Give them a chance
Consider becoming a foster parent and helping children in need reach their potential.
About Us
LCFS improves the well-being of people across the state by protecting children, strengthening families and building futures for those who have experienced trauma. We serve all faiths, races, orientations and ethnic backgrounds.
Expanding LCFS’ Impact on Youth
Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois and 360 Youth Services have entered into an agreement to bring 360 under the administrative umbrella of LCFS.
Programs & Services

Adoption
Some children are born to a family, others join
their “forever families” through adoption.
About Us
Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois improves the well-being of people across the state by protecting children, strengthening families and building futures for those who have experienced trauma.
- Mr. & Mrs. Theodore Arey
- Raymond & Arlene Avischious
- Mrs. Barbara A. Black
- Miss Ruth L. Born
- Ms. Barbara A. Bowman
- Dr. Ruth Ann Brinkmann
- Mrs. Ruth Busse
- Mr. & Mrs. Don B. Cochran
- Ms. Doris A. Cowman
- Mrs. Eileen C. D'Ambrose
- Mr. J. R. Davidsmeyer
- Mr. & Mrs. Maury Ferchen
- Mr. & Mrs. Edward Fikeys
- Mrs. Ruth Fromm
- Steven & Susan Gartner
- Mr. & Mrs. Bradley L. Grcevic
- Mr. & Mrs. Owen H. Guthrie
- Mr. & Mrs. David A. Hardt
- Mr. Bruce A. Hasher
- Mr. & Mrs. Richard J. Hass
- Ms. Allegra Hess
- Mrs. Dorothy Hildebrandt
- Miss Concordia Hoffmann
- Ms. Julie Irelan
- Mrs. Carmen Kaesmeyer
- Ms. Barbara Karg
- Mr. & Mrs. Alfred H. Laseke, Jr.
- Miss Glenda J. Liner
- Mr. & Mrs. Carlton W. Lohrentz
- Ms. Bess A. Ludik
- Rev. & Mrs. Bruce Meissner
- Mrs. Helen J. Peterson
- Dr. & Mrs. Riemond Rippel
- Mr. & Mrs. Robert J. Roth
- Mrs. Dolores M. Schlesselman
- Ed & Sarah Schoenbaum
- Mrs. Roxana M. Schultz
- Mrs. Harriet Schwake
- Mr. & Mrs. Anthony T. Stephens
- Dr. & Mrs. John R. Stodden
- Gene & Carole Svebakken
- Dr. James M. & Mrs. Janice L.Velayas
- Rev. & Mrs. David Walker
- Marilyn & Gary Wenzel
- Rev. Peter Zadeik, Jr.
- Mrs. Charlotte Mojden
- Mr. Raymond A. Mueller
Events
News
Our Clients. Their Stories.
Be inspired by the stories of people changing their lives every day
with the assistance of LCFS’ programs and services.

Adopting During a Pandemic: Brian, Gordon and Ada
Families come in all forms, and families formed by adoption are inspiring because they impact so many lives. Early on in their relationship, Gordon and Brian discovered their shared longing for fatherhood. “Pretty quickly we realized we were two men who both had dreams of starting a family,” explained Gordon, “and weren’t sure about how […]
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Everybody Deserves Love & a Second Chance
With you by our side, youth in LCFS’ Regenerations program receive the love and support they need to get their lives back on the right track. Thank you for all that you do. Sadly, there are hundreds of older foster youth in correctional and detention centers around Illinois that are past their release dates, but stay […]
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Navigating the Adoption Journey Together
When you partner with LCFS, you help birth parents to receive counseling support, children to find forever families and adults to realize their dreams of becoming moms and dads through adoption. Even, during a pandemic. In November, Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois and others will celebrate National Adoption Awareness Month. Lives are impacted […]
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I Don’t Want to be by Myself, I Want to be Adopted
Foster fathers gave six boys a forever family through adoption On any given day, more than 122,000 foster children are eligible for adoption and they will wait, on average, four years for an adoptive family. Ideally, the goal of foster care is to reunite children with their families through the proper supports, but that isn’t […]
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The greatest gift
This past year with individuals like you on our side, LCFS helped 245 children find their forever families through adoption. In celebration of National Adoption month, we’d like to share one of the stories your support made possible. Josiah was born at 25 weeks weighing only 1 lb. 5 oz. Numerous drugs were found in his […]
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Changing worlds through adoption
Brett and Kevin met and began their relationship through an online dating app. “We hit it off immediately. It was a case of love at first sight,” said Brett. They met in person for the first time on October 30th and two years later, on the exact same date, got engaged and started planning their […]
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Support and commitment
Like many foster children, Gwen (not her real name) experienced multiple traumas during her young life. But she is now living with a caring foster family and celebrating a four-year college scholarship. Gwen has been with her foster family for three years and the support and commitment of her foster parents Karen and Ralph (not […]
Read More »
Responding with understanding
To say Peter (not his real name) was angry when he came to Lutherbrook was an understatement. Now 18 years old, Peter was verbally and physically abused by his mother when he was a child. He had problems controlling his anger, which manifested itself through verbal and physical aggression. That aggression led to run-ins with […]
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Collaborating with partners to empower families
“I left my addiction behind. I didn’t want to lose my kids.” Tess (not her real name) started on drugs when she was 16, becoming an addict as she progressed from marijuana to cocaine. After giving birth to a substance-exposed infant, it was recommended that she begin inpatient treatment. Tess agreed, beginning her two-year journey […]
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Providing hope in a difficult time
Adrianna became a client of Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois’ (LCFS) Extended Family Support program when she started caring for her nephew Marcello (both pictured, above). Marcello’s first couple years were rough. His mother gave birth to him in prison at the start of a 25 year sentence. He bounced from family member […]
Read More »Mission & Vision
Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois nurtures and strengthens children and families in need.
LCFS Locations
LCFS offices are located throughout Illinois. Scroll through the rotator or click ‘View All Locations’
to see them sorted by region and program details.
Belleville
LCFS Program Office
317 West Main Street
Belleville, IL 62220
618-234-8904
Fax: 618-234-0218
Chicago
LCFS Program Office
7601 S. Kostner Ave., Suite 308
Chicago, IL 60652
773-753-0600
Fax: 773-753-1255
Decatur
LCFS Program Office
2826 N. Monroe Street
Decatur, IL 62526
217-428-8380
Fax: 217-428-2981
Joliet
LCFS Program Office
2175 Oneida St.
Joliet, IL 60435
815-409-4440
Fax: 815-409-4444
Kankakee
LCFS Program Office
150 N. Schuyler Ave., Suite 200
Kankakee, IL 60901
815-929-1970
Fax: 815-929-1987
Main Office Location
Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois
One Oakbrook Terrace, Suite 501
Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181
708-771-7180
Fax: 708-771-7184
Email: LCFS_info@lcfs.org
Mt. Vernon
LCFS Program Office
618 S. 42nd St.
Mt. Vernon, IL 62864
618-242-3284
Fax: 618-242-3288
Mt. Vernon
Southern Thirty Adolescent Center
17077 N. Illinois Highway 37
Mt. Vernon, IL 62864
618-242-2238
Fax: 618-242-2279
Oak Brook
LCFS Program Office
900 Jorie Blvd., Suite 192
Oak Brook, IL 60523
630-628-6448
Fax: 630-628-6118
Oak Brook
LCFS Program Office
900 Jorie Blvd., Suite 122
Oak Brook, IL 60523
630-543-5170
Fax: 630-543-5176
Oakbrook Terrace
Corporate Support Center
One Oakbrook Terrace, Suite 501
Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181
708-771-7180 or 800-363-LCFS
Fax: 708-771-7184
Quincy
LCFS Program Office
1400 N. 30th Street
Quincy, IL 62301
217-722-1450
Fax: 217-214-1370
Springfield
LCFS Program Office
620 N. Walnut St.
Springfield, IL 62702
217-544-4631
Fax: 217-544-0412
Waterloo
Camp Wartburg
5705 LRC Road
Waterloo, IL 62298
618-939-7715
Fax: 618-939-6288
Waterloo
Nice Twice at the Depot
518 Park St.
Waterloo, IL 62298
618-939-0311