Join us on September 25 for our next Capitol Conversations webinar where we’ll explore the shifting Medicaid landscape, including state-level impacts, as the budget reconciliation bill (the One Big Beautiful Bill Act) moves towards implementation. We will also explore changes in housing policy related to budget reconciliation, including changes to the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) and what it means for our network.
Our speakers include:
- Cory Caldwell from the National Association of Medicaid Directors who will share insights on what is on the mind of state Medicaid directors, along with guidance on how to strengthen relationships with state Medicaid offices.
- Althea Arnold from the Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future (SAHF), a collaborative of 13 nonprofits advancing the creation and preservation of affordable homes, who will offer insights on housing-related policy shifts.
- Tom Syverson from the Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society who will discuss implementation of the reconciliation bill.
Our advocacy team will also provide updates on the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program and what to expect in the months ahead from Capitol Hill, including a potential second budget reconciliation bill and the status of the appropriations process for fiscal year 2026.
In this Capitol Conversations session, our partners at 4media Group will share takeaways from our public opinion survey conducted as part of our Here We Stand campaign to understand what was learned and to inform future positioning for our network.
Our partners at George Washington University Milken Institute School for Public Health will also present findings from our latest Strengthening Families Initiative issue brief about aligning social services with Medicaid Managed Care Organizations, with a focus on opportunities to influence policy through CMS waivers and managed care contracts at the state level.
We’ll also provide updates on Congressional action, as well as new resources as part of the Strengthening Families Initiative.
Join us to connect the dots between messaging, system alignment, and stronger outcomes for families.
Join us to discover how GenAI tools like ChatGPT can streamline your workflows and eliminate waste—freeing your team for higher-value work. From budgeting to board reports, see how AI fits perfectly under Lean principles to elevate your mission. Explore real nonprofit examples in AP, AR, document summaries, and strategic planning. Whether you’re tech-savvy or just curious, this session will equip you to lead smarter and serve better.
About Our Presenter:
Jim Lindell is President of Thorsten Consulting, a strategic and financial consulting firm that offers professional speaking, training, and executive coaching. Over the past two decades, Jim has delivered over 5,000 hours of C-suite executive coaching. His professional experience includes Chief Financial Officer, VP-Finance, Corporate Controller, and Corporate Assistant Controller. Jim is a CPA and has received the Certified Speaking Professional designation, the highest earned designation from the National Speakers Association.
What Is LFMA?
The LFMA mission is to support the continuing improvement of fiscal management services in Lutheran Services in America member organizations by providing a forum where people in the industry can join together for sharing and educational experiences. Plan to join us for our 2026 conference next spring – stay tuned for more information! To learn more, please contact Kim Roque.
Learn more about how to engage in effective advocacy with members of Congress, while being better equipped to improve outreach to the media through improved communication strategies, including:
- Building and strengthening relationships with lawmakers and their staff
- Engaging effectively with the media and on social media
- Using our new “Here We Stand” Medicaid messaging tools
Don’t miss this opportunity to strengthen your voice and help shape the future of Medicaid.
Join us for our July session of Capitol Conversations, our policy and advocacy webinar series where we delve into key issues and practical insights on issues of importance to Lutheran Services in America members! We will focus on two primary topics:
- Congressional action on budget reconciliation related to potential impacts to Medicaid, and
- Nonprofit charitable tax related issues, as well as emerging federal funding opportunities.
We will be joined by:
- Ellen Riddleberger, Senior Vice President at McAllister and Quinn, who will share strategies for securing federal funding through grants and appropriations
- Lutheran Services in America staff and policy expert(s) with insights on the latest specific to the Congressional budget reconciliation process, with a focus on Medicaid.
Join us as we continue our discussion on the future of Medicaid. On Thursday, May 15, at 1 p.m. ET, we will come together to hear from fellow network members with an update on what we learned in recent meetings with lawmakers, as well as Silvia Manrique of 4media Group with an overview of our newly developed Medicaid messaging and media toolkit.
The Capitol Conversations series is designed to strengthen our collective capacity to advocate for policies that strengthen our work and the people we support. Don’t miss this opportunity to better understand what’s ahead and how you can help protect this important program.
As Congress moves forward with the budget reconciliation process, the future of Medicaid hangs in the balance. Join us for our next Capitol Conversations webinar to explore the latest developments and the potential impact on access to care as well as other priority areas, including housing, workforce and social security income.
Specific to Medicaid, this session features Andy Schneider, research professor at the Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy; Alison Betty of the Cost & Coverage Collaborative; and Kelli Dobner, Chief Advancement and Strategy Officer at Samaritas. Our speakers provided timely insights on the potential impacts of Medicaid work reporting requirements.
The Capitol Conversations series is designed to strengthen our collective capacity to advocate for policies that strengthen our work and the people we support. Don’t miss this opportunity to better understand what’s ahead and how you can help protect this important program.
Resources
Please contact Christopher Findlay for additional resources or to view the recording of this webinar.
Join us for our next edition of our Capitol Conversations webinar series as we continue to explore the imminent threats to Medicaid through the Congressional budget reconciliation process. We have invited staff from the House Energy and Commerce Committee — the committee with authority over finding cuts to healthcare programs, including Medicaid, to pay for the expiring Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA).
You will also hear updates from Lutheran Services in America staff and other partners. We will provide insights and updates on other issues we are following as well.
The Capitol Conversations series is designed to strengthen our collective capacity to advocate for policies that strengthen our work and the people we support. Don’t miss this opportunity to better understand what’s ahead and you can help protect this important program.
Featured Speakers
- Gayle Mauser, Health Policy Advisor for the House Energy and Commerce Committee
- Leo Cuello, Research Professor at the Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy’s Center for Children and Families
Recording
Resources
Join us for the latest installment of our Capitol Conversations series. Medicaid funding is a top priority across all service lines provided by Lutheran Services in America members. As such, it remains a cornerstone of LSA’s policy and advocacy efforts.
As Congress prepares for early action on the expiring Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), Medicaid finds itself at the center of debate. Efforts to make estate tax and individual tax cuts permanent have placed Medicaid under scrutiny as a primary funding offset. With the budget reconciliation process—a tool that requires only a simple Senate majority—on the table, the stakes for Medicaid and those it serves have never been higher.
In this critical moment, our united faith-based voice is essential in shaping the dialogue on Capitol Hill, in state capitals, and in our local communities.
This web forum provides a unique opportunity to hear directly from key policymakers, leading experts, and LSA staff about the latest developments and their implications. Join us to strengthen our collective advocacy and ensure our mission remains at the heart of this national conversation.
Partnerships are more essential than ever. In communities with limited infrastructure or healthcare presence, it is crucial to look beyond your traditional/familiar partners and mobilize whole communities to address gaps in care. How well does your organization connect with local communities and cultivate partnerships? Does your organization know how to seek out non-traditional assets in your communities?
Join us on November 20 at 2 p.m. ET to learn how your Lutheran Services in America peers approach community development and discover community assets to expand their impact in supporting older adults in rural communities. Hear from Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) technical assistance partners and Lutheran Services in America Rural Aging Action Network (RAAN) member organizations, St. John’s United and Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota.
Speakers
Deb Wisniewski is a committed connector who believes that our communities need us all, that we all have gifts and talents to share. Through her consulting practice, she has worked with a wide variety of groups and organizations — from both nonprofits and businesses to governmental and tribal agencies — to explore how we can build on the skills of residents, the power of local associations and the supportive functions of local institutions.
Joe Erpenbeck is a consultant and faculty member of the Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) Institute at DePaul University. Over the last 30 years he has worked with social service agencies, neighborhood groups, faith communities, libraries, schools and civic groups in the United States and Canada, helping to build more connected neighborhoods where everyone belongs. Prior to this, Joe worked with people with disabilities in employment, community connecting and self-determination programs.
Jess Eichel is the Senior Connect Manager with St. John’s United in Billings, Montana, where she provides leadership, community engagement, and assessment and referral services for their RAAN program.
Marian Jordan is the RAAN Program Coordinator with Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota in Fargo, North Dakota. Marian leads community engagement activities and connects older adults to resources that help design the life they want to live in rural communities across Minnesota and North Dakota.
Recording
https://vimeo.com/1032070368
