Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota announces full merger with Children's Home Society of Minnesota
Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota (LSS) today announced its full merger with Children’s Home Society of Minnesota (Children’s Home). The merger, which continues a longstanding partnership between two historic Minnesota organizations to serve the needs of children and families through adoption and foster care, will allow for further operational efficiency and improved sustainability in services.
The partnership between the two organizations began in 2012 when LSS and Children’s Home combined the administration of their complementary adoption services. Due to the success of this partnership, in 2014, both institutions took steps to deepen their relationship through an affiliation agreement. From the start, the partnership honored both brands and maintained the legacy of the organizations while creating program and administrative efficiencies and a culture with shared values.
“The best interest of each child is at the center of our work, and this transition will allow us to adapt to the evolving changes in adoption and foster care,” said Heidi Wiste, president of Children’s Home who also serves as LSS’ associate vice president of Child and Family Services. “We are proud to continue this important relationship in a way that is more innovative and efficient, to ultimately provide the excellent quality of service deserved by the adoption and foster care community.”
The merger process is anticipated to be completed in the fall of 2025. As the two organizations have been structurally aligned since 2012, the merger will streamline operations with service partners at the county and state level. All 62 employees in Minnesota will continue their work in adoption and foster care, and services will remain what they are today.
“Children’s Home and LSS, both located in the St. Anthony Park neighborhood of St. Paul, are longtime neighbors and we have had a great working relationship through this process,” said Alexis Oberdorfer, senior vice president of Services for LSS. “With 300 years of combined experience between our two organizations, we are stronger together, operate with greater efficiency and complement one another in our work to create and support children and families through adoption and foster care.”
The two historic organizations began their mission providing care and finding families for orphaned children in 1865 for LSS and 1889 for Children’s Home. Last year, 5,814 individuals received foster care and adoption services, information, training and support. Of those served, 354 children and youth were supported by licensed and trained foster families, 103 children were placed in loving homes through international and domestic adoption and nearly 1,500 individuals received post adoption support and care.