LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES OF COLORADO

FOSTER CARE SERVICES: IN THE PAST YEAR, LFSRM'S FOSTER CARE PROGRAMS PROVIDED 47,027 NIGHTS OF CARE FOR 174 CHILDREN AND YOUTH ACROSS THE FRONT RANGE OF COLORADO WHO WERE UNABLE TO REMAIN IN THEIR HOME OR WITH FAMILY. THE PROGRAM CARED FOR 95 YOUTH WHO WERE TEMPORARILY REMOVED FROM THEIR HOMES DUE TO ABUSE AND NEGLECT, AND 79 UNACCOMPANIED REFUGEE MINORS WHOSE PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS WERE UNABLE TO BE LOCATED AFTER HAVING FLED THEIR HOME COUNTRIES DUE TO WAR, UNREST OR OTHER VALID CONCERNS FOR SAFETY. LFSRM CERTIFIES AND TRAINS PARENTS TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY CARE TO CHILDREN AND YOUTH WHO ARE UNABLE TO BE CARED FOR BY THEIR BIOLOGICAL PARENTS OR KIN AND PROVIDES ONGOING SUPPORT AND OVERSIGHT TO ENSURE THE HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELLBEING OF CHILDREN IN CARE. THE AGENCY PROVIDES EVIDENCE BASED TRAINING TO ENSURE FAMILIES ARE WELL PREPARED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN PLACED IN THEIR HOMES IN A TRAUMA INFORMED MANNER. ADDITIONALLY, THE AGENCY PROVIDES HIGH QUALITY CASE MANAGEMENT AND ENHANCED SUPPORTS, INCLUDING CLINICAL SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, AND SPECIALIZE CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY APPROPRIATE FOSTER CARE AND INDEPENDENT LIVING SERVICES THAT FACILITATE SOCIAL, CULTURAL, AND ECONOMIC INTEGRATION FOR CHILDREN WHO ARE UNABLE TO BE REUNIFIED WITH THEIR FAMILY OR KIN. IN FY 2024, LFSRM MAINTAINED A PLACEMENT STABILITY RATE OF ONLY 1 CHANGE IN PLACEMENT PER 1,000 NIGHTS OF CARE, FAR BELOW THE STATE AVERAGE OF 3.52 MOVES PER 1,000 NIGHTS OF CARE.

REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT SERVICES: IN THE PAST YEAR, LFSRM'S REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT PROGRAMS SERVED 6,259 INDIVIDUALS FROM 68 COUNTRIES WITH RESETTLEMENT SERVICES THROUGHOUT COLORADO AND NEW MEXICO AND A SMALL NUMBER OF CLIENTS IN MONTANA. LFSRM PROVIDES QUALITY CASE MANAGEMENT AND A RANGE OF SERVICES TO FACILITATE SOCIAL, CULTURAL, AND ECONOMIC INTEGRATION FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY, ASSISTING WITH HOUSING, EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, AND CONNECTION TO A VARIETY OF OTHER SERVICES TO MEET INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY NEEDS. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, CLIENTS SERVED BY LFSRM'S RESETTLEMENT PROGRAMS WERE ON AVERAGE PLACED IN PERMANENT HOUSING WITHIN 5.14 DAYS OF ARRIVAL AND WERE EMPLOYED WITHIN 4.25 MONTHS OF ARRIVAL. ADDITIONAL SERVICES THIS YEAR INCLUDED REFUGEE YOUTH EDUCATION PROGRAMMING, YOUTH FOCUSED SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILL BUILDING AND MENTORING SERVICES, AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAMMING FOR REFUGEE WOMEN. THE PROGRAM ALSO OFFERED MICRO-LOANS AND INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNTS TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESS CREATION AND ASSET ATTAINMENT.