Reports of

Social Ministry

Organizations

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DIAKON LUTHERAN SOCIAL MINISTRIES

Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries celebrates our partnership with the Southeastern Pennsylvania

Synod and its congregations as we live out our mission—Many Hands guided by One Heart—to

demonstrate God’s command to love our neighbor through acts of service. In 2012, Diakon

provided more than $13.2 million in benevolent care, including $1.78 million within the synod.

Twining Village, a Diakon Lutheran Senior Living Community in Holland, Bucks County,

completed aspects of its extensive renovation project including redesign of the village entrance

and dining offers. A number of apartments were completely renovated in 2012; in addition,

construction is moving forward on new cottage-style homes. The village’s new rehabilitation

suite is set to open in April 2013. Manatawny Manor in Pottstown continued with internal

renovations to enhance its personal care offer and also emphasized short-term rehabilitation

services. Diakon Adult Day Services at Manatawny continued to offer daytime care for those

living at home or with a relative.

Based in Downingtown, Diakon Youth Services’ Bridge Program serves youths in Delaware,

Chester, and Lancaster counties. The program aids at-risk youths ages 11 to 18 by providing

accountability-focused counseling and monitoring programs to prevent out-of-home placement.

Participants frequently are served by the Weekend Alternative Program, located at the Diakon

Wilderness Center, Boiling Springs. In 2012, the Bridge Program expanded its monthly and

discharge assessments to aid youths in need. In all, Diakon’s programs for adjudicated youths

served 677 teens—a 28% increase over the 2011 figure—within the Southeastern Pennsylvania

Synod’s territory. In addition, the Bridge Program supported local organizations with community

service efforts including Darby Code Enforcement’s “clean up the streets,” the Green Ridge Fire

Company beautification projects, the Aston Township clean-up project, and Chester parks and

street cleaning. Diakon Youth Services also piloted a successful wilderness challenge course for

young offenders from Bucks County, a program being repeated in 2013.

Diakon Kathryn’s Kloset maintained connections with partners throughout Pennsylvania. The

Baltimore warehouse program solicits and stores corporately donated personal-care items for

pick-up by shelters and other non-profits, which in turn distribute the goods, free of charge, to

people in need in the community. The program, which served approximately 400,000 people,

was supported by $371,000 in Diakon subsidy.

Other services aiding those in the area include Diakon Adoption & Foster Care. In addition, as

prime contractor for the Statewide Adoption & Permanency Network, Diakon helps to

coordinate all public adoptions within the synod’s five-county area; the number of children and

families within the synod’s territory served through SWAN amounted to more than 8,300.

We thank God for the gifts of staff, volunteers, congregations, donors, and board members who,

together, enabled us to directly serve more than 63,000 persons last year, including 10,644 within

the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod.

Mark T. Pile, MSHA, MSW

President/CEO

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KENCREST REPORT TO 2013 SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA SYNOD

ASSEMBLY

For KenCrest 2012 was a year of celebration and expansion.

KenCrest was recognized as the #1 Top Work Place among large Delaware Valley

employers by The Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News for 2012.

KenCrest initiated full operational integration of Lynch Services into KenCrest’s

structure using 47 project teams working on tasks ranging from payroll to staff training to

marketing to technology. KenCrest acquired Lynch, a highly respected local

organization, in 2011, bringing the total number people served by the combined

organizations to 8,500 and staff to nearly 2,000.

KenCrest expanded its services in Connecticut to offer Lifesharing, family living akin to

foster care but usually for a much longer time.

KenCrest hosted 300+ guests at its popular fundraising event, Flavors of the Community,

held at The Manor at Prophecy Creek Park, Ambler.

KenCrest’s CEO Toni McNeal was elected president of Lutheran Services in America-

Disability Network, representing 22 Lutheran organizations serving people with

developmental disabilities in 33 states.

Over the past two years KenCrest has expanded its engagement in public policy to

advocate on behalf of people with intellectual disabilities at county, state and national

levels.

KenCrest thanks—

This synod’s leaders, congregations and organizations for their interest, prayers,

hospitality and contributions to KenCrest.

The members of our boards who belong to congregations in this synod.

Lutherans in this synod and beyond who provide financial and volunteer support

throughout the year.

Lutheran Charities donors whose gifts support not only support KenCrest but also our

colleague Lutheran agencies that also serve thousands in need.

Thank you, William J. Nolan

Executive Director

KenCrest Centers

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THE SERVICES OF LIBERTY LUTHERAN

SYNOD ASSEMBLY REPORT 2013

Artman Lutheran Home, The Becoming Center, Liberty at Home, Lutheran Children and Family

Service, Lutheran Congregational Services, Mary J. Drexel Home, Paul’s Run Retirement

Community, Village at Penn State and West Philadelphia Senior Center

Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has

received. (1 Peter 4:10)

Making a Vital Difference. . .

Liberty Lutheran faithfully provides vital resources for individuals and families facing life-changing

situations, from the earliest stages of life through the many stages of aging.

Together, we serve as stewards of the grace of God alongside the congregations of Southeastern

Pennsylvania Synods to make a vital difference as we live out our shared baptismal call to serve our

neighbors.

. . . with you at Christmas time

On behalf of SEPA Synod, Liberty Lutheran managed the 2012 Christmas Ingathering. SEPA

congregations donated gifts, kits, food, quilts, work gloves, socks and toiletries values at more than

$94,000! Because of your generosity, approximately 1,000 children served by Lutheran Children and

Family Service received a Christmas gift. Residents at local institutions throughout the Philadelphia area

received personal care kits. Socks and travel-sized toiletries were sent to ministries for the homeless.

Food pantries in local Lutheran churches received non-perishable food items. And people all over the

world received quilts and care kits through your donations to Lutheran World Relief.

It was also our pleasure to distribute over 7,000 copies of our 2012 Advent Devotional Booklet to

congregations in Southeastern and Northeastern Pennsylvania synods. This resource is full of stories and

reflections about how we radiate the grace of God through the ministries of Liberty Lutheran. In 2013,

look for this resource in electronic and print editions.

. . . serving survivors of disaster

We continue to meet the ongoing needs of the survivors of Hurricane Irene, Tropical Storm Lee and

Superstorm Sandy as Lutheran Disaster Response – Eastern Pennsylvania, a ministry of Lutheran

Congregational Services. This year, volunteers have rebuilt several homes devastated by Hurricane Irene

and Tropical Storm Lee (Fall 2011) throughout our territory, which includes the 19 counties of eastern

PA.

After Superstorm Sandy (Fall 2012), LDR-EPA supplied food to support the efforts of St. Luke’s,

Ferndale, to feed those who came to the Red Cross shelter in Upper Bucks County immediately after the

storm. We coordinated the collection of over 200 “Cleaning Buckets” plus extra supplies, and brought

volunteers together to remove downed tree debris. LDR-EPA also assisted in the coordination of SEPA

synod’s Helping Hands Day 2013, finding disaster-related service opportunities for 300 participants,

including the young people of SEPA and NJ synods.

Currently, we are building relationships with our disaster response partners, laying the foundations for the

long-term rebuilding in New York, New Jersey and Delaware. Sign up to receive updates on volunteer

opportunities at our new LDR-EPA blog at www.ldrepa.wordpress.com.

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. . . in the lives of newly arrived refugees

Lutheran Children and Family Service now accompanies newly-arrived refugees in the Philadelphia,

Lancaster and Allentown areas. Volunteers groups from congregations in all three areas accompany

families and individuals in their transition to the United States, often after years of living in a refugee

camp.

Welcome Home, a joint ministry of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church and LCFS began active

programming this year welcoming six families to a home near the church, so that they can begin their life

in Philadelphia. After staying for up to a month, the families are better equipped for more permanent

living arrangements having received cultural orientation and English as a Second Language classes.

Welcome Home received grants from Wheatridge Ministries and the Deaconness Community of the

ELCA along with generous support from SEPA congregations. Congregations donated funds, household

goods, televisions, coats and their volunteered their time to teach English, practice conversation, driving

to appointments and more!

In the fall, look for curriculum especially written for congregations to explore how our faith calls us to

welcome those who are displaced because of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political

opinion or social group.

. . . through congregational programs and resources

Lutheran Congregational Services continues to offer educational opportunities to congregations

including Lay Eucharistic Visitor Training and our Marriage Preparation Series. We are pleased to offer

leadership workshops and retreats according to the needs and interests of the congregation.

. . . through senior communities and services

Liberty Lutheran is responding to the changing needs of older adults by developing an integrated

approach to senior care services to address a broad spectrum of choices and lifestyle options.

Liberty at Home offers home care support and private duty services throughout Southeastern PA. As a

Medicare Certified Home Health agency, it also provides clinical services such as nursing, physical,

occupational and speech therapies. Liberty at Home celebrates its new partnership with the Lutheran

Community at Telford. This faith-based partnership celebrates our mutual Lutheran heritage and

commitment to providing compassionate, comprehensive care for older adults.

At Artman Lutheran Home and Paul’s Run Retirement Community, Liberty is transforming the way

services are delivered to the residents. This year the staff has learned the many benefits of resident

directed care. One of the changes is the move away from the traditional version of nursing care to a

“household” model of small internal neighborhoods where approximately 20 residents live together. This

“Culture Change” gives residents more choices, flexible living schedules and greater autonomy over daily

decisions, and allows the staff to cultivate deeper relationships with the residents.

Preparation continues for renovations to the historic The Mary J. Drexel mansion and new construction

for a state-of-the-art Assisted Living Community. Architect plans feature four households, each with a

common space for a kitchen, living room, dining room and activities area. Residents will also enjoy

privacy in spacious apartments. One neighborhood is being designed for residents experiencing memory

loss.

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In June 2012, Liberty Lutheran welcomed the Village at Penn State, (VPS) a University Based

Retirement Community to our Family of Services. VPS offers everything a Continuing Care Retirement

Community has to offer, and more. In addition to Independent Living and Personal Care to Skilled

Nursing and Hospice, residents also enjoy many opportunities at Penn State University.

. . . together with YOU!

We are honored to steward the generosity of congregations and individuals who support our work.

Together, we make a vital difference in the lives of the most vulnerable among us. To further explore how

we can help build your congregational capacity to serve the most vulnerable among us, contact the Rev.

Dr. Jennifer Phelps Ollikainen, Director of Ministries at 215.859.3779 or jollikainen@libertylutheran.org.

In Christ,

Luanne Fisher, CEO

Liberty Lutheran

Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania

2013 Report to the Synod Dear Partners in Christ,

Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania is a shared ministry of seven Pennsylvania synods, the

ELCA Congregational and Synodical Mission unit, and Pennsylvania ELCA agencies and institutions.

Through LAMPa, Lutherans around the state voice their faith convictions in the public arena on behalf of

the poor and the vulnerable while seeking to create greater justice in the commonwealth.

LAMPa has been in ministry with you this year in congregational advocacy education, and provided

resources and support your efforts addressing hunger, poverty, immigration, child abuse and care for

creation. We are thankful for the support of your Policy Council representatives: Bob Fisher and the Rev.

Jennifer Ollikainen and the leadership of Bishop Burkat.

LAMPa advocacy takes place through direct contacts in Harrisburg and involving the LAMPa network in

email and call-in advocacy, offering testimony, writing letters to the editors and district visits. The impact

of LAMPa advocacy in 2012 includes:

Feeding the hungry through strong funding for the State Food Purchase Program (SFPP) in the

state budget. SFPP supports local food pantries, providing cash grants to counties for the purchase

and distribution of food to low income families. SFPP was level funded for $17.3 Million.

Preserving the safety net by challenging asset limits for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance

Program (SNAP) recipients introduced in early 2012. SNAP directly keeps people from hunger.

Vigorous advocacy opposing the new asset test resulted in increasing asset limits to $10,000 for

elderly/disabled household and $5,000 for others.

Protecting our most vulnerable citizens through advocacy for General Assistance, (a small,

monthly cash stipend to disabled adults, victims of domestic violence and others) and against a

20% funding cut to a block grant for homeless assistance, alcohol and drug treatment, rape crisis

and other services. Despite intense advocacy, GA was eliminated, while human service cuts were

reduced to 10%.

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Increasing affordable housing through support for funding of the State Housing Trust Fund by

impact fees collected in counties enacting a Marcellus Shale Impact Fee; this resulted in $8

million for affordable housing development.

Preventing homelessness through support to restart a successful home foreclosure prevention

program by directing funds from a national state-federal mortgage settlement to the Homeowners

Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program. HEMAP began accepting new applications in August

and will be funded for 5 years.

Halting a predatory lending bill against an all-out effort by the payday loan industry to lift the

24% interest cap on short-term lending and allow rates of up to 360% APR. In a David and

Goliath fight, LAMPa and other organizations helped keep the bill from moving out of committee

onto the Senate floor before the end of the session.

Connect with us at www.lutheranadvocacypa.org, Twitter (@LAMPaADVOCACY) and Facebook

(www.facebook.com/LAMPaAdvocacy).

In Christ,

The Rev. Amy E. Reumann, Director

Kelly Davis Appointed as Executive Director

At the beginning of this, the 111th year of Lutheran Settlement House's existence and the continuation of

its life-changing work moving Philadelphia families toward self-sufficiency, LSH is delighted to

announce the appointment of Kelly Davis as Executive Director of Lutheran Settlement House. Kelly is

an attorney who has worked with various non-profit organizations in the Philadelphia area, including The

Food Trust, HIAS and Council Migration Services, and the Defender Association of Philadelphia.

Kelly has been Interim Executive Director of LSH since June of 2011. In that time, she reinvigorated staff

optimism, built strong relationships with a diversity of funders, and brought fiscal stability for the

organization. Kelly successfully spearheaded last year's Women of Courage Awards and October's Purple

Ribbon Campaign. Kelly revived and restructured LSH's Adult Literacy program harnessing the power of

volunteers as tutors, and initiated computer courses and a peer mentoring program.

To begin her tenure as Executive Director, Kelly is excited to be embarking on a building renovation

project, which has so far has raised nearly $1,000,000 toward modernizing the Fishtown building and

expanding LSH's capacity to provide food to the hungry. The project includes the addition of a farm

pairing seniors with at-risk teens from LSH's Jane Addams Place family shelter, and Sheila Brown, LSH's

domestic violence transitional housing program.

Children and Moms Project (CAMP) Expands

CAMP is the nation’s first on-site domestic violence program in a pediatric setting. CAMP is an effective,

cost-efficient way to promote DV awareness and intervention. It brings health care and domestic violence

agencies together to combat domestic violence and child abuse. Its aims are to make domestic violence

screening a standard of care within pediatric settings, and to respond to those families with a positive

screen. CAMP intervenes in cycle of domestic violence. It trains clinical and non-clinical staff, as well as

medical school faculty and students, on domestic violence issues, tools to detect and document abuse, and

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appropriate care, referrals and follow-up. CAMP’s goal is to ensure that domestic violence screening

becomes a standard of care throughout the hospitals. Pediatricians refer appropriate patients to an LSH

Medical DV Advocate who is available onsite and via a pager. Medical Advocates conduct crisis

intervention and more in-depth counseling, focus on increasing safety for both mothers and children,

provide on-going support for mothers, increase the mothers’ awareness of the impact of witnessing

domestic on their children, and connect children to counseling services when appropriate.

With tremendous support from hospitals and local foundations, LSH now has a full-time Medical

Advocate at all three of the Philadelphia pediatric hospitals, and is now working with other non-pediatric

hospitals to implement the program.

Peer Mentoring for Adult Learners this spring!

LSH's Community Education and Employment Department is beginning a Peer Mentoring Program

(PMP). PMP matches adult literacy program graduates with those just beginning the process of learning

to read. Peer Mentors are being trained to provide support when life interferes with learning. Mentors will

add to their resumes, and have the opportunity to earn a Pierce College scholarship from the Mayor's

Commission on Literacy.

Anti-Hunger Initiative, LSH’s Intergenerational Gardening Program

Every day hungry people come to Lutheran Settlement House for food and many of them are turned away

because of lack of capacity. LSH is committed to increasing our community’s access to food and fresh

produce. LSH’s Anti-Hunger Initiative addresses the needs of the nearly 50 percent of our community

that cannot afford food, particularly vulnerable, low-income seniors. This initiative is a holistic, multi-

faceted approach to increase the availability of food for the Fishtown, Kensington, Port Richmond, and

Northern Liberties communities by establishing an urban farm to grow vegetables with and for seniors

through LSH’s Intergenerational Gardening Program (IGP) with Teens 4 Good (T4G) in the Settlement

House Garden (SHG); making more fresh produce available to community seniors; educating seniors

about nutrition through year-round workshops in partnership with The Food Trust; serving hot lunches to

45-50 seniors daily; running a community food cupboard that provides for 85 families monthly; and

weekly distribution of donated seasonal produce (average of 450 lbs. per week)

A key component of the Anti-Hunger Initiative is the establishment of the Intergenerational Gardening

Program in partnership with T4G (a program of the Federation of Neighborhood Centers), and is the

proposed use of The Allen Hilles Fund support. T4G is a social youth entrepreneurship and sustainable

food access program for at-risk teens. T4G provides students with a year-round curriculum of character,

leadership, teamwork and life skills development, one-on-one mentoring, career exploration, cultural

opportunities, and hands-on entrepreneurial activities through a teen-run urban agricultural business. It is

the first in Philadelphia that is being used as a model locally and nationally. T4G will formerly begin

urban farming and working with LSH seniors in spring 2013. Four part-time interns will be “hired” (teens

are provided a modest stipend for their participation) to manage the farm and work with the seniors.

LSH’s Senior Center launches Caring for the Caregivers (CARES) Program

Donna is an elderly member of the community who was born and raised in Fishtown and still lives two

blocks from where she grew up. After her husband died, Donna continued to live alone in their modest

row house on a small fixed income. However, her growing frailty and recurring health issues made it

difficult for her to look after herself and perform basic tasks. Her daughter, Martha, worried constantly

about her safety, and spent large amounts of time at Donna’s house assisting her and performing tasks that

Donna was unable to do for herself. Martha also worked full time, and became increasingly overwhelmed

by the demands of work, looking after Donna, and caring for her own two teenage sons. As Donna’s

needs increased, so did Martha’s stress levels, which manifested in frayed relationships with Martha’s

siblings, spouse, children, and with Donna herself. Finally, after being written up by her supervisor for

missing work to look after Donna, Martha decided to begin the process of placing Donna in a nursing

home.

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Martha is not alone: evidence has shown that a caregiver’s experience of stress is considered to be one of

the most important and highly significant predictors of nursing home entry for the care recipient. In

addition, experiencing prolonged or intense caregiving-related stress increases the risk that caregivers

may engage in harmful or abusive behaviors toward the care recipient.

Martha’s predicament is one that is regularly seen by the staff at Lutheran Settlement House’s (LSH)

Senior Center. Informal, unpaid caregivers like Martha play a critical role in helping seniors remain in

their own homes and avoid or delay admission to a nursing home or other long-term care facility.

However, caregiving can represent cause serious mental, emotional, physical, and financial stressors on

the caregiver. Unfortunately, studies show that the vast majority of caregivers do not know where to turn

for help: 75 percent of caregivers report not knowing where to access services for which they are eligible.

In addition, only 9 percent report using respite services and only 11 percent report participating in support

groups.

Out of this need, Lutheran Settlement House (in collaboration with the Pew Foundation), has created the

CARES (CAregivers REducing Stress) Program for family caregivers. In July of 2012, LSH hired a

licensed social worker to manage the CARES program as well as provide group, individual and family

counseling. Currently, the CARES program hosts three different weekly support groups at various local

community organizations, and has successfully on-boarded 17 caregivers to be fully enrolled in the

program, putting the program on track to have 30 caregivers enrolled by late-spring 2013.

Men-Can Campaign –Domestic Violence Awareness Month 2012

LSH raised awareness about domestic violence this October with its 8th Annual Purple Ribbon

Campaign. This month-long, city-wide campaign is one of LSH’s Bilingual Domestic Violence

Department’s many initiatives that creates awareness about domestic violence in Philadelphia while

raising money to fund future efforts in the fight against domestic violence. LSH’s Purple Ribbon

Campaign was focused on addressing domestic violence with men and their role in prevention and

healing through the MEN-CAN© Campaign, an innovative public awareness effort developed by The

Institute for Safe Families.

This year, the campaign is going to kick-off with a 100 Men Can Rally at Philadelphia’s City Hall.

Throughout October, LSH will be promoting the health and well-being of each member of the family and

the community at large by looking at violence against women holistically and including men in the

dialogue. By partnering with churches, local barber shops, social services that work with men and

community members MEN-CAN© empowers men to End Domestic Violence.

Lutheran Settlement House empowers individuals, families, and communities to achieve and maintain

self-sufficiency through an integrated program of social, educational, and advocacy services.

Our Vision is to connect people to their dreams; bring safety, hope, and harmony to families; and nurture

strong communities.

Core Values:

We believe that every individual has the right to live with dignity and respect, economic security,

and equal opportunity.

We believe in the potential of all individuals.

We are advocates with and for the persons we serve.

We help people find what they need –shelter, safety, or a sense of belonging to a larger

community.

We live the values and behaviors that we support in others.

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SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA SYNOD ASSEMBLY REPORT, 2013

Motivated by Christ’s Love and command to extend that Love, Silver Springs – Martin Luther

School provides residential treatment, special education, and community based services for

young children and their families. Through trauma-informed care, Silver Springs helps children

to manage overwhelming memories, feelings and behavior problems caused by the frightening

and sad things that have happened to them. Our mission is to promote healing, resiliency,

learning and, as appropriate, family reunification so that vulnerable children may have a chance

to mature into healthy and competent adults.

In Fiscal Year 2011/2012 Silver Springs provided services to more than 1,410 children and

their families from Philadelphia, its surrounding counties, the State of Delaware, and more than

thirty-five school districts. All programs have a strong mental health component that brings an

opportunity for trauma recovery and healing to children who range in age from day-old infants to

college students, and families of all ages, in a child-centered, family-focused ministry.

Residential Treatment Program – Last year our Residential Treatment Program served 122

boys and girls, ages 6-14 (and 140 families/caregivers) with serious emotional and behavioral

health issues. This program provides a therapeutic living environment that includes

individualized treatment, supervision, care and nurturing for children on a 24-hour-a-day basis

through outcome-oriented treatment, psychiatric evaluation, trauma informed therapy, case

management, behavior management and health care. Available therapies include individual,

family, group, a highly structured milieu, counseling, behavioral and medication. Children

participate in recreational activities and have the opportunity to participate in a Religious

Training and Counseling Program shepherded by a Lutheran Deaconess. All services are

provided with the valued participation of biological, adoptive and/or foster families.

Community Based Programs -- In 2011/2012 our Community Based Programs served 233

children, ranging in age from birth to 21 years old, and 319 foster and/or biological parents.

Children in Foster Family Care benefit from community placements that address their emotional,

behavioral, medical, social and developmental needs. The program offers structured home living

with foster parents who are trained to provide for the specific, identified needs of each child.

Case management, various clinical therapies and outreach services are extended to each child’s

foster family and biological family. Children are encouraged to participate in specialized

summer experiences depending upon their individual, educational, medical and/or emotional

needs.

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Through community based Behavioral Health Rehabilitative Services, Silver Springs provides

mobile therapy, behavior specialist consultants and therapeutic staff support services that include

individual and family therapy to children in home, school and community settings, assessment of

a child’s behavior in these settings, consultation, one to one supervision, modeling, coaching and

support to children based on a behavioral plan.

Martin Luther School – Last year our special education school served 221 students and 173

caregivers. A Pennsylvania Department of Education “Approved Private School,” Luther School

is licensed to provide an individualized educational program designed to meet the needs of

emotionally disturbed students, students with austism or PDD, and intellectually disabled

students in grades K-8, and also to provide elementary education for grades 1-6. Students are

referred to Luther School from public school districts. Individual Educational Plans identify their

instructional needs. In addition to academic, social, and emotional deficits, many students

attending Luther School have significant learning disabilities. The academic curriculum is

augmented with teacher-directed group interaction and a structured, caring and supportive

environment. Each student has a computer for use in school. School facilities include a

gymnasium, outdoor recreational facilities, a library, technology instruction, supervised access to

the Internet, tutoring in reading and mathematics, an art room and a music room.

Family Resource Services (FRS) – Family Resource Services, which served 85 clients and 117

alumni last year, was created in 1998 to formalize Silver Springs’ commitment to providing a

continuum of care that begins whenever a child/family first enters one of our programs and

remains available as long as each child/family wishes. Any child or family who has been a part

of the Silver Springs network is eligible. Assisting children and their families to access critical

services in their own communities, FRS represents Silver Springs’ focused response, on a case-

by case basis, to those extenuating circumstances that can debilitate a family and jeopardize the

well-being of a child.

FRS assists children and their families to obtain emergency food supplies, enroll in housing

programs, qualify for assistance with utilities and enroll in GED classes and secondary education

programs. Most often, services fall into the areas of case management, direct assistance, college

scholarships, finding affordable housing and locating jobs.

Your Partnership: Through ministry partnerships, 70 Lutheran congregations of the Southeastern

Pennsylvania Synod actively assist Silver Springs in meeting the needs of a challenging population. We

are grateful for these close ties and generosity. Relationships with congregations of other denominations,

community groups, and philanthropic organizations extend a mosaic of funding that demonstrates

“fervent love is an action.”

Please visit us at www.silver-springs.org or in person. You may contact Joan Plump, Development

Director, at 610/825-4440 EXT. 318 or jplump@silver-springs.org to arrange a personal visit.

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Thank you for partnering with us to help vulnerable children heal, hope and reach for a brighter

future.

Ruth W. Bartelt, President/CEO