Lutheran Social Services of Michigan

Lutheran Social Services of Michigan (LSSM) is a non-profit, human services organization that serves over 40 cities in Michigan's Lower Peninsula with more than 70 programs, including adoption, a community center, foster care, independent, assisted living and rehabilitation centers for seniors, skilled nursing centers, refugee resettlement and employment services, subsidized housing, and services for the homeless and developmentally disabled. It is the largest faith-based non-profit human service organization in Michigan, but provides help for all people in need regardless of religious affiliation, age, or national origin.Lutheran Social Services of Michigan is the largest private foster care agency in Michigan, and also is the largest provider of refugee services in Michigan.

History

Lutheran Social Services of Michigan (LSSM) has its roots in the congregational outreach efforts of Lutheran immigrants from Germany and Scandinavia who settled in Detroit at the end of the 19th century. In 1909, the Missionsbund (Mission Federation) was formed. In 1934, the Lutheran Inner Mission League of Greater Detroit was incorporated. The following year, the name was changed to The Lutheran Charities. The organization's focus included child welfare, services for the elderly, and a settlement house. The Lutheran Charities merged with a similar group in 1959 and was reborn as Lutheran Social Services of Michigan to offer programs statewide across the Lower Peninsula. The organization began its work in West Michigan in 1965 when it acquired The Lutheran Old Folks Home in downtown Grand Rapids, renamed Luther Home (and MapleCreek in 2007).

Affiliations

Lutheran Social Services of Michigan is a social ministry organization member of Lutheran Services in America and a partner of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Though not owned by the ELCA, LSSM is governed by a Board of Directors whose members represent parishes in the ELCA's Southeast Michigan Synod and North/West Lower Michigan Synod.

Mission

Serving people as an expression of the love of Christ

Vision

Communities of service that meet the needs of people, upholding human dignity, advocating equality and justice.

Technical Services

Working in partnership with other non-profit associations in Michigan by providing hardware, network and programming services.

External links

* [http://www.lssm.org Lutheran Social Services of Michigan]
* [http://www.lutheranservices.org/ServiceProviders.asp LSA Member Organizations]
* [http://www.mittensynod.org North/West Lower Michigan Synod ELCA]
* [http://www.metrodetroitelca.org Southeast Michigan Synod ELCA]