In May, we celebrate National Foster Care month. As the President and CEO of Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois, one of the largest private child welfare agencies in Illinois, I am saddened to say that our foster care system is in crisis due to a lack of investment. And it is the […]

  Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois was chosen as one of eight member organizations to participate in Lutheran Services in America’s Results Innovation Lab. As a whole, LCFS is strongly committed to the elimination of institutional racism and disparate outcomes for children, youth and families of color. Through the agency’s participation in the […]

  A group of colleagues and I went to see the movie, Instant Family. We were all curious to see how the movie would portray foster care. As employees of Lutheran Child and Family Services, one of the largest private child welfare agencies in Illinois, we have a unique perspective on the topic. Our group […]

  It’s Convenient. It’s Easy. It’s Informative.  LCFS launches a new Planned Giving website! You can leave a lasting legacy of protecting children, strengthening families and building futures with a planned gift to LCFS. Explore LCFS’ new Planned Giving website, and you’ll find valuable personal, financial and estate planning resources. Resources include: Online Wills Planner […]

  Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois was recently chosen as one of eight member organizations to participate in Lutheran Services in America’s Results Innovation Lab! Utilizing a results-based leadership approach, the Lab is focused on the development of leadership capacity across LSA’s nationwide network of member organizations. Through the Lab, Lutheran Services in […]

  Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois, one of the largest nonprofit child welfare agencies in Illinois, recently moved to a new office space at 618 South 42nd Street in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. They are hosting a community Open House at their new location on Friday, August 24th from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. […]

  Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois, one of the largest nonprofit child welfare agencies in Illinois, will move our Corporate Support Center to a new office space at One Oakbrook Terrace, Suite 501 in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois. Our current corporate office located in River Forest will close on Tuesday, July 10 at 4:30 p.m. […]

  Through our work as a child welfare agency, Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois sees and interacts with traumatized children every day. While the separation policy has been rescinded, many issues still need our voices and our action. The executive order has ended detaining children and parents separately, but answers are still needed […]

  Help a child … feel safe, build a future, return to family. Become a part-time STAC foster parent. Southern Thirty Adolescent Center (an emergency shelter for youth in Mt. Vernon, Illinois) needs part-time foster parents to provide temporary overnight care for a child. Questions worth considering … Do you have compassion for innocent children […]

  In the middle of the summer we start planning the LCFS Christmas Drive, with hopes to make Christmas extra special for the more than 1,800 children served statewide in LCFS’ Foster Care program. This weekend was our Northern Illinois Santa’s Toy Store set-up day. Volunteers drove their sleighs (Uhaul trucks) to pick up gifts […]

  In late August 2017, current and former staff, current and former LBK youth, supporters and community members gathered to celebrate and say farewell to Lutherbrook Child and Adolescent Center in Addison, Illinois. Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois was founded as an orphanage in 1873 by fourteen Lutheran congregations on a site just […]

  On national friendship day, Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois thanks all of our friends, including Tim Perryman (pictured above). Tim and his wife Becca serve on the committee for our new, exciting fall fundraiser – the Harvest Festival. Tim shared why they support LCFS with their time and treasures: “I like the […]

Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois recently assisted in helping facilitate a plan to continue food distribution services to community residents in Calhoun County. Under the new plan, once a month the St. Louis Area Foodbank will provide a semi-truck of non-perishable foods, frozen foods, meats, fresh fruits and vegetables to be distributed to […]

The 2016 LCFS Annual Report is now available. To view it click here.

All children deserve the right to a permanent home where they feel safe and loved. Adoption can meet this need while bringing great joy to a family. Going through the adoption process can do the same, but there are also logistical and emotional challenges for which a helping hand and sound, expert advice are needed. […]

LCFS has achieved Hague Accreditation through the Council on Accreditation. This grants LCFS Dual Accreditation from COA, which demonstrates the agency’s commitment to the children and families we serve in Illinois and abroad. Hague Accreditation means that LCFS is in substantial compliance with the Hague Convention Accreditation Standards. LCFS’s Hague Accreditation is valid through November […]

In 2015, Cassandra and Garry’s three children were taken into DCFS care after the couple found themselves facing charges for risk of physical/environmental neglect of their children. “We were associating with the wrong people and allowing the wrong people to be around our kids,” explained Cassandra. So the couple’s three children were placed in the […]

  Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois announced program closures and staff cuts that will help the organization to better meet its ongoing mission. As part of a thorough organizational review following several years of financial challenges and changing needs, they have made the difficult decision to restructure to ensure continued viability. “Since assuming […]

“Diamond” is an art show by JB, Lutherbrook youth and artist, whose work is on display on the second floor of the Addison Public Library through April 7. The exhibit includes the following description: “(JB’s) work is inspired by graffiti and different objects he finds interesting, such as diamonds. JB has been making art seriously […]

LCFS volunteers Marilyn and Gary Wenzel (pictured below) represented LCFS at the Allstate Insurance Vounteer Expo at their corporate headquarters in Northbrook. They spoke to Allstate employees about LCFS’ services and volunteer opportunities. LCFS is always looking for volunteers to help in a variety of ways. For more information go to our Volunteer page.  

LCFS’ Shelley Husemann addresses this devastating issue in a news report from WAND-TV.    

Thank you to the energized volunteers of Capital One’s Chicagoland Hispanic Network who came to LCFS’ Little Village Food Pantry today. They helped prepare for the distribution of fresh produce and non-perishable items to community members in need. This morning the line was already a couple of city blocks long, with the first people lining […]

A beautiful February day provided the framework for the 2017 Lutherbrook Bowl-A-Rama. More than 300 people participated in the event, which raised more than $32,000. The funds raised through Bowl-A-Rama support Lutherbrook Child and Adolescent Center, a program of Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois. Lutherbrook youth have experienced multiple complex traumas in their […]

In Illinois and across the nation issues surrounding wealth and income inequality are raising increasing concerns. This year’s Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois Annual Gathering of Stakeholders addressed them head on. New LCFS President and CEO Mike Bertrand set the tone by reminding attendees that “We’re called to continue to serve.” He acknowledged […]