LSA Awards Honor Social Ministry Organizations for Taking Risks To Improve Service
April 24, 2008 – St. Louis, MO – Eight social ministry organizations were honored April 24 for innovative and organization-changing programs as part of the 2008 Lutheran Services in America Awards for Excellence. The theme for the 2008 awards – Taking Risks for the Future – recognized that social ministry organizations must sometimes step out in faith to take a big leap into the future.
Awards for Excellence are given annually to help build a resource bank of ideas, and to celebrate innovation and excellence among Lutheran health and human service organizations. “Year after year we are astounded by the breadth and depth of creativity and commitment that Lutheran social service organizations put at the disposal of their communities,” said Jill Schumann, President and CEO of Lutheran Services in America. “This year, especially, we are proud to honor so many organizations that took chances to make their organizations, neighborhoods and communities better places.”
Lutheran Social Ministries of New Jersey received the award in the category of “Stretch for Mission” taking over and transforming an affordable housing community in the economically depressed area of North Camden, NJ. LSM worked with state and local government entities as well as homeowners and renters to re-shape the future of this slice of North Camden.
Luther Manor of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, took home an award in the category of “Exits and Entrances”. After 40 years of supporting local congregation’s programs for the aging, Luther Manor’s United Lutheran Program for the Aging reinvented its support as a competitive grant system inspiring congregations to develop innovative programs for a new generation of elders.
Niagara Lutheran Health System received the award for “Risky Business” for developing Buffalo, New York’s first continuing care campus when other senior residential and health care facilities were leaving the city or closing as a result of increasing operational risks, such as insufficient Medicaid reimbursements, deteriorating urban neighborhoods and declining populations.
Mosaic of Omaha, Nebraska, which serves people with developmental disabilities, received the award for “Transformational Systems Change” for system-wide changes that increased employee engagement, data-driven decision making, and technological innovations. Mosaic partnered with The Council of quality and Leadership to link all program locations under one certification as a network so that it could monitor and measure continuous quality improvement.
Lutheran – Episcopal Services in Mississippi was honored for “Collaborative Partnerships” for its Realtor Relief Fund, which makes rehabilitated properties on the Mississippi Gulf Coast available to those living at or below median income at pre-Katrina rates, providing an affordable rental alternative for fire fighters, police officers, teachers, and those who could not otherwise afford to leave FEMA trailers.
Opportunity Parish Ecumenical Neighborhood Ministry (OPEN M) took home an award for “New Needs/New Ways.” OPEN M completed and opened a 1,400 square foot addition to its medical clinic, allowing it to expand its pharmacy, add new exam and consultation rooms and offices. Last year the new pharmacy gave $854,000 worth of free medications to area patients.
St. Luke Lutheran Community of North Canton, Ohio, received the award for ”Integrating Technology” for its calculated risk of implementing Web-based software solutions for electronic medical records and medication administration. Both systems improve quality and reduce risk by standardizing practices, ensuring that ordered tasks are completed and improving resident safety.
Tabitha Health Care Services of Lincoln, Nebraska received the award for “Program Enhancement” for implementing a new model for long-term care in which elders live in a small residential setting licensed, equipped and staffed for nursing home care. While the organization risks of pioneering this transformation were tremendous, Tabitha has seen enormous improvement in residents’ quality of life and off-the-charts staff satisfaction.
Lutheran health and human services organizations that are members of Lutheran Services in America are eligible to enter the awards.
The LSA Conference was held April 23-25, 2008 in St. Louis. Close to 500 people attended, representing 92 Lutheran social ministry organizations and 34 states plus Washington, DC and the Virgin Islands.
Lutheran Services in America creates opportunities with people in thousands of communities throughout the United States and the Caribbean as an alliance of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, and their nearly 300 health and human service organizations. Working neighbor to neighbor through services in health care, aging and disability supports, community development, housing, and child and family strengthening, these organizations together touch the lives of one in 50 Americans each year.