role by providing a much-needed break to caregivers. Tune in to KROX Radio with LSS Director Neal Hines to learn more about the Caregiver Support & Respite service, how you can help and how this service might be able to assist your family. 

Joanne Larson didn’t realize she was even looking for a new career path when she learned about Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota’s Host Homes service through her sister. Zachary Johnson lives in an LSS Host Home, where he receives customized, one-on-one support from a provider in a family-style environment. After learning more about Zachary and his family, Joanne got to thinking. “I’m sitting at this job that I didn’t really care about, and I said to myself, ‘I think I could probably do this.” Read their story in the Aitkin Independent Age.

If you're wondering about trying out the "buy now, pay later" option during the holidays, check out the pros and cons offered by Kim Miller with LSS Financial Counseling in a KARE-TV report.  

Alissa Dott has been named Associate Vice President of Community Based Services for St. Paul-based Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota (LSS), among the largest human service organizations in Minnesota. 

There’s an urgent need for child foster families – and adoptive homes as well. In 2022, 11,235 children in Minnesota experienced out-of-home care.  For children who left out-of-home placement, 20 percent were adopted by families, according to the Minnesota Department of Human Services.  

Keatha and Dan McLeod, who knew of the great need to provide a safe, healing home for children, served as foster parents for 20 years. 

Helen Kellerman understands the importance of volunteering and the positive impact it can have on the older adults she supports. 

As a volunteer caregiver for Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota, she visits Tom for a few hours a week to provide Maggie, Tom’s wife and caregiver, with a break from the daily demands of caregiving.