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Remembering Susan Newton

July 16, 2026

BY: Alesia Frerichs

There are people whose lives remind us “what is possible.”

Susan Newton was one of those people.

It is with deep sadness that we share the news of Susan Newton’s passing. Many of us knew Susan as a leader, a trusted colleague, a dear friend, and someone who believed deeply that together we could make the world a better place.

As many of you know, Susan was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of cancer last November. While we knew this day would eventually come, her passing is still deeply sad.

For five years, Susan helped shape Lutheran Services in America in ways that will continue to be felt for years to come. She had an extraordinary ability to see the path forward, an unwavering belief in the power of our network, and a remarkable gift for inviting others into the work. Ideas that seemed ambitious became achievable because Susan inspired all of us to see what was possible.

Her leadership touched nearly every major initiative we have undertaken. She launched our Strengthening Families Initiative and established the foundation for Health Through Housing. She was incredibly proud of what we accomplished together—not because of the programs themselves, but because she knew they would create greater opportunity for people and communities.

As John Moeller, CEO of Inspiritus, so perfectly said,

“Susan was the CO (chief optimist). She was Jack of Jack and the Beanstalk. She was David of David and Goliath. With her bright eyes, large smile and contagious laugh, she shrugged off skepticism and made us all believers. Thanks to Susan, and in her honor, we will continue to drive fearlessly closer toward that grand vision.”

Those who worked with Susan experienced not only her optimism, but also her generosity, and determination to make a difference. As Nancy Ackerman, President and CEO of California Lutheran Homes, shared,

Susan’s “intelligence, warmth, humor, and commitment to meaningful outcomes inspired us all and leaves a lasting impact.”

But Susan was so much more than her work.

She was a devoted wife to Chris, a loving mother to Mackenzie and Harrison, active in her community, an avid gardener, an exceptional chef, and someone who generously shared her time by serving on numerous nonprofit boards. She embraced life with enthusiasm, curiosity, and joy.

Lutheran Services in America Board Chair David Trost, President and CEO of St. John’s United, reflected that

Susan had a “soft yet firm commitment” to her work. He added, “We remember her laughter. We remember her compassion. We remember her kindness, her generous spirit, and her unwavering hope.”

Susan leaves behind a remarkable legacy—not simply in the work she led, but in the people she inspired and the lives that will be changed because she dared to dream bigger. She reminded us that together we can accomplish more than any one of us could achieve alone.

She will be deeply missed and always be part of the Lutheran Services in America family.

Help us remember Susan: As we celebrate Susan’s life, we invite those who knew her to share a favorite memory, story, or reflection. We will gather and present these remembrances with Chris, Mackenzie, and Harrison as a tribute to the extraordinary impact Susan had on so many lives.

Alesia Frerichs is the President & CEO of Lutheran Services in America.

Enterprise Capital Meets the Moment During Evolving Funding Landscape

July 15, 2026

BY: LSA Staff

Network Leaders and Experts Discuss the Need for Flexible Funding Amidst Financial Uncertainties and Challenges

Across the network, we are hearing the same challenges: executive leaders from member organizations are trying to diversify revenue streams, adapt to shifting macro environments like government funding uncertainty, and keep up with rising costs related to staffing retention and delivery of care. Lutheran Services in America is responding through a new strategy centering leadership and growth across our network, with a laser-focus on strengthening our network as a platform for scaling innovation in the health and human services field.

We kicked off last month with a peer learning session featuring Capitalize Good’s CEO and founder, Andrea Levere, who reminded leaders, “You have established yourselves as experts in tapping federal funding. Let’s look at ways to diversify that to other resources.”

The session, “Enterprise Capital Masterclass,” brought together executive leaders from finance, development, and operations, and focused on how to identify and leverage enterprise capital — multi-year, flexible funding invested directly into the net assets on the balance sheet — to better financially position organizations for long-term health and resilience amidst an evolving funding landscape.

Building on her session at The Summit this year, Andrea spoke of her partnerships with nonprofits to build organizational financial strength and resilience by leveraging different types of funding outside of the public sector — a crucial need and opportunity right now. Andrea recently highlighted this work for Stanford’s Social Innovation Review in “Nonprofits Need Enterprise Capital to Succeed,” sharing how enterprise capital builds net assets, enabling nonprofits to make investments in revenue-generation strategies and maintain resources to mitigate cash flow mismatches.

Below are three major insights from the session, which included dynamic small team break-outs to understand how to re-evaluate financial statements to optimize capital structures and identify matching funding sources to achieve bold goals. 

Why enterprise capital is critical now for organizational health:

  • Match capital to purpose. Enterprise capital acts as flexible, long-term funding that can attract additional debt or new funders, unlike one-year restricted grants, which aren’t built for long-term mission goals. Organizations need to be intentional about matching funding type to what they’re actually trying to accomplish. 
  • Unrestricted assets fund the wiring that keeps the lights on. Staffing retention, wages, and aging infrastructure maintenance are often an organization’s largest expenses, and unrestricted net assets are what make it possible to cover them as well as invest in product or service innovation and growth. 
  • Ask funders directly, and ask for more than money. Leaders should proactively name their risks and challenges to funders, and ask for both financial and non-financial support, not just grant dollars. “Ask for what you need, not what you think you can get.” 

Moving forward, Lutheran Services in America will be creating more opportunities for c-suite leaders to collaborate and share insights on organizational sustainability and growth

If you are interested in learning more about enterprise capital, Andrea Levere is available to explore how this work connects to your organization and you can email her directly at andrea@capitalizegood.org.

If you are a finance professional looking to connect with your peers at Lutheran Services in America, learn more about our Lutheran Financial Managers Association (LFMA) peer network and their upcoming conference, October 13–15 in Nashville!

Medicaid: Where Things Stand

July 16, 2026

BY: Sarah Dobson

Given the continuing challenges related to Medicaid, including further cuts in a potential third reconciliation bill and H.R. 1’s ongoing impacts, Lutheran Services in America recently held a series of meetings with key House and Senate offices, including the Senate Finance, Senate HELP, House Energy and Commerce, and House Ways and Means, along with Montana, Nebraska, and Iowa offices.

What Did We Learn?

Initial implementation of work requirements is causing confusion. Staff noted that Nebraska’s rollout is underway, with Iowa, Montana, and Arkansas beginning soon. Given the challenges already arising in Nebraska, members of Congress and their staff are eager to stay informed, especially to understand ongoing impacts. Lutheran Family Services was featured, and Chris Tonniges was quoted, in the recent NBC News Story “New Medicaid Work Requirements Prompt ‘Extreme Mass Confusion’ in Nebraska,” which illustrates the current confusion.

A third reconciliation bill?  Some staff believe a package is coming — likely to pass the House but face hurdles in the Senate — while others noted only early-stage discussion centered on tax policy. Committee jurisdiction and timing remain open questions.

The DOJ Olmstead statement is drawing concern. Multiple offices raised alarm about the statement’s implications for home- and community-based services (HCBS) and encouraged strong advocacy on the issue, including the use of strong evidence related to HCBS services.

Congress wants to hear from you. Nearly every office asked for the same things: personal stories, data — including estimates of coverage loss — and local news coverage showing district-level impact.

Take Action: Below are ways to leverage Here We Stand resources to defend Medicaid, including through the August recess:

→ Take action in two minutes. Use our turn-key advocacy tool to send a message to your lawmakers urging them not to make further cuts to Medicaid funding as part of any future budget reconciliation bill.

→ Schedule an in-district meeting. Members of Congress are home during the August recess. Our Action Guide walks you through the ask.

→ Share your impact story. How are Medicaid changes affecting your organization and the people you serve? Share your insights with us.

→ Explore the full toolkit. Messaging materials to lead the conversation in your community.

Sarah Dobson is Senior Director of Advocacy and Public Policy at Lutheran Services in America.

Midterm Elections: What to Watch Ahead of November

June 17, 2026

BY: Kylie Bowlds

The Current Landscape

As the Midterm elections approach, key primaries are beginning to shed light on potential outcomes of the November elections. Republicans are defending narrow majorities in both chambers, with a 5-seat margin in the House and a 3-seat margin in the Senate, while contending with historical headwinds. Republicans are less unified in their messaging, with leadership touting actions stemming from passage of H.R. 1, while other candidates in tight races are distancing themselves from the cuts made to Medicaid.

Meanwhile, Democrats seek to strengthen their chances of retaking House and potentially Senate majorities centered around cost-of-living concerns and opposition to recent health care cuts.

What’s at Stake?

A Democratic majority would likely result in efforts to reverse recent health care cuts, while continued Republican control of both chambers would likely mean a sustained emphasis on oversight and continued implementation of H.R. 1 provisions.

Race to Redistrict: The debate over the Voting Rights Act has brought redistricting into focus ahead of the upcoming elections. After the Supreme Court ruling in April in Louisiana v. Callais – which narrowed Section Two of the Voting Rights Act – states are allowed to redraw Congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterms, potentially shifting control of a meaningful number of House seats.

Recent states who have passed new maps include Alabama and Florida, which will likely result in a total gain of 4-5 GOP seats. Other efforts remain undecided: Virginia’s redraw was blocked by the state supreme court, Louisiana is still drawing its replacement map, and additional states in both parties’ control are weighing action — meaning the competitive map will continue to evolve through the summer.

SAVE Act: White House demands to include the SAVE Act in a planned third reconciliation bill continue, but the Senate Parliamentarian has previously ruled the act did not quality for inclusion in the prior immigration reconciliation package. The SAVE Act would require documentary proof of U.S. Citizenship, such as a passport or birth certificate, for individuals registering to vote in federal elections. Because reconciliation is limited to predominantly budgetary matters, attempts to attach the SAVE Act again would likely face the same procedural objection.

Key Toss Ups in the House:

Republican:

Democrats:

Key Toss Ups in the Senate:

Republican

Democrat

What you can do now? 

With the midterms approaching and many competitive toss ups, we encourage our members to take the following steps to stay engaged and prepared:

  • Utilize our to advocate at the state level around the issues you want candidates to prioritize around health care issues
  • Monitor emerging candidates in toss-up congressional and gubernatorial races, and track redistricting in your state to identify newly competitive seats as maps evolve.
  • Strengthen Voter Outreach by ensuring your communities understand potential documentation requirements and any changes to voter registration processes.

Kylie Bowlds is an Issue Education & External Relations Associate at Lutheran Services in America.

OMB Proposes Sweeping Changes to Federal Grants

June 16, 2026

BY: Sarah Dobson

As an alternative to last year’s federal funding freeze attempts, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is proposing sweeping changes to the rules governing more than $1 trillion in federal grants and assistance. Although billed as “oversight,” the proposal broadly expands federal discretion over funding decisions, allowing agencies to withhold or terminate awards or change terms midstream.

An OMB Target List?

At the same time, OMB has directed agencies to compile detailed data on funding to 49 nonprofit organizations, signaling increased scrutiny of the sector.

Now What?

Together, these developments pose major financial, legal, and operational uncertainty for nonprofits. Like last year, it’s important to contact your governors and state and federal lawmakers to share your concerns.

 What You Can Do

Sarah Dobson is Senior Director of Advocacy and Public Policy at Lutheran Services in America.

Making Sense of Behavioral Health Measurement: Why It Matters Now

June 15, 2026

BY: Joshua Rubin

Like much of the American healthcare delivery system, providers of services for mental health and substance use disorders—collectively referred to as behavioral health—are increasingly expected to quantify the impacts of their work. These efforts to track quality of care are designed to advance the Triple Aim: improving the experience of care and outcomes, while controlling costs.

For faith-based health and human services organizations, this shift may feel both familiar and new. Many providers have long focused on holistic, person-centered care. Today, however, that work must also be translated into data to adapt to a changing system, because what gets measured gets paid for, and data is not the plural of anecdote.

A Changing Landscape: Measurement Is Driving the System

Accordingly, behavioral health service providers are adopting better data collection practices and quality measurement strategies.  These changes are not happening in a vacuum. The ongoing shift to value-based payment (VBP) models, with nearly every state Medicaid system pursuing strategies that tie funding to quality outcomes rather than volume, is accelerating the change. The implications are clear: outcomes, not activity, define success. Measurement is no longer optional; it is foundational to meaningful and sustainable practice.

Why Measurement Matters for the People You Serve

The stakes are particularly high in behavioral health. People with behavioral health needs face significant inequities—individuals with serious mental illness die 10 to 25 years earlier than the general population.[1] While there have been some recent declines in combined deaths from alcohol, drugs and suicide, that progress is vulnerable in a rapidly shifting policy environment.

This underscores why effective measurement matters: without it, gaps in access, quality, and outcomes remain elusive and unclear. If you are not measuring the problem, you can’t fix it. Quality measurement, when done well, is a practical tool for closing those gaps. It helps organizations identify successes, uncover opportunities, and focuses resources where they are most needed—improving access, efficacy, and the overall experience of care.

The Challenge: Too Many Measures, Not Enough Clarity

At the same time, the current measurement landscape spans multiple quality domains and comes from a wide range of sources—federal agencies, states, payers, accrediting bodies, and advocacy organizations. The result is often duplication, fragmentation, and confusion about what matters most.

Traditional measures capture only a fraction of meaningful outcomes, particularly for organizations delivering holistic, community-based care.  Perhaps the most meaningful indicators— the lived experiences of individuals and their families—are often not considered or accounted for in existing measures.

The result is that providers are navigating a system where administrative burden is high, data systems are not fully aligned, and resources for building infrastructure are limited. In many cases, data are used more for compliance than for continuous improvement. As such, the real challenge is not a lack of measurement—it is too much measurement without enough utility.

What’s Emerging: A More Focused, Outcome-Oriented Approach

Despite these challenges, recent guidance and industry trends point to a clearer direction for behavioral health measurement that includes:

  • Outcome-oriented approaches that reflect real-world impact
  • System-level accountability tied to Medicaid and state reform
  • Stronger alignment across payers and programs
  • Fewer, higher-value measures
  • Integrated data systems that support continuous learning

Given the growing recognition that true quality depends on integration across systems, linkages that consider access to medical care and essential social supports such as housing, nutrition, transportation, and employment will become increasingly important. For faith-based providers, this integrated, whole-person approach is not new—but the expectation to measure and demonstrate its impact is.

Building Measurement Readiness: Start Where You Are

One of the most important takeaways for providers is that being “measurement-ready” does not require complex systems. Instead, readiness depends on a few foundational elements:

  • A clear understanding of why you are measuring
  • Consistent definitions of populations and services
  • Reliable, workflow-aligned data collection
  • Basic data governance practices
  • The ability to generate and act on a focused set of core metrics

Equally important is how measurement is implemented. Successful organizations engage staff in the process—doing it with them, not to them—and start small, building capacity over time. Measurement should focus on what is actually actionable. More data are not always better; actionable data are what drives improvement.

Looking Ahead: Measurement as a Tool for Impact

Measurement is challenging, and it can be expensive. It is also essential—not only for participating in value-based payment models, but also for telling your organization’s impact story and describing your work in credible, compelling ways.

Ultimately, enabling people with behavioral health conditions to thrive requires a reliance on data-driven strategies to deliver the highest quality care in the most resource-conscious way. Measurement, when thoughtfully applied, strengthens care, amplifies the work of community partners, and supports better outcomes.

The behavioral health sector will continue moving toward shared accountability, aligned incentives, and systems that support continuous improvement. Providers who build measurement readiness in phased, realistic ways—paired with appropriate investment and support—will be best positioned to succeed.

Joshua Rubin is Vice President of Client Solutions at Health Management Associates.

[1] Plana-Ripoll O, Musliner KL, Dalsgaard S, et al. Nature and prevalence of combinations of mental disorders and their association with excess mortality in a population-based cohort study. World Psychiatry. 2020;19(3):339–49

Strengthening Support for Rural Family Caregivers

June 15, 2026

BY: Regan McManus

Lutheran Services in America, in partnership with the RRF Foundation for Aging and the National Alliance for Caregiving, released a new e-report to elevate the voices, expertise, and experiences of rural family caregivers who are often overlooked in policy and program design. The growing workforce shortage has only made the role of family caregivers more important.

Recognizing and centering lived experience is a priority for our network, and our new report, “Rooted in Care: Transforming the Future for Rural Family Caregivers,” highlights both the strengths and challenges of caregiving in rural communities while identifying opportunities to strengthen supports and services.

With the Rural Health Transformation Fund opening new windows for partnerships and innovation, this report supports members in both advocating for concrete change and telling the story of rural family caregivers to their own boards, funders, and policymakers. Contact Regan McManus for more information.

Regan McManus is Director of Aging Initiatives at Lutheran Services in America.

Major Policy Developments Shaping Medicaid, Housing and Workforce

June 15, 2026

BY: Sue Polis and Sarah Dobson

With midterm elections within sight this November, Congress will be working ahead of the August recess with a focus on our key policy priorities, including:

  • Medicaid: Reconciliation 3.0 poses more risk to Medicaid coverage and access
  • Expanding access to affordable housing: 21st Century Road to Housing Act – will the Senate Act?
  • Addressing health and direct service workforce shortages

More Medicaid Cuts?

Reconciliation 3.0

Federal policymakers are increasingly turning their attention to finding savings through additional healthcare cuts including to Medicaid to generate savings as the war with Iran continues. As part of a potential third reconciliation package (“Reconciliation 3.0”), which could advance later this summer, provisions related to Medicaid could include new program integrity measures and eligibility restrictions that could reduce coverage. This is on top of the significant cuts and program changes enacted as part of the first reconciliation bill, HR 1, which are still unfolding.

States Implement Work Requirements

At the same time, new federal guidance from CMS is moving forward with expanded work reporting requirements, which will require more frequent eligibility verification and potentially limit exemptions for medically frail individuals. Together, these developments increase administrative burdens for providers and create new barriers for patients in maintaining coverage. We encourage members to stay engaged and make their voices heard.

Take Action: Join your peers in telling Congress “no more cuts to Medicaid”. You can use our quick and easy advocacy tool to write your lawmakers and urge them to oppose any further cuts to Medicaid.

Expanding Access to Affordable Housing

House Advances Road to Housing

The House recently passed the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, marking a significant step toward addressing the nation’s affordable housing shortage. While the legislation includes efforts to promote local zoning reforms and expand housing development, the House-passed version eliminated proposed incentive programs.

Now What?

Attention now turns to the Senate, where leaders have indicated that additional work is needed before a final agreement can be reached.

Yes in God’s Backyard

At the same time, we continue to advocate for “Yes In God’s Backyard” (YIGBY) legislation, which aims to   ease faith‑based land conversions for affordable housing development. Action on this effort is increasingly moving to the various states, with eight states having already passed some version of this bill, including Washington, California, Oregon, Minnesota, Maryland, Hawaii, Florida, and most recently in Virginia.

Addressing the Workforce Shortage

Because workforce shortages remain a significant concern across the health and human services sector, we continue to support efforts to strengthen the pipeline of healthcare and direct support professionals, including by removing barriers for internationally trained workers through the Healthcare Workforce Innovation Act.

Nursing Professional Designation Downgraded

At the federal level, a new policy change excludes most nursing programs from the definition of a “professional degree.” This action has prompted a lawsuit from major nursing organizations. If upheld, the change could limit access to federal student loans for advanced nursing education, with potential downstream effects on workforce supply at a time when shortages are already acute.

We will continue to monitor these developments closely and keep you informed as the policy environment evolves in the months ahead.

Sue Polis is Vice President of Public Relations and Government Affairs at Lutheran Services in America. Sarah Dobson is Senior Director of Advocacy and Public Policy at Lutheran Services in America.

A New Strategy to Turn Housing Potential into Reality

June 15, 2026

BY: Sarah Haight

Across our network, member organizations are sitting on something powerful: community trust, mission-driven infrastructure, and in many cases, land and property that could become affordable housing with services for young families and older adults.

Health Through Housing is Lutheran Services in America’s national strategy to turn that potential into reality. Through a flexible predevelopment loan fund, a peer learning cohort designed to get members “loan ready,” and partnerships that align capital with community need, we are building the early-stage support that makes housing projects move from blueprint to breaking ground.

Whether your organization is actively pursuing housing development or just beginning to explore what’s possible, this strategy was built with you in mind. Watch for more details on our Health through Housing strategy this summer, and reach out if you want to learn more about how Lutheran Services in America can help your organization take the next step. Contact Sarah Haight at Shaight@lutheranservices.org.

Sarah Haight is Vice President of Program Planning & Growth at Lutheran Services in America.

Leveraging the Rural Health Transformation Fund to Improve Access to Care

May 14, 2026

BY: Shao-Chee Sim and Sue Polis

Rural communities have been navigating serious health challenges for a long time—hospital closures, workforce shortages, long drives to see a specialist, and higher rates of chronic disease, to name just a few. These issues are deeply connected, and for many communities, they’ve reached a breaking point.

Congress aimed to address these challenges by creating the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Fund, part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR1) passed last July. The RHT Fund represents an important federal investment—designed not just to keep rural health systems afloat, but to help them evolve into models that are more stable, preventive, and community‑centered over the long term.  And at the same time, while the RHT Fund is key in strengthening rural health access, with the level of Medicaid funding cuts overall including in HR1, resources will continue to be a challenge more broadly. And because the funding for the RHT Fund is for five years, sustainability also needs to be further considered as this work moves forward.

Now that states are moving from planning into implementation, the RHT Fund is starting to shape how rural health care is financed, organized, and delivered. While states receive the funding directly, nonprofits and community‑based organizations are essential partners in turning system‑level investments into real improvements in people’s lives.

If your organization works in or alongside rural communities, understanding how the RHT Fund works—and how your state is approaching it—is becoming increasingly important. To further inform how the Lutheran Services in America network can leverage the RHT Fund, read: The Rural Health Transformation Fund: What It Is, How States are Using It, and Where Nonprofits Fit In.

Shao-Chee Sim is Executive Vice President for Health Policy, Research, and Strategic Partnerships at Episcopal Health Foundation and Sue Polis is Vice President of Public Relations and Government Affairs at Lutheran Services in America.

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