In 2023 on any given day, 6,150 children and youth experienced out-of-home care, according to the Minnesota Department of Human Services. Children’s Home Society and Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota are affiliated organizations seeking foster parents to partner with them in caring for children and youth in need.

Minnesota lawmakers are considering a bill that would provide more support for families whose children are chronically absent from school.

St. Paul-based Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota, among the largest human service organizations in Minnesota, announced promotions for three organizational leaders to new executive positions: Joe Khawaja, Alexis Oberdorfer and Janine Fugate.

Legislation called the Minnesota Debt Fairness Act is being considered and would ban medical providers from denying non-emergency care to patients with large overdue bills, lower the interest rate on medical debt to zero, and keep medical debt from showing up on credit reports. Listen to a rebroadcast from 2022 as MPR News host Angela Davis talks about medical debt with experts including Kim Miller with LSS Financial Counseling.

Gary and Peg Janisch of Delano got their first glimpse of Camp Knutson last year at the camp’s annual Pancake Breakfast on the Saturday before 
Labor Day. The couple, who have a lake home near the camp, were immediately drawn to camp’s mission of serving individuals with identified needs and recently announced a $200,000 gift to Camp Knutson. 

Kate Hengy-Gretz with the LSS Crisis Nursery in Mankato appeared on Radio Mankato to talk about the work of the Crisis Nursery and how the community can help.

Shannon Doyle, financial education program manager with LSS Financial Counseling, talked with Pam Lundell on KTIS Radio's Community Spotlight program about the wide range of services available, including Debt Management Plans -- an effective way to tackle credit card debt -- as well as identity theft prevention strategies. Check it out!

Listen to the interview.

Shannon Doyle with LSS Financial Counseling appeared on MPR News with Angela Davis with Chris Farrell, nationally-acclaimed personal finance expert and MPR Senior economics contributor, to talk about emotional spending: why we do it and how to take control of it. Check it out!

The Greater Pine Island Alliance, a nonprofit organization focused on Hurricane Ian recovery efforts, hosted a free spring break camp in March designed to support elementary school-aged children from Greater Pine Island and Matlacha who have been affected by disaster.