There’s still time to register to vote. Election day is November 8.   (Printable version of flyer)  

We know that LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning) youth are disproportionately represented in the child-welfare system and that they often experience discrimination and maltreatment in substitute care. So LCFS engaged All Children All Families (a project of the Human Rights Campaign – www.hrc.org) in providing training so that our staff could learn best […]

We are moving our Elmhurst-based adoption and birth-parent services offices to Addison (effective August 30, 2016). This change enables us to operate more efficiently, while still providing all applicant families and birth parents with excellent service, assisting them throughout their journeys. (The offices of our Lifelink International Adoption program (www.lifelinkadoption.org) are also moving to the […]

2016 Provider Exchange® Launches Second Cohort at LSA Annual Conference    From Lutheran Services in America:    “May 26, 2016 (Washington, D.C.) – Lutheran Services in America (LSA) expanded its partnership with the Provider Exchange at its annual conference in Minneapolis. The Provider Exchange expands the work begun last year to provide technical assistance to […]

Chicago’s Uptown community is an eclectic neighborhood that includes people from many different walks of life, including musicians and artists. Uptown residents now have an opportunity to join their creative ranks.    Are you interested in playing the piano? Chicago Uptown Ministry wants to provide Uptown residents with the opportunity to learn the piano and […]

One hundred twenty-five advocates from Lutheran social-ministry organizations in Illinois gathered in Springfield on April 20 to advocate for justice for Illinoisans who look to state-funded services for safety, healing and opportunity.   Chaplain Leslie Hunter and the students of Holy Family Ministries provided inspiration to take action with and for our neighbors. Expert panelists […]

On April 20th in Springfield, one hundred twenty-five Lutheran Day advocates visited with senators and representatives; our voices joined with thousands of others and the message is being heard.       Help keep our Lutheran Day advocacy message moving forward and write or call your Illinois state representative and state senator today, with this message: […]

    What to do on a snowy Valentine’s Day afternoon? Hundreds of Lutherbrook Child and Adolescent Center supporters, from toddlers to seniors, came to Stardust Bowl in Addison for the 29th annual Lutherbrook Bowl-A-Rama.   An inspirational video featuring former Lutherbrook resident Alex Lyons set the tone, opening an exciting day of bowling, raffle […]

    Like many other organizations, Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois (LCFS), its staff, supporters and clients are deeply affected by Illinois’ current budget-related turmoil. The solution is more revenue. Without additional funds to address the damage done by the current budget impasse, untold damage could result to Illinois and its citizens.   One […]

    This year’s Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois (LCFS) Annual Gathering of Stakeholders convened at Concordia University Chicago to tackle the topic: “Poverty: a Moral Issue.”   In introductory remarks, LCFS Board Chair Brenna Woodley assured stakeholders of the importance of the meeting topic to her personally and to the entire LCFS […]

    Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois (LCFS) welcomes four new members to its board of trustees.   “I am excited about the new members joining the LCFS board of trustees,” said LCFS Chief Executive Officer Gene Svebakken. “Their unique experiences will provide our agency with leadership and guidance as we navigate today’s […]

Issues facing LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning) individuals was the topic of training last month at Southern Thirty Adolescent Center (STAC).   DCFS Statewide LGBTQ Coordinator Jane Kelly and DCFS Consulting Psychologist for LGBTQ Children and Youth Dr. Claudia Mosier presented on a variety of LGBTQ psychoeducational topics, predominantly focusing on trans youth, […]

Members of the Responsible Budget Coalition, including LCFS, spoke in Springfield yesterday about how the current Illinois budget impasse is weakening families and communities, and how the governor and general assembly have failed to put a budget first that chooses revenue.   News story   Picture: Left to right: Jennifer Cushman and Neal Waltire of […]

LCFS’ Fathers’ Center (based out of Unity Lutheran Church in East St. Louis) welcomes new Program Coordinator Eric Schmitt (pictured below, left). LCFS Child Welfare Supervisor Kris Martin (pictured below, right) has also joined the program, which makes this a dynamic partnership within LCFS Community Services and for those who will be served in this […]

The financial and social challenges facing the state of Illinois affect us all. However, there are a number of children, families and individuals throughout Illinois who have an even more difficult time dealing with these issues because of personal challenges they face on a daily basis such as abuse, homelessness and poverty.   Lutheran Child […]

More than 300 bowlers took advantage of a cold February Sunday to help bring hope and healing to the youth at Lutherbrook Child and Adolescent Center. The February 8 event was the 28th annual Lutherbrook Bowl-A-Rama, held at Addison’s Stardust Bowl. Attendees came from all generations, from toddlers to seniors and even Illinois State Representative […]

A lot can happen in a quarter-century, and sometimes the positive things can get overlooked. The 25th anniversary celebration of Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois’ Harvest Gala on November 8 made sure to accentuate the positive. This year’s theme was taken from Proverbs 11:30: “The seeds of good deeds become a tree of […]

One hundred advocates from nine Lutheran agencies joined together in the state capital on April 14 for Lutheran Day 2015 and exercised their right to care about their neighbors.   “By answering Jesus’ call, we stop being spectators and become participants,” said Pr. Yehiel Curry in the opening devotion of the morning program. A panel […]

One hundred of Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois’ (LCFS) stakeholders gathered at Concordia University Chicago in late January to help LCFS “Consider the Children: Sentencing Reform, Keeping Parents at Home.”