Happy World Social Work Day and Social Worker Appreciation Month!

The month of March is National Social Work month, and this year’s theme is Social Work Matters.  Some social work matters include but are not limited to: adolescent development, aging and family caregiving, poverty reduction, non-profit management, and community development. Social Workers care for people in every stage of life, from childhood to late life, by helping families and individuals overcome life’s most difficult challenges. Some of the troubles that Social Workers work to alleviate include: poverty, stress, discrimination, addiction, abuse, depression, physical illness, unemployment, underemployment, divorce, disability, death, medical conditions, intellectual challenges, and mental illness. Social Workers help ensure the personal well-being of their clients; they prevent crises and counsel individuals and families, as well as make sure people get the help they need from the best resources available. For more than 100 years, Social Workers have been catering to the needs of lower-income families and individuals.

LSG is active in providing superior services in each of the areas listed above, and we would like to recognize all of our exceptional Social Workers at the agency. To celebrate the hard work of these Social Workers at LSG, Foster Care and Family Intervention Services recognizes National Social Work month and invites everyone to make a Social Worker at every level feel appreciated on March 20, 2012, World Social Work Day.

REFUGEE SERVICES: LSG Refugee Services Yard Sale 3-17

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Yard Sale Hours: 7 AM to 1 PM Donation Drop Off: 7 AM to 11 AM Rock of Ages Lutheran Church 5135 Memorial Drive Stone Mountain, GA 30083

Time for spring cleaning at your house? It is at LSG! We are cleaning out our storage facilities and having a yard sale of items we can't use for refugee apartments and items from our refugee clothing closet that don't fit our current refugee population. The morning of March 17 you can drop off donations of gently used furniture, household and kitchen items, pots and pans, bedding, and towels and then take a browse at items for sale. Please note that per the IRS, donations must be in good or better condition in order to be tax-deductible. Receipts will be provided at donation drop-off. We'll fill up our storage with the items refugees need and sell the rest to raise funds for our refugee programs.

LSG will resettle up to 800 refugees in 2012 and we set up apartments for every refugee family or group of refugee singles.  Sometimes a congregation or group will partner with LSG to resettle a family and collect all the furniture and household items needed for the apartment.  But the more common scenario is that LSG sets up the apartment with furniture and household items donated by generous folks like you who might be cleaning out a basement or attic, moving or replacing things that are still in great shape.  There is actually a list developed by the U.S. Department of State of furniture and household items that we must put in every refugee apartment.  (Click here to see our Refugee Services Wish List)  Any items on the list that we don’t have from donations must be purchased out of the refugee’s one-time resettlement grant – money that would otherwise go to pay for rent while the refugee is learning English and seeking employment.

So, donate any items you have from this year’s “spring cleaning” to the Refugee Services Yard Sale on March 17 or hang on to the Wish List and keep LSG in mind for future donations!  You can help us fulfill our mission of …empowering refugees from arrival to self-reliance as they create a new home in America.  Thank you!

FACES: Introverted Client Blossoms in New Home

When Steve first came into the care of Lutheran Services of Georgia, the only home he had ever really known was the hospital where he had lived for the past 40 years – the one his family left him at when he was only 13 years old.  Autistic and non-verbal, at first glance Steve appeared to be a lost soul. He had no close friends, few interests, and spent most of his time ambling aimlessly around the hospital grounds.  As Steve’s case managers worked to match him with a home, they were unsure about how he would cope with leaving the place he had lived almost his entire life. But on the day of the move, Steve walked out the door with a smile on his face and didn’t look back.  Since moving in with his new family, Steve has blossomed. He has a new job where he earns his own money, enjoys playing basketball with the other guys in the house, and has developed a healthy appetite. Most importantly, for the first time in his life Steve has developed personal attachments with his new family.  It seems after a lifetime of wandering, Steve has finally found a place where he belongs.  One man, one new family, one agency fulfilling its mission to bring people home.

REFUGEE SERVICES: School Success for Refugee Students

Burmese Student Masters Math

Paw Gaw is a Karen Burmese student who arrived in the United States just four short years ago at the age of 13 after living for 11 years in a Thai refugee camp with her family. In the camp, Paw Gaw attended school for six years, completing the U.S. equivalent of about 4th grade. It's a huge adjustment for refugee students to find them shelves in American schools and Paw Gaw was no exception.

After arriving in Georgia, Paw Gaw spent a year in intensive study of English at the DeKalb School System's International Student Center and then a year at Clarkston High School (CHS). Overwhelmed by the adjustment to school in America and still struggling to learn English, Paw Gaw had the opportunity to attend the Global Village School (GVS) for Refugee Girls for the 2010-2011 school year for continued studies in  English and instruction geared towards helping her catch up in school to her American peers.

Paw Gaw, back at Clarkston High School this year with continuing support by her GVS Mentor and attending LSG's ASAP After School Academic/Arts Program, is taking on the rigors of high school with great success. In her first semester back at CHS, Paw Gaw was one of 2 students in her math class to pass the Math I "End of Course Test"! But Paw Gaw has much more success ahead of her! She is a hard-working and self-motivated student who continues to improve her English skills and plans to graduate from high school and attend college to become a nurse.

Sibling Success 

Welcome Divine and Innocent! Powerful names for two outstanding students from Africa who have been in Lutheran Services's ASAP After School Academic/Arts Program at Indian Creek Elementary School in Clarkston since January 10, 2012. Neither sibling knew any English upon arrival to the states. Divine Uwineza and Innocent Mfitumukiza are now writing and spelling their names and recognize many of the alphabet letters and sounds.

Divine and Innocent have perfect attendance, exemplary citizenship, and a strong desire to learn.  They are truly a joy to teach and tutor! They look forward to working in the Computer Lab.  Websites such as starfall.com enables them to hear the sounds of the alphabet and listen to a variety of alliteration, which increases phonemic awareness.  We are proud of how much progress these students have shown in such a short amount of time. Kudos to Divine and Innocent!

FACES: LSG Client Headed to the Special Olympics!

LSG is thrilled to announce that Brenda Blalock of Loganville,GA, will be attending the 2012 Special Olympics U.S. National Unified Sports Bowling Invitational in Baton Rouge, LA, from Feb. 15-16, 2012. Brenda is a part of LSG’s FACES (Facilitating, Advocacy, Care, Education, and Shelter) program, which helps individuals with developmental disabilities find supportive host homes in which they can thrive.

Brenda has been an avid bowler for several years now and proudly displays her numerous bowling and softball trophies in her home. Brenda is a delight to have in the FACES program and we are proud of her success!

Good luck, Brenda!

REFUGEE SERVICES: LSG Kick-Starts Two New Afterschool Programs in Clarkston

Thanks to a grant awarded by the 21^st Century Community Learning Centers, Lutheran Services of Georgia has started two exciting afterschool programs at Indian Creek Elementary School in Clarkston and Clarkston High School.

The Afterschool Academic/Arts Program (ASAP) strives to improve academic achievement through a variety of fun, hands-on activities.  Enrichment activities will include homework help, reading and vocabulary development, journal writing, a book club, music and art classes, field trips, and other activities.

The program will run during the DeKalb County School System’s calendar year Mondays through Thursdays from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Indian Creek Elementary School, and 3:15 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. at Clarkston High School.  On Fridays, Indian Creek students will meet from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Clarkston High Schoolstudents will meet from 3:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.

For more information about participating in this program, please contact ASAP Site Coordinators Deborah Blythwood (dbythwood@lsga.org) for Indian Creek Elementary School and Gail Harper ( gharper@lsga.org) for Clarkston High School.  If you are interested in volunteering as a tutor, please contact Melanie Johnson, Volunteer Coordinator for Refugee Services, at mjohnson@lsga.org or 678-686-9619.

FIS: Healthy Families Have Hobbies

Thanks to New Year’s resolutions, January is typically the start of new habits and goals. It also just so happens that January is National Hobby Month. How convenient it is for all Foster Parents and children to take up new hobbies for the New Year. There are many hobbies that families can take up together that include, but are not limited to, sports, reading, games, art, learning an instrument, and/or karate. There are many benefits to taking up new hobbies for children. Hobbies can help with self-esteem development by allowing children to explore their own personalities, talents and creativity. Learning a new skill can lessen stress and help children easily define their purpose, especially during awkward period in their lives. Hobbies can also act as a bridge between parents and children who might experience a hard time connecting. Examples of bonding activities include cooking together, playing board games, or outdoor activities. Hiking and biking s are also examples of hobbies that can help make a family more physically healthy while promoting familial bonds.

Discuss with your family which hobbies interest each member of the family, then make time to do those activities. The more your family enjoys a hobby, the easier it is to stick to it. It is important to remember when taking up a hobby with your children that you should maintain a positive attitude and reward the children for their accomplishments. Children who are engaged in activities outside the school day are much happier than children who might become bored due to a lack of participation in the community. Boredom leads to poor decisions; hobbies lead to self esteem and positive personal development.

ADOPTION: LSG Case Manager Reconnects with Adoptive Child after 40 Years

Working in adoption and focusing on permanency for children with a family that will always be theirs, we have the blessing of seeing “Love in Action.” Many of the older children we place are operating from an emotional basis of fear. When the adoptive parent can respond to fear with love, the relationship will be the transporter for the child to begin to trust in LOVE IN ACTION. Healing happens on an individual level with no specific timeline. Sometimes it is necessary for the family to actually make their family world a little smaller for a time. That would mean narrowing in to the household and not going here and there with classes, festivals  and activities that demand every single minute of the day. In December, I was contacted by someone who randomly reconnected with me, having seen my name in adoption papers after his adoptive parents passed away. As it turned out, I had placed this gentleman with his adoptive family in the late 1970s when he was almost two years old. He called to thank me for “the best decision ever made” because he stated his adoptive family were “the best parents a child could ever have.” In remembering this placement, this had been a child who felt the separation and trauma of leaving his birth family as a toddler and coming into foster care. His adoptive family had responded with patience and LOVE IN ACTION, helping him learn to trust the new family as they developed their bonds without a time frame for attachment in mind.

Adoption is an ongoing social process, not just the legal finality of a court order. All of us in the Adoption department feel grateful when we hear these stories and see children move successfully into placement with a new permanent family.

Written by Anne Boyte, Adoption Case Manager for LSG

Join LSG for Lutheran Night at the Gwinnett Gladiators and Lutheran Day at Georgia Tech!

Lutheran Services of Georgia will be teaming up with Georgia Tech Basketball and the Gwinnett Gladiators to host two Lutheran-themed sports days. The proceeds from Lutheran Day at Georgia Tech will benefit various LSG programs, while Lutheran Night at the Gwinnett Gladiators will benefit Refugee Services. Come show your team spirit for a good cause!

Lutheran Night at the Gwinnett Gladiators Saturday, February 11 at 7:05 p.m. Gwinnett Gladiators vs. Chicago Express Arena at Gwinnett Center $15 per ticket, $5 for Frenzy Night

The Metro Atlanta Chapters of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans will provide matching funds for a portion of each ticket cost. To order tickets, click here. Deadline for ticket orders is February 1.

Lutheran Day at Georgia Tech Saturday, February 25 at 2:30 p.m. Georgia Tech vs. University of Maryland Philips Arena $30 per ticket

Contact Mary Kay Kates at 678-686-9601 to order tickets or e-mail Bob Gibeling at bgibeling@lsga.org for more information.

MLK Day of Service for Refugees

More than 350 kids, families, and individuals came together on January 16 for MLK Day of Service at the Clarkston Community Center. The day's service projects benefited the Clarkston community, particularly the area's refugee population, many of whom are LSG clients. Activities included packaging rice, packing pots and pans, assembling hygiene kits for newly arrived families, and a Clarkston community clean-up. All said, volunteers picked up 84 bags of trash equaling 1,680 pounds, made 240 hygiene kits, painted walls, dug post holes, demolished a sign, sanded wood, and bagged over a ton of rice!

Thank you to all those who participated and helped ease the transition for refugees in Georgia!

CEO and President Gary Danielsen: January Updates

It is with great pleasure that I introduce Rachel Castillo as LSG’s new Director of Operations. In this capacity, Rachel will oversee the agency’s Quality Assurance and Risk Management programs, new program initiatives, communication functions and the implementation of the Strategic Plan. She will also aid in the integration of policies and procedures as it pertains to the agency as a whole. Rachel comes to LSG from serving for many years with the Salvation Army in Boston, New York, and Georgia, where she served as the State Director of Social Services. Rachel and her husband Noe have three children (ages 7, 9, and 17) and live in Marietta. During the last few months, the state demonstrated a reluctance to support essential services to refugees by holding back federal funds. This affected all agencies helping refugees, including LSG. After a quickly developed advocacy campaign emerged, the state officials followed thorough in honoring the contracts (that were set to start October 1) in late December. However, it is feared by many that there are some who are working to prevent not only illegal immigrants but legal immigrants, such as refugees, from coming to Georgia. Many in our community underestimate the importance, value, and contributions refugees bring to our community. We will keep you posted as events unfold.

In other LSG news, the Christmas Angel Tree campaign resulted in over 1,500 gifts with a value of over $45,000 for children, families, and individuals throughout the state. These donations were made by generous and compassionate members of congregations and the community who desired to help each person feel valued and cared for during the Christmas season. To those who participated, THANK YOU!

“…as you have done it to the least of these, who are members of my family, you have done it also to me.”

To God be the glory,

Gary

ADOPTION: More Families, More Placements in 2012

As we move into the New Year, our Adoption staff has renewed their passion and commitment to finding families for children waiting for a permanent home. We have scheduled IMPACT training classes for parents who want to adopt from the foster care system, and have also scheduled our Cooperative Open Adoption training for parents wanting to adopt newborn infants. IMPACT is scheduled at theAtlantaoffice on January 21 and 22. The Cooperative Open Adoption Training for Parents is scheduled for February 4, 2012. We have invited 14 prospective adoptive families for IMPACT and have extended the invitation for the class to foster families needing to be trained as well. We have invited 25 prospective adoptive families to the newborn infant training.  Families may be trained in both programs if they wish to be considered for children as they are available and need homes, whether they are infants or older children.

The Adoption Program has approximately 35 approved homes watching to be matched with a child at any given time.

Please contact either Anne Boyte at aboyte@lsga.org or Electra Evans at eevans@lsga.org if you have any questions about either of these classes.

Refugee Services: (Eto) Nouraldin Abdalla Hopes for Peaceful Life

Nouraldin Abdalla is from Sudan.  One day the rest of his family went to work at their farm, but Nouraldin stayed home.  That was the day that war broke out in Sudan.  Nouraldin was 16 years old.  Separated from his family and not knowing if they were safe, he had to flee for his safety to another city in Sudan and then to Libya.  From Libya, he fled with other Sudanese in a boat hoping to go to Italy, but arrived in Malta instead. In Malta, he was in detention for six months, which is typical for refugees.  Detention was hard for him.  He was terribly lonely having lost his family and lifelong best friends. The food was unfamiliar and he lost a lot of weight.  He had difficulty communicating with others and felt isolated.  Even though many other detainees were from Africa, they were from many different countries and cultures that were unfamiliar to Nouraldin.

After six months, he received permission to stay in Malta for one year.  He renewed this status for three years, until he eventually received refugee status and was resettled by LSG in the U.S. in 2010.  It was only when he arrived in the U.S.that Nouraldin learned that his family (his parents and six siblings) was safe inSudan.  When the war started, they had lived for a time in a refugee camp and now they are in a city in South Darfur, safe but unable to leave the city. Nouraldin communicates with them by phone.

Now that he’s been in the U.S. for almost a year, Nouraldin is hopeful.  He works as a banquet server at the Georgia Dome.  He likes his job a lot, especially the chance to improve his English as he meets new people through his job.  He’s attending an ESL class at the Clarkston Community Center that is preparing him to take the GED.  He hopes to educate himself so that he can help people.  He wants to see his family again and for his family to one day join him in the U.S.   But most of all, he hopes that he, and someday is family too, can always live in peace.

Adoption: Creating Holiday Traditions and Rituals in Adoptive Families

Many children who have been placed for adoption from foster care have anxiety and uncertainty about holidays and the expectations these times carry.  It is helpful for adoptive families to quickly establish rituals and traditions that embrace their newly formed family members, so the child can feel a part of a heritage that is significant fro the family. Traditions such as these help create bonds in adoptive families. The most enduring traditions cost little money, but help everyone feel special. . Your family traditions will remain important as your child becomes an adult.

One way the adoption staff at Lutheran Services of Georgia helps families build these holiday traditions is through our annual Adoptive Family Christmas Party. This year Andrew Willis was our Santa Claus, juggling several pillows to stuff his Santa suit! We also have a volunteer who annually offers her services as a clown teaching the children to make animal shapes out of balloons and keeping them enthralled with her pink hair and colorful clown garments. Families are asked to bring a dish to share and the children often help in the preparation of a holiday favorite from their home.

What we have discovered over the years is that families early in placement come in numbers to the party but as time moves forward and they develop strong traditions of their own, the tether to the agency is gradually released.  We are thrilled to see this as we know this means the adoption is no longer the primary focus of the family life. We do see families who adopt newborn infants return year after year to share with great pride their bundle of joy’s growth and development.

On December 4, 2011, we had between 50-60 people attend our annual Adoptive Family Christmas Party. Several families returned as they are now ready for placement of additional children from foster care.

We feel very blessed to be a part of the children’s transition to permanency, love and a nurturing family to grow up in. This has become a seasonal tradition we are proud to offer our families.

UPDATE: Refugee Services Contracts Signed!

We are happy to share that today Commissioner Clyde Reese signed and executed contracts approving $4.1 million in federal funds mandated to provide support services for refugees inGeorgiavia social service agencies such as Lutheran Services of Georgia (LSG). LSG would like to offer its sincerest thanks and gratitude to Commissioner Reese, Governor Deal, and all of those who have supported us by working to bring about the approval of these funds.  The outpour of round-the-clock phone calls, e-mails, and letters the state received from congregations, organizations, and citizens no doubt played a tremendous role in bringing about the release of this vital funding. Elected officials of the city ofClarkston,DeKalbCountyand Georgia General Assembly, as well as statewide, were also extraordinarily helpful, for which we are infinitely appreciative.

We are glad the state recognizes that refugees are an incredible strength to the state ofGeorgiaand will support the continuance of these programs to help them achieve self-sufficiency. The entire refugee-serving community relies on this federal funding to provide a wide variety of direct services to both newly arrived and established refugee clients, including employment training, job placement, medical assistance, and home management support.

Refugees supported by these programs upon arrival contribute to society in a number positive, meaningful ways, not the least of which is economic. One of the primary goals of Lutheran Services of Georgia’s refugee services division is providing refugees with stable employment. Once employed, refugees add to the workforce, broaden the local tax base, and provide employers with quality workers. Refugees then use their wages to purchase local goods, which provides a further boost to the local economy.

LSG is extremely thankful that refugees can continue to find a welcome home inGeorgia, a state that has embraced the rich tradition of welcoming refugees as they rebuild their lives and meaningfully contribute to local communities. Thank you to all those who stepped up to support refugees and the services LSG provides to help them establish stable foundations for their new lives inGeorgia.

Please take a moment to write a personal email of support to the local, state, and federal elected officials who came out in support of the refugee community. Thank them for their support of refugees during this difficult episode, and along with the elected officials in your own district, let them know that you support refugee resettlement in Georgia.

Find your elected officials here:  http://www.votesmart.org/officials/NA/G

City of Clarkston: Mayor eransom@cityofclarkston.com;

City Manager kbarker@cityofclarkston.com;

City Council whadlock@cityofclarkston.com; dmoore@cityofclarkston.com; jswaney@cityofclarkston.com; awhite@cityofclarkston.com; dleonetti@cityofclarkston.com; jbrown@cityofclarkston.com;

DeKalb County: CEO and area Commissioners: ceo@dekalbcountyga.gov; kgannon@dekalbcountyga.gov; sbsutton@dekalbcountyga.gov;

State Representative Karla Drenner dren16999@aol.com State Senator Steve Henson stevehenson@mindspring.com DHS Commissioner creese@dhr.state.ga.us

Links to contact pages:

Governor Deal

Senator Isakson

Senator Chambliss

Representative Johnson

PLEASE ATTEND: Public Meeting About State Refugee Funding to be Held on Wednesday, 12/14

For those interested in learning more about the current issue of the state withholding funding for refugee services, there will be a special meeting of the Georgia Coalition of Refugee Stakeholders held on Wednesday, December 14, 2011 from 11:00 a.m. to noon at the Clarkston Community Center located at 3701 College Avenue; Clarkston, Georgia 30021.  The meeting is open to the public and will serve as a community listening session.  In attendance will be George Shelton, Acting Assistant Secretary, Administration for Children and Families; Eskinder Negash, Director, Office of Refugee Resettlement; Diane Dawson, Director of the Office of Regional Operations, Administration for Children and Families; Carliss Williams, Regional Administrator, Administration for Children and Families; and Kenneth Jackson, Deputy Regional Administrator, Administration for Children and Families. Unfortunately neither DHS Commissioner Clyde Reese nor a representative from the Governor’s Office is scheduled to attend. LSG encourages all concerned citizens to both attend the meeting and contact Commissioner Reese and Governor Deal asking them to attend also. Your presence and participation at the meeting can help bring about a resolution to this urgent issue.

URGENT: Advocacy Alert for Refugee Services

LSG provides a wide variety of direct services to both newly arrived and established refugee clients, supported by federal funding administered through Georgia's Department of Human Services (DHS). With this funding LSG specifically provides employment training and job placement as well as assistance in addressing medical concerns and home management support designed to help refugees achieve self-sufficiency as soon as possible.

The contract year for these services began on October 1. To our dismay, we have been informed by officials of Georgia's DHS that they are under no obligation to pay for any services related to these federally funded programs until the contracts are signed. This left us with no option but to suspend these services to our clients since we have no idea if or when the contracts will be signed.

Today, LSG laid off eight Refugee Services staff members and stopped employment training, job placement and social adjustment services to our refugee clients. The suspension, or possible loss, of this federal funding, already distributed and being held by the state, will be strongly felt not only by the refugee population but also by every Georgia resident.

The entire refugee services community hopes for prompt resolution of the barriers that stand between us and delivery of these critical services.  You can help relieve this situation by contacting DHS Commissioner Clyde Reese at 404-463-3390 or creese@dhr.state.ga.us and Governor Nathan Deal at 404-656-1776 or click here. Ask them to sign the refugee services contracts and release the funding held by the state to provide these vital services to the refugee population. For suggestions on how to communicate your concerns, please click here.  And please forward this information to your network so that we can demonstrate that this issue has broad support from our community: friends, family, coworkers, congregation members, etc. Thank you for your support during this critical time.

Once you have contacted Governor Deal or Commissioner Reese, please let us know what response you receive, or if you have additional questions, by contacting J.D. McCrary, director of Refugee Services, at jmccrary@lsga.org or 678-686-9643.

Foster Care Welcomes New Staff

Foster Care is pleased that La Shondra Randolph has stepped in as a temporary case manager while Lauren Lewin is on maternity leave. La Shondra has a Bachelor’s Degree from Alabama A&M Universityin Psychology with a concentration in Human Development and Family Studies, and has previously worked for the Fulton County Department of Family & Children Services in the Special Investigations Department. Rose Edward, our new recruiter, originally from theVirgin Islands, obtained her Bachelor’s in Social work from Buffalo State College and Master’s in the same area from the University of Buffalo, New York. Before working for Fulton County Department of Family & Children Services for five years as a Social Service Specialist, Rose spent four years atAnchorHospitalas a Social Worker.

Kenya Williams, Foster Care’s new Case Manager, has a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Florida A&M.Kenyaspent the last four years at Dekalb County Department of Family and Children Services.Kenyais originally fromSyracuse,New York.

FIS: LSG Receives Grant to Help Maintain Family Bonds, Stability

For the Fiscal Year 2011-2012, Lutheran Services of Georgia was awarded a substantial amount from Promoting Safe and Stable Families (PSSF). The grant award was far greater than what was gifted in FY 2010-2011. Last year, LSG was awarded a little over $90,000 and this year Family Intervention Services (FIS) was awarded more than $270,000.   Family Intervention Services is one of LSG’s newest programs and is an integral part of the Continuum of Care Model that provides services throughout a person’s lifetime. LSG is proud to be a continuing PSSF grant recipient as the primary goals of PSSF are to prevent the unnecessary separation of children from their families, improve the quality of care and services to children and their families, and ensure permanency for children. Family Intervention Services offers a variety of services to families that are consistent with the mission of the PSSF grant. The two primary programs that FIS offers services through are Supervised Family Visitation program and the A+ Parents program.

The Supervised Family Visitation program provides quality supervised family visitation between children and parents, relatives, care givers, and/or siblings. Visitation is provided in a home-like, nonthreatening, and neutral environment for meaningful contact between children and the people in their lives.  This program focuses on reunification efforts and maintaining family bonds.  Similarly, the A+ Parents program works diligently to improve both parents’, caregivers’, and children’s self esteem and skills with use of the Nurturing Parenting Program and SafeCare curriculum in a classroom or home setting. The program does this through eight 2.5 hour classes.

The staff in Family Intervention Services works diligently on seeing the results of these programs and continues to do a great job at carrying out the mission of PSSF which is why we are elated with the award gifted this year. For more information on Family Intervention Services call 404-591-7051 or send an email of inquiry to lsg@lsga.org.

Volunteer Appreciation Night a Success!

As an expression of gratitude for our volunteers’ loyal service, Lutheran Services of Georgia hosted a special Volunteer Appreciation Night on Tuesday, November 1. Held at the Breman Jewish Heritage and Holocaust Museum, the night featured free admission to the national exhibit, “Torn from Home: My Life as a Refugee.” The exhibit provided an interactive refugee camp experience for people of all ages, allowing visitors to consider how it feels to flee home, leave everything behind, and face the future with uncertainty and hope.

The night also featured a program of recognition for LSG volunteers, including the LSG’s first annual “Hands of Hope, Healing, and Strength” awards for volunteers who have gone above and beyond in their service. LSG also recognized volunteer Jimmy Ramsey with the 2011 Elsie Guenther Volunteer of the Year Award for his outstanding service teaching ESL classes to LSG’s refugee clients. Congratulations to Jimmy and all of the other award recipients, and thank you to all LSG volunteers for your service, time, and dedication!