2006-07 LSS Annual Report by Lutheran Social Services of Northeast Florida

06 07 Lutheran Social Services

ANNUAL REPORT

Nurturing SEEDS of

HOPE

A MESSAGE FROM THE

President

e spent the past year nurturing several new directions for Lutheran Social Services that are resulting in exciting new programs and campaigns this year. Without your help, our vision for the future would be constrained by our past realities. Increased support by you, our donors, has enabled us to plan boldly for how we can best bring hope to the people in need coming to us for help. International Adoption Program After much preliminary work, we finally received our certification from the Department of Children and Families to handle international adoptions. This allows us to join a national collaboration of 30 Lutheran social ministry organizations that are active in both international and domestic adoptions and who are members of Lutheran Services in America (LSA). Lutherans and others who know about Lutheran social ministry organizations have occasionally asked us whether we could help them adopt internationally. We are proud to now be able to help find permanent families for children from nine countries. As part of a faith-based network, we are motivated to service on behalf of those without a voice—children who need permanent families—and on behalf of loving people hoping to adopt a child to become part of their home. Collectively, LAN member agencies place thousands of children into loving adoptive homes every year. The Sharing Place Thrift Shop We researched the possibility of opening a thrift shop to meet three needs – to collect household items to help us set up new homes for arriving refugees, provide for the needs of our ACE customers, and help diversify our revenue stream to make up for decreasing government funding. In February, we open (or perhaps we should say re-open) The Sharing Place Thrift Shop located in the same building as our main offices at 4615 Philips Highway. Even as we seek to serve more people through this newest venture, we are building on our past work. In the past, LSS successfully operated as many as three Sharing Place Thrift Shops located on the Westside, in Arlington and in Downtown Jacksonville. Food Bank Awareness Campaign We hired Jane Jordan & Associates to conduct a capital campaign feasibility study to determine our ability to raise a minimum of $8 million to increase the network capacity to recover and distribute more nutritious food throughout 18 Northeast Florida counties. What we learned is that before we embark on a capital campaign, we need to increase awareness of the Food Bank and why it is critical to our community’s ability to take care of its most vulnerable citizens. This past fall, On Ideas, a local advertising and public relations agency that works with major clients such as Winn-Dixie, offered to take the Food Bank on as a pro bono client to develop a brand awareness campaign for us. The agency is already hard at work and has set a goal of unveiling the campaign, complete with a name change for the Food Bank, by this coming fall to coincide with America’s Second Harvest’s marketing and public relations push during Hunger Action Month in September. Growing Support from Donors Please visit our Web site to read the names of the many individuals and organizations that supported us with their financial gifts this past year. Each one of you is very important to us and enables us to realize big dreams of ways we can grow to meet needs. Thanks to you, we look forward to a very exciting 28th year of serving people in need in Northeast Florida.

R. Wayne Rieley, LSS president/CEO

BOARD OF DIRECTORS OFFICERS Lawrence Huser, Chair Kem Siddons, Vice Chair Tracey Arpen, Secretary Jerome Crawford, Treasurer MEMBERS Martha Baggs Julie Buckingham The Rev. Sharon Dorr Brenda Ezell Marie Friedsam Donald Martin Jack Parker The Rev. William Reister Dwane Tyson

JETSET Junior Executives Today Setting Examples for Tomorrow OFFICERS Melissa Ross, President Mark Stevens, Vice President Alan Verlander, Past President MEMBERS Barrett Cook Robert Franklin Liz Hartman Carter Henderson James Hopkins Annie Houghton Sonja Kutsch Bill Laird Dewayne Rabon Ron Rothberg Tracy Sadeghian Kimberly Sole Kevin Wallquist Katie Wiltse

B ala n ce sheet for y ear e n di n g S eptember 3 0 , 2 0 0 7 ASSETS

LIABILITIES

Current Assets

Current Liabilities

Cash and cash equivalents

$858,017

Accounts payable

$83,906

Cash and cash equivalents - restricted

$605,406

Accrued retirement expense

$34,480

Accounts receivable - service fees

$62,465

Accrued compensated absences - current portion

$24,140

Accounts receivable - funding sources

$418,225

Deferred revenues

$12,700

Pledges receivable - short-term portion

$1,852

Deposits held for others

$608,323

Available from endowment fund - current portion

$34,410

Other accrued expenses

$42,487

Food Bank inventory

$32,555

Notes payable - current portion of long-term debt

Investments

Prepaid expenses

$4,136

Total current liabilities

$810,172

$30,442

Total current assets

$2,043,372

Property and equipment, net

$2,738,256

Long-term liabilities

Notes payable

Accrued compensated absences - long-term portion $49,013

$147,592

Total long-term liabilities

$196,605

Other assets

Cash and cash equivalents - restricted

$324,674

Pledges receivable - long-term portion

Available from endowment fund - long-term portion $103,230

Total other assets

$427,904

TOTAL ASSETS

$5,209,532

Total liabilities

$1,006,777

Net assets

Unrestricted net assets

Agency Temporarily restricted netRevenue assets by Source

Total net assets

$3,590,165 $612,590 $4,202,755

Federal/State/Local Grants 65.2%

TOTAL LIABILITIES & NET ASSETS

AGENCY REVENUE BY SOURCE Agency Revenue by Source

$5,209,532

Fees for Services 16.2%

Foundations & Private Grants 4.6%

Federal/State/Local Grants 65.2%

Churches 0.4%

Special Events 6.6%

Individual Donations 4.0%

Corporate Donations 0.9%

Investments 1.1%

Miscellaneous 1.0%

AGENCY EXPENSES BY PROGRAM Agency Expenses by Program Food Bank 41.59%

Refugee Svcs 26.02%

Fees for Services 16.2%

Foundations & Private Grants 4.6% Churches 0.4%

Special Events 6.6%

Corporate Donations 0.9%

Individual Donations 4.0%

Investments 1.1%

Miscellaneous 1.0%

Administration 9.16%

Agency Expenses by Program Food Bank 41.59%

Refugee Svcs 26.02%

Development 4.64%

ACE 11.61%

Rep-Payee 6.98%

Please visit www.lssjax.org from a complete recognition list of all our valued donors from 2006-07. A special thank you to everyone who supported LSS. This year would not have been possible without you! Administration 9.16%

2006-07 LSS Annual Report/Page 3 ACE

Rep-Payee

SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK

n the 2006-07 fiscal year, the Second Harvest Food Bank distributed 6,424,683 pounds of food directly from its main facility (1502 Jessie Street). The annual distribution is valued at over $9.6 million of donated items. Much of this food would have been lost to landfills if not for the efforts of the drivers, warehouse staff and volunteers who rescue the food on a daily basis. The rescued and donated food created about 4.3 million meals with an average serving of 11,780 meals per day. Many external influences changed the amount of food available during the fiscal year. The Food Bank suffered a dramatic shift in available food from the USDA TEFAP program of over 600,000 pounds – a 26 percent reduction. In mitigating the dangers of the food-borne illnesses during

nonprofit organizations and individuals throughout the Food Bank’s service area. By partnering with charities whose missions are to educate children, end homelessness, rescue victims, and provide ongoing support to those in need, the Food Bank was able to create a solid foundation for local nonprofits and charities to increase the capacity of their own organizations. By reducing costs in transportation and handling areas, in April of 2007, the Food Bank reduced costs normally shared by agencies. Since this time, the Food Bank has been able to save these organizations an average of $37,000 per month in addition to the $9.6 million saved during the year. Food distribution rose and new programs in rural areas emerged as a result. The Food Bank has increased the food going to rural counties by as much as two to three times that distributed in previous years. Children benefited even more in the 2006-07 fiscal year. During the first of the year, the addition of many of the Jacksonville Recreation and Parks Department sites increased the total number of Kids Cafe programs. America’s Second 2007, the Food Bank contacted all food recipients and recalled tens of thousands Harvest, the Nation’s Food of pounds of potentially harmful items. Bank Network, recognized Steep increases in the cost of staple resourcthe LSS Second Harvest es such as dairy products forced donations Food Bank as the largest to decrease or be eliminated from some previous sources, while increases in fleet Kids Cafe program in the maintenance and fuel prices created over nation with 92 sites. The $141,000 in transportation costs. Food Bank was also recognized as To overcome the reductions in food creating the most growth in the Kids sources, the Food Bank expanded its scope of procurement to outside its 18-county Cafe programs with an additional 27 service area. Donations were coordinated sites in just one year – the national through producers, manufacturers, and average is four sites per year. These warehouses in 13 states resulting in almost programs at schools, youth centers, 2 million pounds of food from outside our area. Local donors were asked to focus athletic leagues and churches provided on set goals for their collection efforts by a safe place for children to go after taking the Food Drive Challenge of 5,000 school and during the summer to to 20,000 pounds. Despite all the setbacks, learn, receive tutoring, participate the generosity of the donors increased the donations by 823,000 pounds from in physical exercise and receive the previous fiscal year. The result was an approved nutrition provided by the increase of approximately 223,000 pounds Food Bank. of food donations. These donations were distributed to

BACK TO BACK TO BACK: A YEAR’S WORTH OF RECORD-BREAKERS

pecial events are not only an important fundraising tool for the Second Harvest Food Bank, they also act as much-needed awareness builders of the intricate and valuable role the Food Bank serves in the Northeast Florida community. The big events of 2007 marked a special record-breaking year and helped propel the Food Bank into 2008.

Shay T’s Catering Concepts, Chef Liz Grenamyer of Catering by Liz, Executive Chef Partner Tom Gray of Bistro Aix, Executive Chef Charles Charbonneau of the Sawgrass Marriott Resort and Spa, Executive Chef Tim Hoch of Levy Restaurants, and Chef Matthew Medure of Matthew’s. We are excited to announce that plans are in motion for a sixth year of Taste of the NFL, with a date to be determined for September 2008, the nation’s official “Hunger Action Month.”

17th Annual Jacksonville Food Fight Sponsored by Everbank, the 17th Annual Jacksonville Food Fight, which took place on June 7, 2007, raised over $55,300 in net revenue, which is almost $10,000 more than the previous year’s net revenue. The money raised is the equivalent of 307,000 pounds of food or 204,600 meals for hungry people in Jacksonville and surrounding areas. The event took place at the Crown Royal Touchdown Club and featured over 45 of Jacksonville’s best restaurants and beverage distributors. Preparations for the 2008 Food Fight are already underway, so mark your calendars for another exciting night! The 18th Annual Jacksonville Food Fight presented by Everbank will be held on Thursday, June 6, 2008, 6-9 p.m.. Additional details can be found on the LSS events calendar on page 11 or by visiting www.lssjax.org.

23rd ANNUAL EMPTY BOWLS LUNCHEON Sponsored by Acosta Sales and Marketing, last year’s Empty Bowls Luncheon also broke all previous records – more than 900 people attended and the event raised over $50,000 for the LSS Second Harvest Food Bank. The luncheon was held on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2007, from noon – 1 p.m., at the Prime Osborn Convention Center. The luncheon is one of our most recognizable events for raising support and awareness of the issue of hunger in Northeast Florida. Uniquely individual ceramic bowls created by area students and local potters are displayed prominently at the event. Artists’ bowls signed by celebrities such as Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, Billy Idol, and Kenny Chesney are included in a silent auction during the luncheon. Local school groups and other community groups 5TH ANNUAL JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS TASTE OF THE NFL perform during the heartfelt program. A record crowd generated the highest net revenue to date at We look forward to hosting the 24th Annual Empty Bowls the 5th Annual Jacksonville Jaguars Taste of the NFL, hosted Luncheon, which will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2008, noon by Jaguars co-owners Wayne and Delores Barr Weaver. With to 1 p.m., at the Prime Osborn Convention Center. Join us as we $174,980 raised, these funds will provided more than 648,000 kick off the holiday season and help us fill empty bowls. meals for the hungry in our community. It was truly an unforget- In an effort to meet growing needs in our community, special table night. events like Food Fight, Taste of the NFL, and the Empty Bowls Held on Thursday, Sept. 20, 2007, at the Crown Royal Luncheon help to promote hunger awareness, raise much-needed Touchdown Club West in Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, funds, and show support for one of the nation’s most solvable Jacksonville’s premier “party with a purpose” showcased the city’s social issues – food insecurity. We would like to thank everyone finest chefs who prepared an exquisite six-course dinner complete involved in the success of these events, including guests, sponsors, with wine pairings for guests to enjoy. Last year, Taste of the NFL and volunteers. We look forward to your continued support and was proud to feature Executive Chef Partner Shane Cheshire of participation in 2008.

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R E F UG E E & IMMIGRATION SERVICES

ast year, the Refugee and Immigration Services (RIS) Program resettled 188 people from other continents and countries including Africa, the Western Hemisphere, the former Soviet Union, Eastern Europe and Asia. Our newest group of refugees are Burmese people who have been living in Thailand and Burundis from Tanzania. These people had been granted the status of refugee, asylee or entrant by the U.S. State Department because they were escaping persecution due to politics, war or personal beliefs. They came to LSS via Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) and Episcopal Migration Ministries (EMM). The 27 RIS staff members speak a total of 17 languages and come from 14 countries in the world. They work to pave the way for refugees in learning about the American culture, government requirements, banking and employment processes. Their goal is to promote long-term economic self-sufficiency and effective resettlement for refugees, entrants and asylees. Through Resettlement Services, the RIS staff works to introduce newly-arrived refugees to their new community. Staff members help refugees secure safe housing, food, cash assistance, public health screenings, health care and Social Security cards. Children are enrolled in school and acculturation begins for all entrants. Through Employment Services, RIS staff assists all eligible refugees (up to 60 months after they come to this country) in achieving economic self-sufficiency and effective resettlement in as short of a time period as possible by helping them find gainful employment. Staff members help refugees search for jobs, write resumes and learn how to complete job applications. RIS has longstanding relationships with a number of employers in Jacksonville who are eager to hire refugees. The top employers last year were ATS Staffing, Gate Precast Company, Amelia Island Plantation, and various hotels and restaurants. They hired refugees mainly from Russia, Cuba, Haiti, Liberia and Burma. Last year, RIS Employment placed 303 refugees in jobs throughout Jacksonville In Career Laddering, staff members help each refugee develop an individual career track based on agreed-upon career goals. Refugees are encouraged to target

specific jobs and identify professional growth objectives, including further education needed, skills training and credentialing necessary before moving to the next step on the career ladder. Last year, Career Laddering staff helped 31 refugees find and participate in further training to advance their careers. Of these 31 people, 28 found job placement in the Jacksonville area. Refugee Youth and Family Services staff members provide services to assist all eligible refugee youth and their families in achieving family stability and integration into the Jacksonville community. School liaisons work within the schools to help refugee youth with all aspects of the public school educational system, such as development of good study habits and tutoring if necessary. Last year, staff worked with 169 youth. They came from 24 countries including Afghanistan, Burma, Burundi, Congo, Cuba, Ethiopia, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, the Ivory Coast, Liberia, Myanmar, Russia, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan and the Ukraine. As part of Healthy Marriages/ Family Nurturing services, staff members provide eligible refugee youth and their families with hands-on assistance and guidance in the areas of family violence or psychosocial issues that may impede their progress toward self-sufficiency. Last year, these services helped 13 women and nine men from eight countries. Contracts from the State of Florida Department of Children and Families allow LSS to provide employment services including Career Laddering and Refugee Youth and Family Services program services including Healthy Marriages/ Family Nurturing Services. A cooperative agreement by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration with LIRS and EMM provides reception and placement services. Integration Assistance Services (IAS) staff members provide intensive case management to refugees who face significant social and cultural barriers in becoming self-sufficient. An example is an elder person applying for SSI in order to live independently. IAS also provides survival English classes for six weeks for all new refugee arrivals. Each week features a different acculturation issue, such as health care or education, and participants may enter and exit as needed.

celebrates world

LSS THE WOMEN OF THE

nternational Women’s Day (IWD) has been observed since girls are often kept from receivthe early 1900s. Recognized on March 8, IWD is an ing education in the poorest important global day connecting all women around the countries that would best world and inspiring20them to achieve their benefit from the economic 160full potential. U.S. Svalbard Norwegian 40 (NORWAY) 140 60 80 power Sea IWD celebrates the collective growth. Provideniya 100 120 of women past, present Wrangel Island FRANZ JOSEF and future. Until men and women LAND Arctic Ocean Anadyr' Hosted by LSS Refugee & Immigration Services and work together to secure NEW Program SIBERIAN East Siberian ISLANDS SEVERNAYA Barents Sea the Women’s Center of Jacksonville, Inc., a special event to honorSea the rights and full potential ZEMLYA Cherskiy IWD will beNOVAYA held on Friday, March 7, from 5 - 8 p.m., at Riverside of women, lasting solutions Bering to the180 Laptev Murmansk ZEMLYA Sea AND Sea Park United Methodist Church world’s most serious social, economic and Kara Sea(819 Park Street, Jacksonville, FL 32204). The celebration will feature music, singing, food, special political problems are unlikely to be found. ke Ladoga KH guest speakers including refugee women from the community, In recent decades, much progress has been Tiksi RE BE T Arkhangel'sk CHE RSKOGO as well as a silent auction and live entertainment. Everyone is made. On a worldwide level, women’s access to Lake Onega Noril'sk welcome and encouraged to attend. The event is free; guestsANare education and proper health care has increased, SK S Magadan KHREBET I Nto bring a dish to share. encouraged their participation in the paid labor force has grown, PetropavlovskA e rcl Kamchatskiy Ci Arctic A yuy and legislation that promises equal opportunities for I Yakutsk Nizhniy Novgorod Vil R E women and respect for their human 160 rights has been adB Why dedicate a SdayI exclusively to the Sea of Kazan' opted in many countries. The world now has an ever-growing a m Okhotsk Perm' a KURIL K celebration of the world’s women? ISLANDS Yekaterinburg number of women participating in society as policy makers. Occupied by the Soviet Union in 1945, Ufa Irt administered by Russia, na Samara ysh However, nowhere in the world can women claim to have L Chelyabinsk The United Nations General Assembly, composed Leof delegates claimed by Japan. a Angar A all the same rights and opportunities as men. The majority of from every member state, celebrates International Women’s Day T Sakhalin BE Omsk to recognize that peace andKrasnoyarsk social progress require the activeREpar- the world’s 1.3 billion absolute poor are women. On average, u Lake ) receive between 30 and 40 percent less pay than men ticipation and equality of Novosibirsk women and to acknowledgeBaikal the contribu- womenKhabarovsk Astana earn for the same work. And everywhere, women continue to tionQaraghandy of women to international peace and security. For the women Irkutsk Sapporo 40 domestic violence listed be victims of violence, with rape and of the(Karaganda) world, the day is an occasion to review how far they have Harbin KAZAKHSTAN Aral Sea Lake as significant causes of disability and death among women of come in theirBalkhash struggle for equality, peace and development. Ulaanbaatar Changchun Vladivostok QIZIL reproductive age worldwide. People might think that women’s equality benefits mostly QUM Sea of Japan UZBEKISTAN T women, but every one-percentile growth in female secondary S MONGOLIA JAPAN R Shenyang NORTH . AN E S Almaty Tokyo KOREA E bat schooling results in a 0.3 percent growth in the economy. D Yet Bishkek I 'Y GOR KOLYMSKOYE NA

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fall, RIS will prepare for the arrival of its newest cer Y Can of refugees, the Bhutanese in Nepal. population R of Jaipur Taipei ic Lucknow BHUTAN hi Trop Guiyang Due to ongoing Bhutanse civil conflict 20 over the past 16 years, Kathmandu Thimphu Kanpur Gang a tr u e Taiwan ap s the United States has launched a program to resettle tens of - Kunming Ahmadabad Brahm Xi Jiang Guangzhou Philippine BANGLADESH Dhaka thousands of Bhutanse refugees from refugee camps in neighboring Hong Kong S.A.R. I N D I A Nanning Macau S.A.R. Surat Kolkata Sea Nepal. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Mandalay Hanoi Chittagong Nagpur Mumbai Refugees, many Bhutanese refugees say they want to return to their Pune Haiphong BURMA LAOS Hainan Luzon DECCAN Dao homes in Bhutan. Despite this desire – and despite numerous - Nay Pyi Hyderabad S Vientiane AT Manila Taw GH RN high-level Hue South meetings between the governments of Bhutan and Nepal to TE Rangoon THAILAND resolve crisis – Bhutan has not permitted a single refugee Chinathe refugee PHILIPPINES Bay of Bengaluru VIETNAM Sea Bangkok Cebu than 100,000 refugees in Nepali camps, to return home. Of the more Bengal Chennai DWEEP CAMBODIA SPRATLY A) the United States will consider for resettlement at least 60,000. ANDAMAN Mindanao ISLANDS Cochin Phnom ISLANDS Sulu Sea Andaman (INDIA) Jaffna With the help and dedication of the RIS Penh staff, Bhutanese refugees sent to LSS will Davao receive a wealth of assistance in areas such as Ho Chi Minh Sea City Gulf of education, housing, language and career opportunities in order Bandar to begin new and safer lives in the United States. SRI LANKA Thailand Laccadive Seri New Delhi

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2006-07 LSS Annual Report/Page 7 Celebes

AIDS CARE & EDUCATION SERVICES

he AIDS Care and Education (ACE) Program faced a number of challenges in 2007 brought on by the reduction in Ryan White funding, which resulted in the elimination of three case management positions, the highly successful Jail LINC (Linking Inmates Needing Care) Program, and the Food Pantry Program. A restructuring of the funding for the Housing Assistance Program resulted in the loss of two more positions. Despite these challenges, in 2007 ACE’s remaining seven staff members assisted through case management 459 people who were HIV-positive. Of these, 62 were new clients to the ACE Program. Additionally, the Housing Assistance Program assisted 81 people last year. At the beginning of 2007, ACE encompassed several service categories: Ryan White case management, housing, mental health, Project AIDS CARE Waiver case management and the nationally recognized Jail LINC (Linking Inmates Needing Care) Program. ACE also had a food pantry available to those meeting the federal poverty guidelines. During the changes, ACE pulled together as a team which facilitated better communication between staff and supervision, thereby providing the people they served with a more efficient service delivery. The ACE staff reached out and served people living in rural areas, women, men, racial/ethnic minorities and communities of color, homeless people, gay, lesbian and bisexual adults, incarcerated persons, people in need of mental health counseling, injection drug users and other drug users. Of the 459 people served in the case management program last year, 230 were 24-44 years old. In addition, 218 were 45-64 years old, and nine people were 65 or older. Two people were between 18-23 years old. In the terms of race and ethnicity of those in case management, 156 were white or Caucasian, 291 were black or African-American, seven were Hispanic or Latino, and five were classified as Asian or other. Of the total number of people in the program, the majority was diagnosed with HIV (not AIDS) and 158 had a Center for Disease Control-defined diagnosis of AIDS. On the basis of income, 308 individuals

had household incomes at, or lower than, the federal poverty level of $10,210. In order to stretch their incomes and help make ends meet when necessary, people with whom ACE worked sought rental, mortgage and utility assistance from the Housing Program or were referred out to other agencies. ACE provided 459 people with specific case management services and referrals for health care and supportive services, for example, dental care, substance and domestic abuse counseling, Social Security Disability, Food Stamps and legal and utility assistance. In addition, 42 people received mental health services from ACE’s mental health counselor, and 81 people were assisted through H.O.W. (Housing Opportunities for Women and Children). The ACE staff assisted people with all aspects relating to their medical well-being such as finding appropriate medical treatment sites, keeping appointments, moving into homes and apartments, finding household supplies and goods and obtaining personal care items. The staff served as advocates to landlords, lawyers and the Department of Children and Families. They taught people how to be more self-reliant by teaching them to budget their income, to live independently and to be more responsible for their daily existence. The majority of the services that the ACE Program offered last year were funded by the following government contracts: •

Ryan White Case Management and Mental Health - Ryan White Title I (via City of Jacksonville Behavioral and Human Services Division of the Recreational and Community Services Department), which receives the funds as a Transitional Grant Area Part A from HRSA;

•

Housing Opportunities for Women and Children, Shared Housing, – Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS (via the federal government to the City of Jacksonville);

•

Project AIDS Care Waiver Case Management - State of Florida Medicaid (a certification of the agency and individual case managers to provide the service).

International Adoption Services TAKES SHAPE IN 2008

hildren all over the world are in need of loving homes. Lutheran Social Services of Northeast Florida is proud to help facilitate families’ next additions. In 2007, LSS became a member of the Lutheran Adoption Network (LAN). LAN is a national collaboration of 30 Lutheran social ministry organizations that are active in international adoptions and who are members of Lutheran Services in

and the director of operations, Dan Ashdon, were verified. In addition, LSS was required to obtain a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with a foster home in the event an adoption falls through and placement of the child becomes necessary. LSS has contracted with Kelsea Eckert, an attorney and former board member, to serve as the LSS international adoption coordinator. Kelsea originally brought up idea of adding international adoptions to the mission of LSS in 2004. She updated a business plan that LSS had developed in the early 2000s for a potential international adoption program and participated in the application process for DCF. LSS representatives and she set up informational meetings with the various service providers in the community who will conduct the home studies for the prospective parents, provide counseling with the families and Due to its affiliation with LAN, LSS is able to help prospective prepare the dossiers. These providparents adopt children from such countries as China, Colombia, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Mongolia, Philippines, Russia, ers will in turn be contract employUkraine, and Vietnam. ees for LSS for the above services they will be providing. LSS hosted the first in a series America (LSA). As a whole, LAN memof international adoption informational ber agencies place thousands of children sessions on Feb. 5 at Shepherd of the in caring adoptive homes every year. Woods Lutheran Church. Other sessions Services are not restricted to Lutherans. will follow at various locations throughLSS and LAN provide adoption services out Northeast Florida, and presentations to all qualified parents regardless of faith. scheduled to date can be found on the As a direct service agency, LSS is the LSS calendar of events on page 11, as well only agency in 11 counties licensed to as future presentations as they are schedhandle international adoptions and the uled on the LSS Web site, www.lssjax.org. only member agency of LAN operating At each session, prospective parents will in the state of Florida. have the opportunity to learn more about A lot of preliminary legwork was the International Adoption Program and accomplished in 2007 in order for this LAN. Providers will answer questions new and exciting service to come to frui- about how the process works and what to tion. First, LSS created a list of policies expect. Prospective parents will also be and procedures which followed the state able to make an appointment to apply and statutes and Department of Children and start the process, if they are interested. Families’ (DCF) regulations on how the Over the years, Lutherans and others program would be conducted. Before LSS familiar with the services typically procould be certified to provide international vided by Lutheran social service agencies adoption services, the credentials, educa- nationwide have asked LSS to help them tion, experience and background of both adopt children. The agency is blessed to the agency president, Wayne Rieley, finally be able to meet their needs.

FAQS Do I have to be Lutheran to adopt through Lutheran Social Services? No. Lutheran Social Services provides adoption services to all qualified parents, regardless of religious affiliation. How long does the adoption process take? The first step is the home study, which takes about three months. Placement of a child usually occurs within 12 months upon completion of the home study. Is travel always required? For almost all countries, travel by at least one parent is required. Parents are strongly encouraged to travel for their adoption, regardless of country requirements. This is a great way to experience the culture of the child’s birthplace. How much does adopting a child cost? Costs for adopting a child depend on variables such as age of the child, country of origin and travel timing. In general, total costs range between $15,000 and $30,000.

CONTACT INFO For more information on the LSS International Adoption Program, please contact: Kelsea Eckert LSS International Adoption Coordinator Toll-free: 1.888.LSS.ADOPT (1.888.577.2367) E-mail: wkeckert@lssjax.org

2006-07 LSS Annual Report/Page 9

REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE SERVICES

he mission of the Lutheran Social Services Representative Payee Program is to provide clients with prudent financial management and counseling from qualified fiscal coordinators. The LSS Representative Payee Program is the only agency in Northeast Florida that manages Social Security checks for people not capable of spending their money appropriately. Consisting of eight full-time staff members, Representative Payee had 1,000 clients enrolled in the program in 2007 that were served each month. Of those, 450 resided in assisted living facilities (ALFs). The program serves and works with all age groups, from less than four years old to over 60. All of the people served last year are considered low income, according to the Federal Poverty Guideline. The Representative Payee Program works in partnership with over 85 ALFs, the Mental Health Resource Center, Mental Health Center of Jacksonville, River Region Human Services, Northwest Behavioral Services, Clay County Behavior Services, St. Johns County Mental Health Department, Nassau County Mental Health Services, North Florida AIDS Network, the LSS ACE Program and Gateway Community Services. These partnerships help staff members follow the whereabouts of the people they serve, understand their total financial obligations and work together to make sure that these people are able to access the services they need. The people served in this program are especially susceptible to making bad spending decisions and are often easily manipulated by others. Before they were required to have a Representative Payee, these people would often spend most or all of their Social Security checks on alcohol, drugs or non-essential items without regard to shelter, food and other basic needs. They were then forced to turn to other community resources as well as federal monies to survive the rest of the month, using the resources of other community services to house, feed or otherwise care for themselves after their money was gone. Government funding for the Representative Payee Program came from the State of Florida Department of Children and Families and from the City of Jacksonville Public Service Grant. The program also received fees from clients who were not covered under these two grants. These clients pay $34 per month, and the amount is deducted from their account each month. Starting in 2008, these fees will increase to $35 per month. The cost to cover program expenses for each client is actually about $60 per month. The eight staff members in the program worked to meet a series of objectives designed to keep the people with whom they worked off the streets and ensure that their basic needs were met. Staff members met the following objectives last year: • Met face-to-face with 85 percent of the people for whom they provided fiscal management services; • Ensured that new clients in the program had housing within 60 days of beginning Representative Payee Services; • Paid all monthly fixed bills for the people with whom they worked and helped them live within their established budgets; • Prevented homelessness for all of the persons living with HIV/AIDS; • Referred all of the people who needed referral to substance abuse treatment or mental health treatment; • Ensured that 90 percent of the clients with whom they worked did not experience incarcerations; •

Provided fiscal management for 30 persons receiving Social Security benefits and living with HIV/AIDS.

Lutheran Social Services CALENDAR OF EVENTS

A “feast for the eyes” competition that’s sure to wow spectators.

FEBRUARY 29 - MARCH 30, 2008 7TH ANNUAL CANSTRUCTION® Jacksonville Public Library - Main Library 303 N. Laura Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202

Learn how LSS can help facilitate the next addition to your family.

THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2008 INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION INFORMATIONAL SESSION 6 p.m., Cross+Road Lutheran Church 5091 Lakeshore West, Orange Park, FL 32003 FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 2008 INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 5 - 8 p.m., Riverside Park United Methodist Church 819 Park Street, Jacksonville, FL 32204

Volunteers and donors are the heart of our organization.

APRIL 18, 2008 LSS APPRECIATION DAY 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. FCCJ Deerwood Center 9911 Old Baymeadows Road, Jacksonville, FL 32256 THURSDAY, MAY 8, 2008 INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION INFORMATIONAL SESSION 6 p.m., Trinity Lutheran Church 1415 S. McDuff Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32205 SATURDAY, MAY 10, 2008 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LETTER CARRIERS FOOD DRIVE Don’t forget to leave nonperishable food items by your mailbox for pick up!

Take a bite out of hunger and sample exquisite food and drinks from 50 of Jacksonville’s finest restaurants.

Volunteering at the Food Bank is fun and easy. Simply call 904.353.FOOD (3663).

THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2008 18TH ANNUAL JACKSONVILLE FOOD FIGHT 6 - 9 p.m., Crown Royal Touchdown Club FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 2008 WORLD REFUGEE DAY SEPTEMBER 2008 - HUNGER ACTION MONTH 6TH ANNUAL TASTE OF THE NFL Date/Time TBD

Wear red and show your support!

Join us as we celebrate the women of the world.

Help us fill empty bowls with another record-breaking event!

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2008 24TH ANNUAL EMPTY BOWLS LUNCHEON Noon - 1 p.m., Prime Osborn Convention Center MONDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2008 WORLD AIDS DAY

Be sure to check the LSS Web site, www.lssjax.org, for complete event information, ticket ordering and updates throughout the year. 2006-07 LSS Annual Report/Page 11

LSS SENIOR STAFF PRESIDENT/CEO R. Wayne Rieley DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Dan Ashdon CONTROLLER Richard Mochowski

Lutheran Social Services of Northeast Florida, Inc. 4615 Philips Highway Jacksonville, FL 32207 Editor: Karen J. Rieley Writer/Designer: Melissa Simpson

Solutions

from the

Non-Profit Org U.S. Postage PAID Jacksonville, FL Permit No. 1610

Heart.

Agency Sponsor: Working in Partnership with:

HUMAN RESOURCES SPECIALIST Eileen Nelson DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT Karen Rieley PROGRAM DIRECTORS: AIDS CARE & EDUCATION Dick Niemann INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION Kelsea Eckert REFUGEE & IMMIGRATION SERVICES Barbara Carr REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE SERVICES Richard Mochowski SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK Patrick Colley THE SHARING PLACE THRIFT SHOP Deborah Reeves