Mile High United Way’s longtime partner, Lutheran Family Services of Colorado (LFS), works hard to create a better future for vulnerable people in our community with help from our Adult Self Sufficiency initiative.  This life-changing initiative focuses on helping individuals and families achieve a self sufficient and financially stable life.  

Lutheran Family Services of Colorado works with the most vulnerable people in our state, offering services that heal, strengthen and provide hope to more than 16,000 people every year.  The Denver based non-profit organization serves statewide with five core areas of service:  adoption, foster care, refugee resettlement, geriatric care management, and disaster response.

“The depth of need in our community is beyond what most people think it is, and it seems to be on the rise,” said Jim Barclay, President and CEO, “Our strength-based approach attempts to help people move from rescue to sustainable self-sufficiency.  Supported by thousands of donors, volunteers and Mile High United Way, LFS is there for the long haul, helping vulnerable people become safe, supported and fully engaged members of the community.  LFS combines statewide capacity with a local community-centered orientation to connect people in need with people who care.”

At the age of 28, Isabelle was already a mother of five children when she became pregnant for the sixth time.  A hands-on mother, she loved her children very much and wanted the best for the new child she would soon bring into the world.  Thanks to the support of Mile High United Way’s Adult Self Sufficiency initiative, Lutheran Family Services’ pregnancy counseling program worked with Isabelle, free of charge, to discuss all of her options and make the best decision for her child, herself and the children she was parenting. Isabelle chose adoption for her newborn boy, and Lutheran Family Services assisted Isabelle in personally selecting a loving family to become the parents of her baby.  This decision ultimately kept Isabelle, her family, and newborn baby on paths to a brighter, more self sufficient future.

Another Lutheran Family Services’ program supported by the Mile High United Way Adult Self Sufficiency initiative is the Asset Building program for children and youth in the foster care programs of the agency. Based on the 40 Developmental Assets described by the Search Institute as necessary for all children to develop into healthy, caring and self sufficient adults, The Asset Building program of LFS provides training for foster parents and foster care volunteers aimed at maximizing the impact of their interventions for children as they overcome the effects of child abuse and neglect and build self esteem and hope for the future. 

Lutheran Family Services also partners with Bridging the Gap at Mile High United Way, a project that is developing community resources to assist youth as they transition from foster care to independent living. “LFS is not content with rescuing children when they’re young, only to throw some of them back into harms way when they turn 18,” said Barclay.  “Our asset building programs and partnership with Bridging the Gap are just some of the ways we are trying to help ensure that foster youth will have the tools they need to maintain healthy independence when they exit the system.”

To donate to Mile High United Way’s Adult Self Sufficiency initiative, click here or dial United Way’s 2-1-1 to give or get help.