Lutheran Social Services
Founded in 1919 with a single program, a home for unwed mothers, Lutheran Social Services (LSS) of North Dakota has grown to include nineteen different programs that service one in nine North Dakota residents according to Kim Nelson. Kim is a former member of the Rotary Club of Wahpeton, N.D. who transferred to the Fargo-Moorhead AM club on her move to Fargo when she became employed by LSS. She returned to her former club’s regular noon hour meeting at Prante’s on Tuesday, March 5th as the guest speaker to explain LSS to our members.
While all programs are indirectly accessible to all N.D. residents (not just Lutherans) by travelling to one of the major centers there are ten programs readily available in Richland County. These include: Adoption Option; Attendant Care; Gamblers Choice; Great Plains Food Bank; Housing; Lutheran Disaster Response; Luther Hall; Restorative Justice; Senior Companions and the Tracking program. Many of these programs are self-explanatory. Attendant care allows supervision of juveniles awaiting court intervention or parental pick-up (alternative to jail). Gamblers choice is an education and counseling program. The housing program creates affordable rental housing for rural communities. Luther Hall is a residential psychiatric treatment facility in Fargo for youth between ages ten and eighteen. The restorative Justice program allows perpetrators and victims to meet in a safe controlled environment to resolve differences and reduce recidivism. The senior companions program provides volunteers age fifty-five and up to assist seniors allowing them to continue to live independently. The tracking program pair adult mentors with troubled youth. Currently there is a legislative initiative in North Dakota to allow the Healthy Families program to collaborate with other North Dakota programs.
Luther Social Services motto is “Abound in Hope”. The nonprofit nongovernmental social services agency is owned by four hundred and eighty North Dakota churches. The name was officially changed to Lutheran Social Services in 1969. The main administrative center is in Fargo with other offices in Bismarck, Grand Forks, Minot and Williston.
