Lutheran Social Services of New England

"IN RESPONSE TO CHRIST'S LOVE LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES OF NEW ENGLAND SERVES AND CARES FOR PEOPLE IN NEED"

COMPELLED BY THE BIBLICAL MANDATE - WE ARE CALLED TO CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER

Vision Element I:

LSS WILL ENGAGE CONGREGATIONS AS FULL PARTNERS IN SOCIAL MINISTRY LSS WILL DEVELOP MODELS OF SERVICE WITHIN CONGREGATIONS THAT IDENTIFY GAPS AND ADDRESS THE UNMET NEEDS OF PEOPLE.

Engaging the biblical mandate to care for one another LSS will create, in partnership with congregations, a comprehensive approach for assisting families and individuals to address their social and health needs. Over the next five years:

• LSS will build and strengthen partnerships in ministry with constituents, challenging them to work with LSS in responding to the people in need of help within congregations and communities
• LSS will build models of service which tap into and equip natural helping networks of people in community, enabling them to support and care for one another, both within and outside congregational settings.
• Through greatly increased interaction with congregations and expansion of a community based presence, the stories of LSS clients and the mission of LSS will become common knowledge to all constituents: donors, congregations, volunteers, employees.

Vision Element II:

LSS WILL CARE FOR PEOPLE THROUGH CONGREGATIONS AND IN NEIGHBORHOODS

LSS WILL DEVELOP CONGREGATIONALLY BASED MODELS OF SERVICE THAT TAP INTO AND EQUIP NATURAL HELPING NETWORKS IN COMMUNITIES ENABLING PEOPLE TO SUPPORT AND CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER, WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THE CONGREGATIONAL SETTING.

• Over the next five years, LSS will develop community centers out of which programs and services will relate to communities, whenever possible through congregations. Using community centers as bases of operation (located whenever possible in congregations), LSS will expand those services for which it is noted as highly competent, effective and for which there is an increasing need in society.

Vision Element III:

LSS WILL NURTURE CHILDREN TODAY FOR TOMORROW

LSS WILL EXPAND CHILDREN'S SERVICES PROVIDING SAFE NURTURING HOMES THAT OFFER PERMANENCE, STABLE FAMILY STRUCTURES, AND THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PERSONAL GROWTH IN A LOVING ENVIRONMENT.

• In response to the increasing needs of children, LSS will increase the number of children cared for through its specialized foster care, adoption and residential programs as well as through new programs and services, enabling children to have a chance at success in adulthood. These children will be nurtured in safe homes where they can experience love and care, stable family structures, and have the opportunity to heal, develop self respect, and personal and community values.

Vision Element IV:

LSS WILL PROVIDE MEANINGFUL WORK TO BUILD MEANINGFUL LIVES

LSS WILL EXPAND ITS INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAMS THAT ENHANCE ECONOMIC SELF SUFFICIENCY FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES.

• Understanding the value and importance of work in the lives of people, LSS will increase emphasis on community economic development to help families and individuals successfully prepare for work, access employment, earn a living wage, and be valued employees in the work force. LSS will encourage the expansion and innovative development of community based programs that enhance the economic self sufficiency of individuals and families.

Vision Element V:

LSS WILL PROMOTE EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

LSS WILL EXPAND ITS SERVICES ON BEHALF OF PERSONS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES THROUGH ITS COMMUNITY INTEGRATION PROGRAMS.

• LSS will respond to the right of persons with developmental disabilities to have the opportunity to live in the least restrictive setting possible, to be involved in meaningful ways in society and to have the chance to make individual choices and contribute to society through work, volunteering and in personal relationships, through growth in the number of clients whom its community integration programs serves.

Vision Element VI:

LSS WILL CARE FOR THE ELDERLY IN OUR MIDST

LSS WILL REPOSITION ITS SERVICES FOR THE AGED INTO A COMMUNITY BASED SERVICE MODEL THAT ADDRESSES MEDICAL/SOCIAL/SPIRITUAL NEEDS OF A DIVERSE GROUP OF ELDERLY PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES.

• Committed to remaining faithful to our mission and history of serving frail elderly people in the most direct and effective manner possible, LSS will over the next five years reposition its services for the aged from one of predominantly institutional nursing home care to a community based model of services for a diverse group of elderly people. We believe that LSS is called to address today's rapidly changing and highly competitive nursing home environment which limits church related agencies' ability to compete. Therefore LSS will reduce the number of skilled nursing beds it owns in order to invest its resources in developing community based services that relate directly to the needs of people in local congregations.

Adopted by LSS-NE BOD June 3, 1997. Endorsed by the ELCA, LCMS and Episcopal Diocese of NH.