Martha Gutierrez, a 30-year veteran in behavioral health and social services, joined Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota as the new therapeutic foster care coordinator serving west central Minnesota.  

Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota (LSS) assumed operations on February 1 for the Senior Companion Program in North Dakota, assuring that essential support through this service continues for older adults. The change comes as a result of Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota’s decision to close due to significant financial struggles in their affordable housing development services.

A new service by Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota (LSS) helps caregivers build peace of mind by working with them to develop a plan for any potential situation when they could no longer care for their loved ones.

LSS’ Emergency Care Planning Service works directly with caregivers and their families to thoroughly assess their needs and create a comprehensive plan that meets those needs.

Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota (LSS) is pleased to announce they will assume management and operations of Pathways 4 Youth, a program founded by the St. Cloud Rotary Foundation (SCRF) in 2018. Lutheran Social Service is a statewide leader in youth services whose 155-year mission began with children.

Residents of Le Sueur County can access virtual financial wellness classes and one-on-one financial counseling sessions for free through a partnership with LSS Financial Counseling and Le Sueur County Department of Human Services.

“The pandemic has impacted all of us in one way or another,” said Julie Zachariason, senior program manager with LSS Financial Counseling. “This partnership is a response to the real and pressing need of area residents to successfully navigate their financial options.”

Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota (LSS) will offer Keys to Success, a Zoom class to help people planning to rent their residential properties learn the basics. Keys to Success will address tenant selection, leases, laws and tenant/owner communication. The three-part class will also be relevant for seasoned owners and managers who want to learn about new renter protections that are in effect in Minneapolis and soon will be in St. Paul.

LSS Meals, a service of Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota, is seeking community partners to help distribute 90,000 meals to Minnesotans struggling with nutrition.

Thanks to a recent grant from the Minnesota Department of Education, LSS Meals will provide these meals and snacks to members of our communities at no cost to them. Any Minnesotan who struggles to access proper nutrition during Covid-19 is eligible to receive up to five nutritionally balanced frozen meals and snacks.

You may not have started 2020 thinking about a move. But like it or not, many of us have had to reconsider our living situations during the pandemic.

Before you decide to relocate, you have many things to consider: the cost of living, proximity to your loved ones — and whether you’ll need a winter coat. Learn how to go about making the decision to move from experts on personal finance, including Elaina Johannessen, program director at LSS Financial Counseling.