Until the 1960s, the organization primarily provided child welfare services and programs for single mothers.  Then, about 40 years ago, LSS contracted with state and local governments to help people in need.  This partnership initiated a rapid expansion of offerings to the community.

Counseling emerged as a service line during the 1960s.  In 1973, we opened our first group home, which served older children who required treatment foster care.  In 1980, LSS initiated programs to assist persons with chronic mental illness.  Services for those with developmental disabilities began in 1984.

The 1990s saw an increased focus on international adoption, and the birth of an employee exchange program to help officials in the Russian Republic of Buryatia establish a basic system of human services.  In 1997, LSS started the Family Partnerships Initiative in response to requests from rural communities.  This innovative program is designed to creatively meet the needs of troubled adolescents and their families and keep them together.

In 2001, LSS expanded its child welfare programs by accepting the State of Wisconsin's offer to manage Milwaukee County's nearly 1,600 foster homes.  This program, known as First Choice for Children, is responsible for recruiting, licensing, training, monitoring and supporting foster families.  Also in 2001, LSS opened Homme-Neillsville, as part of LSS' Homme Youth and Family Programs.  Homme-Neillsville serves teens with emotional, behavioral or addiction issues in Neillsville, Wis.

In 2004, LSS contracted with the state to provide service coordination for nearly 180 children with autism with the Children's Long-Term Support Waiver administered by the Department of Health and Family Services.  The program spans 12 counties in Wisconsin.

With the closing of the Northern Center - a state-run institution, LSS opened residential facilities for people with special needs in 2004 and 2005.  These facilities house up to 40 individuals, many of whom will live in their own homes for the first time.  LSS opened its first group home for people with developmental disabilities more than 20 years ago.  Since that time, programming for people with special needs has taken off and LSS has been a leading provider of services.

Seeing a need and lack of availability of specialized therapy for children suffering from attachment disorders led LSS to develop an attachment therapy program.  Over the course of 2005, staff at the Attachment and Bonding Center of Ohio trained 10 LSS therapists.  Dr. Greg Keck, the founder of the center in Ohio is nationally recognized as a leader in the treatment of attachment disorder.  LSS therapists spent four weeks with the Ohio staff learning the therapeutic approaches that create secure attachments between a child and his/her parent.  In January 2006 LSS was proud to start offering this service to families in multiple office locations throughout Wisconsin and Upper Michigan.

Today, LSS programs continue to grow and adapt to meet the ever-changing needs of our society.

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