Consumer Technology Association Foundation Supports Lutheran Services in America Robotics Program to Combat Social Isolation
June 20, 2024
June 20, 2024
June 18, 2024
This Wednesday is Juneteenth, a day that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. I am blessed to attend a church that is growing and full of energy under the leadership of Pastor Kevin Vandiver. The church I attend, The Reformation Lutheran Church, is one block from the U.S. Capitol. With more than 150 years of church history, Kevin Vandiver is Reformation’s first Black Senior Pastor. His sermons serve as a call to action and last Sunday was no exception.
On Sunday, Pastor Kevin shared a West African spiritual proverb, Sankofa, a teaching rooted in the expression, “Go back and fetch it.” The proverb is based on a mythical bird with its feet firmly planted forward and its head turned backwards. The image of the bird is that the past serves as a guide for planning the future. As Pastor Kevin said, it is the wisdom in learning from the past which ensures a strong future:
“Taking hold of our past and our history in such a way that it becomes nourishment and guidance for journeying into the future.”
June 19, 1865 was the day Union soldiers arrived in Texas to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation. A closer read of history reveals that slavery was not fully abolished until December 6,1865 when the 13th Amendment outlawed the practice in every state, including the slave states that remained in the Union — Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky and New Jersey.
As a white leader, it is urgent and important for me to be an intentional ally, including by elevating the voices of lived experience and challenging each of us to strengthen our commitment to end systemic racism. At Lutheran Services in America, we have several forums where we lead and work together to address the alarming disparities in our communities, including through the Results Innovation Lab, our Mission Leaders Group, the Race Equity cohort, among others. And we will continue to be bolder as we work to spark greater understanding and action through transformational relationships. These relationships help to challenge our assumptions, encourage aligned action and support leaders in an authentic way — leaders like Renada Johnson, Senior Director of Children, Youth and Family Initiatives at Lutheran Services in America, who recently shared with me:
“I fight for people who look like me every day — in and out of work — and I am consistently reminded of the impact in advancing this work as a minority in a dominant culture has on me and others.”
Today I am giving thanks for Pastor Kevin, Renada Johnson and the many other Black and brown leaders in our communities as we work together to move our country forward.
Alesia Frerichs is the President & CEO of Lutheran Services in America.
May 29, 2024
Earlier this month at our Health and Housing Solutions Summit, Lutheran Services in America united 60 leaders, including members from our Housing Solutions Collaborative, with industry experts, policymakers, church and thought leaders from across the country. Over two days, we deeply explored and exchanged ideas and opportunities around three framing questions:
The two days included:
What happens next? Through the Housing Solutions Collaborative we will advance tangible actions and opportunities. Initial areas of focus include:
It was a powerful two days of commitment, passion, possibility and capability!
United, we are taking action together as one of the largest faith-based provider networks; we have the reach, we have the expertise and we have the responsibility.
If you missed our Summit, but are interested in joining our work, please contact Susan Newton at snewton@lutheranservices.org.
Alesia Frerichs is the President & CEO of Lutheran Services in America.
May 29, 2024
What: In April, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the final Medicaid Access Rule. As you know from our recent update, many of our shared concerns across the network were not addressed in the final rule, including new requirements related to payment of the direct care workforce. Specifically at least 80% of all Medicaid payments must be spent on compensation for direct care workers and/or states must report annually on percent of payments that go to the direct care workforce. Other provisions also include changes in access to home- and community-based services (HCBS), health and safety protections, and quality measures. Given the scope and impact on our work and services, our work continues and also moves to the state level.
What Happens Now? Because the Access Rule requires states to make significant changes to their Medicaid programs, CMS is allowing states several years to implement the provisions. This is a time to consider strengthening your discussions with state-level decisionmakers to inform the implementation of the provisions.
Under the rule, states are required to create home care and rate-setting advisory boards made up of Medicaid beneficiaries, home care workers and others to advise states on provider payment rates and worker compensation. Thus, its important to be in conversation with state-level officials to inform the make-up and considerations of these boards. We will continue conversations with CMS as we learn more about guidance, timing and other considerations.
How to prepare: Given the rationale for the rule change is to improve job quality and pay for direct care workers to attract more people to those jobs, it will be important to articulate the impact to your organization, including how this makes it harder to deliver quality services. The rule will also require states to be more transparent in how they pay for home- and community-based services, as well as how they set rates.
The following are the key components of the rule to be aware of:
For more information, please contact Bill Kallestad.
Bill Kallestad is the Director of Public Policy and Advocacy for the Lutheran Services in America Disability Network.
May 28, 2024
Members of the Lutheran Services in America Disability Network gathered in Washington, D.C. earlier this month for their annual Spring Meeting. The DN policy & advocacy team advocated for congressional support for SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act (SSI SPEA). Network members met with nearly 20 key lawmakers and their staff, including members of the Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means subcommittee on social security.
The SSI SPEA ensures people with disabilities and older adults can prepare themselves for a financial emergency without putting the benefits they rely on to live at risk, by increasing the amount of money one can have in savings from $2,000 to $10,000 for individuals and from $3,000 to $20,0000 for married couples. The DN policy & advocacy team then created a plan to follow up on key legislators and identified strategies to further our advocacy on this key piece of legislation.
To learn more, contact Bill Kallestad.
Bill Kallestad is the Director of Public Policy and Advocacy for the Lutheran Services in America Disability Network.
May 28, 2024
During our recent Health and Housing Solutions Summit, network members met with the offices of eight key lawmakers, including Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), the Senate Appropriations Committee chair; Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), the chair and ranking Republican of the Senate Banking Committee; and members of the House Appropriations Subcommittee with jurisdiction over housing funding.
Network members reiterated key housing priorities for their communities related to accessibility and affordability. These priorities include providing adequate funding to expand affordable housing in communities, incentivizing faith-based land conversions, increasing options for aligning housing and services, improving rural housing programs, and increasing the availability of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit.
Next steps have included a formal endorsement of the Rural Housing Service Reform Act (S. 1389), bipartisan legislation that would improve federal rural housing programs, and network members will be inviting these key lawmakers and their home state lawmakers on site visits to learn more about their work and needs in their communities.
For more information, contact Sarah.
Sarah Dobson is Senior Director of Advocacy and Public Policy at Lutheran Services in America.
May 17, 2024
Members of our Results Network cohort gathered in Chicago this week to continue our ongoing journey to find innovative solutions for families that keep them together and change our nation’s child welfare system for the better.
Our United Commitment
With 41 participants from our member organizations as well as additional stakeholders and partners, the two-day session was a testament to our collective commitment to drive change. Guided by the Person Role System approach from the Results Count framework, we are not just dreaming of change, we are actively shaping it. By zooming in on our roles as change agents, we are reshaping systems and moving towards a future where every child has the opportunity to thrive.
During the morning session, we focused on somatic practices to foster resilience. Through activities such as centering and grounding, the introduction to somatic toys, and breathwork, we embraced the journey of personal care, healing, and recognizing the importance of nurturing our own well-being as we advocate for others.
Strategizing for the Future
One of the highlights of the convening was our data walk, where we reviewed the work of each organization, shared insights, and engaged in table conversations. This reflective exercise allowed us to celebrate past achievements and identify areas for growth, all while centering equity and justice in our discussions.
In our final session, we came together to understand and help develop a framing guide that is aimed at simplifying the complexities of our work into plain language. This guide will serve as a powerful tool, enabling us to communicate effectively and inspire others to join our efforts to advance equity in the child welfare space.
Cultivating Genuine Connections
Throughout the convening, we prioritized the cultivation of genuine connections. We know that only together do we as advocates, allies, and change agents have the power to create caring communities that advance health and opportunity for children, youth, and families across the country. We invite you to join us as we continue to be innovative in our pursuit of equity and justice in child welfare.
Renada Johnson is the Senior Director of Children, Youth and Family Initiatives at Lutheran Services in America.
May 15, 2024
April 29, 2024
We’re excited to extend an invitation to all stakeholders interested in addressing housing challenges to join us on May 7 at the Housing Solutions Summit in Washington, D.C. This convening marks a crucial step forward in our collective efforts to tackle housing issues impacting children, youth and families across our communities.
At the summit, participants can expect an engaging dialogue that delves into the core reasons behind our commitment to addressing housing challenges. Through insightful discussions and collaborative sessions, we aim to not only highlight the pressing need for affordable housing but also to explore innovative solutions that can make a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve.
One of the key highlights of the summit will be the release of the Abt Associates white paper, a comprehensive study that sheds light on the intricate dynamics of housing insecurity and offers actionable insights for policymakers, practitioners and advocates alike. This white paper serves as a cornerstone in our ongoing efforts to drive impactful change in the realm of housing and community development.
Furthermore, we’re thrilled to emphasize our partnership with the ELCA, a collaboration that underscores our shared commitment to social justice and community empowerment. Together, we’re leveraging our strengths to address the multifaceted challenges faced by children, youth and families, with a particular focus on ensuring access to safe, stable housing for all.
Join us as we march forward in our mission to create caring communities where every individual has the opportunity to thrive. Together, let’s harness the power of partnership and innovation to advance health and opportunity for all.
Allie Broxton is Director of Health & Housing at Lutheran Services in America.
April 29, 2024
In March, we were honored to launch our inaugural Lived Voices Fellowship, a new community of people within the Lutheran Services in America or ELCA community who serve in positions of leadership and bring lived expertise. Some fellows have been refugees to the United States. Others have navigated public systems for housing, food assistance and child welfare. Through the fellowship they are healing, expanding their village and growing new skills to affect change. That is where you come in!
We are inviting you to contribute to and learn from one of our 17 amazing fellows by becoming a peer mentor. As a peer mentor, you will be matched with one of the Lived Voices fellows and engage in a powerful series of mutually beneficial conversations to advance your collective leadership.
Peer mentors will engage in three 1-hour conversations with their matched fellow in June, July and September (self-scheduled by fellow and peer mentor).
Ideal peer mentors will meet the following qualifications:
To share your interest in serving as a peer mentor, please fill out the following brief application form.
Kent Mitchell is Vice President of Strategy and Innovation at Lutheran Services in America.
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