2022 Annual Report
This Is What Happens... When We Come Together
Opening Letter
Dear members, partners and supporters,
First and foremost, we want to thank you for your generosity and support of Lutheran Services in America. Put simply, you make what we do possible.
Stepping into the gap where others can’t or won’t go is what social ministries do. The power and potential of doing this together and our collective impact is what fuels our commitment to our national network, the communities we support and the people we empower. As one of the largest faith-based networks working with one in 50 people in America, we are united in our shared faith tradition of service in community. We are reminded of one of Martin Luther’s many enduring adages:
This 2022 report highlights what happens when we come together, working hand-in-hand to cultivate caring communities that advance health and opportunity for all.
Together we:
- Grew our collective capacity and created pathways of resiliency and support for more than 7,000 children and their families through our work in the Results Innovation Lab.
- Catalyzed innovation and brought rural communities from across the country together in our Rural Aging Action Network to respond to the needs of rural older adults, connecting them to food, transportation, safe housing, health resources and social engagement.
- Elevated our voice and the people with whom we walk alongside in the national conversation to improve the health and well-being of all people and advance equity.
We are full of gratitude and deep appreciation for the culture of innovation, fortitude, commitment and partnership that each and every one of you bring to this work. Throughout this report, you will see how support for our work continues to grow. We hope you are as excited about the impact of our collective work as we are.
This is what happens when we come together.
In peace,
Alesia Frerichs
Lutheran Services in America
Darrell Gordon
Stay connected with us throughout the year.
Area of Impact
Children, Youth & Families
Moving Upstream to Prevention.
After 6 months of participating in our program, 95% of families at risk of being separated were able to remain together.
Catalyzing Innovation to Strengthen Families
Through our Results Innovation Lab, we bring together our social ministry member organizations and national partners and spearhead innovative approaches to change when and how we engage families in crisis and create pathways to keep families together.
In 2022, we:
- Focused on the alarming racial disparities in child welfare and child protective services involvement with families of color.
- Connected families to resources and supports, centering on prevention versus intervention.
- Decreased the length of stay for youth in foster care.
- Improved outcomes for children transitioning out of child welfare.
Moving Upstream to Prevention.
After 6 months of participating in our program, 95% of families at risk of being separated were able to remain together.
Catalyzing Innovation to Strengthen Families
Through our Results Innovation Lab, we bring together our social ministry member organizations and national partners and spearhead innovative approaches to change when and how we engage families in crisis and create pathways to keep families together.
In 2022, we:
- Focused on the alarming racial disparities in child welfare and child protective services involvement for families of color.
- Connected families to resources and supports, centering on prevention versus intervention.
- Decreased the length of stay for youth in foster care.
- Improved outcomes for children transitioning out of child welfare.
Children experience substantial trauma when removed from their homes.
Nearly 84% of children are placed into foster care because of neglect—the inability of a parent to provide adequate food, shelter, clothing, medical care or supervision—rather than abuse. Neglect is most often a symptom of underlying socioeconomic challenges such as poverty, lack of community resources or an underlying physical or mental health issue.
Coming Together to Make a Lasting Change
We set a bold goal in 2019 to achieve equitable outcomes for 20,000 children and families by 2024. Powered by our members, partners and supporters, we exceeded this goal by 25%, 2 years ahead of schedule, collectively reaching 25,000 children and families across the United States.
Achieved equitable outcomes for 25,000 children and families across the United States.
Highlights of Our Collective Impact
- Lutheran Services Florida decreased by 40% the number of youths placed in out-of-home care.
- Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan connected more than 900 families to affordable housing options in their area.
- Lutheran Social Services of New York strengthened paternal family supports by expanding connections for 110 youth who were placed—or were at risk of placement—in foster care.
Lutheran Services in America united 62 social ministry leaders with 178 partners across 18 communities, directly reaching more than 7,000 children in 2022.
This momentum is generating additional partners to join and invest in our work so we can accelerate innovation and expand impact to empower even more families going forward.
Reimagining How to Reach Families in Crisis
The Results Innovation Lab elevates the powerful practice of parent partners with “lived voices”—people who have lived through similar challenges—to connect more authentically with families.
Reimagining How to Reach Families in Crisis
The Results Innovation Lab elevates the powerful practice of parent partners with “lived voices”—people who have lived through similar challenges—to connect more authentically with families.
Dr. Antonio Oftelie, executive director of Leadership for a Networked World at Harvard, chronicles how Lutheran Services in America fundamentally challenges the status quo through innovation and collaboration. His 2022 case study, “Disruption is in our DNA: Lutheran Services in America and the Results Innovation Lab,” speaks to our groundbreaking efforts.
Area of Impact
Older Adults
Embracing Longevity: Advancing Supports for Older Adults
From Alaska to Pennsylvania, the Lutheran Services in America network has a deep and enduring presence in supporting older adults as they age.
Expanding the circle of partners in aging is one of our core commitments across the network. At Lutheran Services in America, we are engaging traditional and nontraditional partners at the local and national level to invest in and advance successful innovations that empower older adults to age with independence, dignity and purpose in the community of their choice.
In 2022, we launched two new aging initiatives that empower older adults to age with dignity and respect in the community of their choice:
- Connect-Home Collaborative: A partnership with the University of North Carolina and the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation that builds the capacity of the existing workforce in low-income housing settings to proactively identify and engage older adults returning from a hospital stay, reducing the risk of unnecessary re-hospitalization.
- Rural Aging Action Network: In the rural communities of Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota, we advance caring communities to address the personalized needs of rural older adults, connecting them to food, transportation, safe housing, health resources and social engagement.
Connecting low-income older adults to services and supports to age in the community of their choice
Rural and frontier communities are aging more rapidly than the
rest of the country.
They experience poorer health outcomes, are increasingly diverse and are hardest hit by a shrinking workforce. Limited access to services in these areas and gaps in care lead to increased risk of hospitalization and reduced quality of life.
Expanding Our Circle of Partners in Aging
By identifying and engaging both traditional and nontraditional partners at the local and national level, we advanced successful innovations to empower older adults to lead their best lives.
As a result, we’re able to increase the investment, scope and reach of our work in rural communities and beyond.
Highlights of Our Collective Impact
Through our Rural Aging Action Network, 989 unique community resources were identified to support older adults, such as:
- In Armour, South Dakota, older adults no longer need to wait 6 months for a general contractor to make housing safety modifications because a local high school woodshop class was tapped to install grab bars or build ramps so they can age safely at home.
- In Sidney, Montana, older adults no longer need to worry about the burdensome upkeep of their yard as the local Boy Scouts troop was recruited to mow their lawns.
- In Wilton, North Dakota, older adults no longer need to fear falling on ice when walking outside because local farmers and neighborhoods were engaged to shovel snow from their driveways.
Lutheran Services in America united 19 social ministry leaders with 248 partners across 6 communities, directly reaching more than 200 older adults aging in rural communities in 2022.
Expanding our circle of partners in aging
Bill, a 95-year-old widow and World War II veteran, lives alone in a rural hunting lodge. Bill’s worries of falling and being stranded for days, coupled with the daunting task of making ends meet with his limited income, once threatened his dream of staying in his beloved home.
Area of Impact
Advocacy & Public Policy
Making Our Voice Heard
We keep the voice of one of the largest faith-based networks—and the people with whom we walk alongside—front and center in the national conversation. With our office steps from the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, we amplify the collective power of our $23 billion unified faith-based voice.
Our public policy and advocacy work creates a multiplier effect, enabling our member organizations to share the important role social ministries have in their communities and build Congressional and administration support for policies and funding that improve the health and well-being of people, combat systemic racism and address inequities—so all communities can thrive.
In 2022, we championed policies that:
- Strengthened the faith-based nonprofit health and human services sector to reach more people in their communities.
- Increased recruitment, improved retention and fortified the direct care workforce to assure ongoing access to quality care for all people.
- Sought to achieve equitable health and well-being outcomes for people of all ages in America, especially related to behavioral health, social determinants of health and social services needs.
300 health and human services organizations in 1,400 communities represented by 146 Representatives and 92 Senators.
Expanding Our Reach
Our collective strength and distinct voice is important, giving us the unique opportunity to build meaningful connections and impact for our network. In 2022, we engaged a broad set of alliances to amplify our message, including:
- American Public Health Association
- Bipartisan Policy Center
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
- Interfaith Roundtable
- Leadership 18
- White House Conference on Hunger
- White House Domestic Policy Council
As one of the largest providers of senior and disability services, we were a sought-after partner by the National Council on Aging and USAging to support vaccine outreach to older adults and people with disabilities in rural and underserved communities.
We led 260 meetings with lawmakers and coalitions in 2022.
Area of Impact
People with Disabilities
Expanding What is Possible
Our Lutheran Services in America-Disability Network harnesses the collective power and wisdom of its nationwide group of Lutheran social ministry organizations to advocate for policies that expand access to services, improve quality of life and provide greater independence for people with disabilities.
In 2022, we actively supported policies that improve the lives of people with disabilities and honors the critical role of the direct care workforce by focusing on:
- Strengthening financial security, expanding choice, promoting independence and increasing supports.
- Providing competitive wages, increasing recruitment and retention efforts and improving long-term services by expanding access to home- and community-based services.
The Lutheran Services in America-Disability Network—founded in 2006—now reaches more than 250,000 people across 27 states with compassion and care.
Championing full and meaningful lives
With support from his sisters and his community living coordinator from our member Mosaic, Chef Adam Libby, who has Down syndrome, is living his dream and has become the face of confidence for people with disabilities.
To tap into all of Adam’s passions and attributes, his support team came up with the idea of recording and posting “how-to” cooking videos on the social media platform TikTok. When Adam demonstrated making pizza in a woodfired pizza oven, he went viral. Today, after starring in more than 400 videos, Adam enjoys worldwide support, with 2.4 million followers and 27.8 million likes.
Area of Impact
Social Sector Leadership
Empowering Social Ministry Leaders
We are committed to growing our collective capacity to lead and effect change.
Highlights include:
- Reimagining Diversity Collaborative. With leadership support from Darrell Gordon, President and CEO of Wernle Youth & Family Treatment Center, and Paul Miles, President and CEO of the We Raise Foundation, we brought together 16 member CEOs and their board members in a year-long initiative to discuss ways to promote race equity and inclusion throughout their communities.
- CEO Summit. With record attendance at our annual signature event, our keynote speakers and network leaders shared insights and strategies to address timely issues and trends, including workforce shortage, innovation and future-ready boards—strengthening social ministry capacity to effect change in their communities.
- Strength & Service Series. Our interactive webinars offered hundreds of social sector leaders with opportunities throughout the year to engage with their peers and subject-matter experts on pressing topics, such as federal policy, healthcare, workforce, governance and more, to provide insights on national trends and emerging innovations.
Celebrating Leadership
Our annual Leadership Awards recognize exemplary leadership in the three areas that are a hallmark of the Lutheran Services in America network: innovation, mercy and mentorship
- Ted Goins of Lutheran Services Carolinas was honored with the Paragon Award, in memory of the late Lutheran Services in America board member Ken Daly, for his commitment to mentoring, listening and connecting social ministry leaders across the country.
- Christine Cauffield and Lutheran Services Florida Health Systems received the Innovator Award for expanding the Certified Recovery Peer Specialist (CPRS) training program, the first of its kind in Florida, training more than 300 people.
- Paul Miles was awarded the Micah Award in recognition of the We Raise Foundation national impact and ongoing commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
We give our thanks to leaders like Ted, Christine, and Paul for their inspiration, commitment and dedication to empowering people to lead their best lives.
Thanks & Acknowledgments
In Gratitude
We gratefully acknowledge our friends and partners for investing in Lutheran Services in America.
Lutheran Services in America 2022 Supporters
Lasting Change Campaign
Supports our goal to raise $1 million by June 30, 2023, to advance collaborations with our network and partners and achieve a healthier, more equitable future for people and communities in the U.S.
Carlton Anderson
Marian Baldini
Dave and Heather Ballaine
James and Barbara Barclay
Katherine Barton
Joan Beach
Wendy and Brian Beach
Stanley Berman
Edward and Cheryl Boudreau
Rev. Dr. Stephen Bouman and Ms. Janet M. Bouman
Samuel and Fern Clapper
Richard and Mary Coar
Tom and Luanne Croker
Bao Dang
Bishop Patricia A. Davenport and Jamar Davenport
Ralston and Miriam Deffenbaugh
David Duea
Bishop Ralph and Teresa Dunkin
Marjorie Ellis
First Evangelical Lutheran Church
Barry and Luanne Fisher
Colleen Frankenfield
Rev. and Mrs. Warren Freiheit
Alesia and Stephen Frerichs
Darrell Gordon
Eric Gurley
Roger Gustafson
Charlotte Haberaecker
The Rev. Dr. Ruth E. Hamilton
Rev. Mark and Ione Hanson
Karen Himle
Deborah and Ryan Hoesly
Brian and Carla Hofland
Rose Huffman
James and Deborah Hushagen
Immanuel
Interfaith Roundtable –
- Mark Anderson
- Brian Corbin
- Jamar Doyle
- Mary Kemper
- Karen Lehman
- Cynthia Ray
- Reuben Rottman
Adriene Iverson
Junia John-Straker
Shelley Kendrick
Rev. Kurt and Pam Kusserow
David and Judith Larson
Lutheran Executive Alumni Network
Lowe Speedling Family Fund of the Philadelphia Foundation
Lutheran Social Services of Alaska, Inc.
Susan Menezes
Donald and Theresa Meyer
The Rev. Lyle and Sonja Miller
Scott Monroe
Linda Norman
Omaha Community Foundation
Andrea Paul
Winston and May Persaud
Patrick Pheng
Rev. Arnold O. Pierson
Mitch Possinger
Rev. Kevin Robson
Bob and Patti Rundle
Joy Ryan
Dr. Patricia W. Savage and Dr. Roger B. Johnson, Jr.
Mariel Sena
St. John’s United
St. Mark Lutheran Church
Bill and Annriette Stolte
Laurie and Paul Stumme-Diers
Gene L. Svebakken
Julie and Bruce Swanson
David and Barbara Swartling
Thrivent
Ann L. Vazquez
George C. Watson and John Fitzpatrick
Patricia D. Yoder
Results Innovation Lab
Supports our goal to achieve equitable outcomes for 20,000 children in the U.S. by 2024.
Brian Bluhm
Ken and Donna Daly
Christopher Findlay
Alesia and Stephen Frerichs
Kristen and Rob Gay
Charlotte Haberaecker
Dang Nguyen
Dr. Antonio Oftelie
Rev. Dr. Rafael Malpica Padilla
Kimberly Roque
Bola and Amy Sodeinde
Rev. Jeffrey and Pamela Thiemann
Jennifer Waldinger
William Yoder
Neighbor-to-Neighbor
Supports our annual fund goal with flexible funding to boldly respond to the needs of our network today.
AmazonSmile
Anonymous
Marian Baldini
Kim and Michelle Batman
James Beierschmitt
Vicki Beilfuss
Stephen Bennett
Susan Bobie
Rev. Dr. Stephen Bouman and Ms. Janet Bouman
Carolyn Boyken
Marion and Patty Butler
Marvin Butler
Joseph Carroll
Amy Carter
CharityVest Inc.
Dr. and Mrs. Clyde J. Christmas
Rich Claybaker
Tom and Luanne Croker
Barbara Deines
East Koshkonong Lutheran Church
Dave and Pam Feidner
Michael Felten
David Fenoglietto
First Lutheran Church
Alesia and Stephen Frerichs
Tracy Gallant
Garman Lutheran Church
Darrell Gordon
Rev. Richard and Nancy Ann Graham
Pastor Erin and Tony Grayson
David Gregg
Groundswell Foundation
Eric Gurley
Charlotte Haberaecker
Rev. Donald and Susan Hallberg
William Hanawalt
Valerie Heeger
Tania Hernandez-Andersen
Stephen and Jill Herr
Karen Himle
Rev. Robert D. Hofstad and Ms. Linda Hofstad
Dorothy H. Hunter
Dan Hytrek
Immanuel
Joyce Johnson
Jeanne and Eric Kamrath
Katherine Knorr
Barbara Lange
Robin Lockerby
Lowe Speedling Family Fund of the Philadelphia Foundation
Karen Lyons
Jeffrey Maletta
Carl R. McAloose
Sigrid McClay
James McDivitt
Valerie Nadal
Zachary Nelson
New Hampshire Charitable Foundation’s Wade Harwood and Ashley Frame Fund
Susan Newton
Steve and Linda Nosworthy
Lovely Okwololo
Bharat Patel
Janet Lee Pavlak
Patrick Pheng
Feng Qin
Andrea Rahn
Roy and Betsy Riley
Rev. Kevin Robson
Vincent Ruggiero
Dr. Patricia W. Savage and Dr. Roger B. Johnson, Jr.
Richmond Schmidt
Emily Sollie
William and Ingrid Stafford
Becky Stange
Eric Stenberg
Marques Stewart
Robert and Hilma Swensen
Thomas Syverson
Muaaz Tahir
Target Corporation
Rev. Jeffrey and Pamela Thiemann
Thrivent
Randy and Linda Timmons
Trinity Lutheran Church of Tenafly
Dr. Robert W. Tuttle
Alvin Varughese
Erwin Vettel
William A. Wiles
Rev. Lawrence and Joy Wohlrabe
Member Contributions
Lutheran Services in America member organizations, who contributed funds beyond sustaining dues to advance our network’s collective impact (received July 1 – December 31, 2022).
Advocate Aurora Health
California Lutheran Homes and Community Services
Christ the King Community Outreach
Community Family Life Services, Inc.
Concordia Place
Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch Association
Eliseo
Fellowship Square Foundation, Inc.
Gemma Services
Genacross Lutheran Services
Good Shepherd Lutheran Foundation, Inc.
Immanuel
Immanuel Lutheran Communities
Inspiritus
KenCrest Centers
Knute Nelson
Luther Manor
Lutheran Community Services Northwest
Lutheran Community Services, Inc.
Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains
Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis
Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry
Lutheran Ministries Media, Inc.
Lutheran Services Carolinas
Lutheran Services Florida, Inc.
Lutheran Services in Iowa
Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota
Lutheran Social Services of Alaska, Inc.
Lutheran Social Services of Illinois
Lutheran Social Services of Indiana
Lutheran Social Services of Nevada
Lutheran Social Services of Northern California
Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota
Lutheran Social Services of the Virgin Islands
Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, Inc.
Martha & Mary Lutheran Services
Mosaic
My Friends House
National Lutheran Communities & Services, Inc.
Oaks Indian Mission, Inc.
Peace Community Center
Saint Luke Ministries
Samaritas
Sapphire Lutheran Homes, Inc.
Southeast Ministry
St. John’s United
Trinity Healing Center
Upbring
We Raise Foundation
Grants, Foundations, Sponsors & Partners
American Society on Aging (ASA)
ATI Advisory
Bipartisan Policy Center
The ABCD Institute
Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies
The Annie E. Casey Foundation
Centene
Concordia Plan Services
Consumer Technology Association Foundation
Dash Media
Diverse Elders Coalition
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Forefront Healthcare
Grantmakers in Aging
Immanuel
Johnson, Kendall & Johnson
Leadership for a Networked World at Harvard University
LeadingAge LTSS Center @UMass Boston
Lutheran Church Extension Fund
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Lutheran Executive Alumni Network
Lutheran Services for the Children Endowment at the ELCA Foundation
Lutheran Services for the Elderly Endowment at the ELCA Foundation
Mission Investment Fund of the ELCA
National Center for Innovation and Excellence
NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
North Dakota State University
Paycor
PHI National
Portico Benefit Services
Santa for Seniors
Select Rehabilitation
Serviam Care Network
Simply Connect
Twin Lakes Community
UnitedHealthCare
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
USAging
We Raise Foundation
The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation
Amherst H. Wilder Foundation
Ziegler
Thrivent Choice Donations
Norma Adams
Rosemary Budhu
Barry and Luanne Fisher
Frederick Kraegel
Thomas Marton
Paul Maxfield
Victor Peischl
Bonnie Raquet
Eilene Roth
Larry Seitz
Nancy Wigdahl
Phillip Woodruff
Memorials, Tributes & Celebrations
Marian Eda Katherine Baderschneider
Mavis Bargon
Pastor Jenny Barnes
Wendy Yoder Beach
Mr. Norman C. Berg
The Rev. Dr. John M. Brndjar
Ken Daly
Mr. Joel M. Davenport Sr.
Alesia Frerichs
Marvin Gustafson Jr. and Laura Adams Langhauser
Charlotte Haberaecker
Rev. Donald Hallberg
John Hunter
Gene Kaseman
Fred Kraegel
Norma F. Langford
Aaron and Elise McAloose
Joanne E. Negstad
Charles H. Neumann
Pramila Patel
Dr. Patricia W. Savage
Lauree Scheaf
Bill Stolte
David and Barbara Swartling
Lee VanJaarsveld
C. Richard Yoder
Join us by making a gift to
Lutheran Services in America today.
We express our deep gratitude and appreciation to Charlotte Haberaecker, former president and CEO of Lutheran Services in America (2012-2023), for her outstanding leadership, passion, and commitment to Lutheran Services in America and the mission of Lutheran social ministry. Together with our members, partners and supporters, we wish Charlotte all the best in her retirement.
July 2022 – June 2023
Chairperson
Wernle Youth & Family Treatment Center
Vice Chairperson
Lutheran Social Ministries of New Jersey
Secretary
Treasurer
Portico Benefit Services
Lutheran Community Services Northwest
Gemma Services
Immanuel
Thrivent Financial
Service and Justice Home Area Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Service and Justice Unit Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Board Adjunct and Theologian in Residence
St. Olaf College
