Lutheran Counseling & Family Services of Wisconsin (LCFS)
Lutheran Counseling and Family Services of Wisconsin is a non-profit, state licensed outpatient mental health care agency and adoption service provider, serving the State of Wisconsin. Our licensed therapists and psychologists provide counseling to children, individuals and families regardless of race, ethnic background, or religious affiliation.
MISSION STATEMENT
Lutheran Counseling and Family Services of Wisconsin works to help individuals and families with mental health concerns, alcohol and drug addictions, family counseling and adoption services for people of all ages, regardless of faith, culture or economic status.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2023
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD – Richard Laabs – Retired President, LUMIN Schools
TREASURER/ FINANCE CHAIR – Paul Minzlaff, Retired healthcare professional
SECRETARY – Pastor Scott Kruse
MEMBERS AT LARGE:
Dr. Andrew Luptak, Retired VP of Student Life, Concordia University
Thomas Harms, Retired business owner
Caroline Horn, Retired School Administrator
LCFS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Carol Flanary, MS, LPC
LCFS Locations
Adoption Services West and Central WI – Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, 1201 Droster Road, Madison, WI. (800-291-4513
Janesville -Mount Calvary Lutheran – 2940 Mineral Point Ave. Janesville, WI, (888)867-4840
Sun Prairie – Bethlehem Lutheran Church – 300 Broadway Dr. Sun Prairie, WI 53590 (800) 291-4513
Shawano – St. James Lutheran Church – 324 S. Andrews St. Shawano, WI 54166 (888) 867-4840
Reedsburg – St. Peter’s Lutheran Church – 345 N. Pine St. Reedsburg, WI (800) 291-4513
Portage – St. John’s Lutheran Church – 850 Armstrong St. Portage, WI 53901 (800) 291-4513
Green Bay – Redeemer Lutheran Church – 210 S. Oneida St. Green Bay, WI 54303 (888) 867-4840
Fitchburg – Christ Memorial Lutheran Church – 2833 Raritan Rd. Fitchburg, WI 53711 (800) 291-4513
Cudahy – St. John Lutheran Church – 4850 S. Lake Dr. Cudahy, WI 53110 (414) 536-8333
Main Office – Lutheran Counseling and Family Services of WI Inc – 3800 N. Mayfair Rd. Wauwatosa, WI 53222 (414) 536-8333 // (800) 291-4513
Lutheran Counseling and Family Services History of Care Timeline
HISTORY – A Century of Care
LCFS 2022 “A Century of Care” (video) http://bit.ly/3BCTdVA
Evangelical Lutheran Kinderfreund Society of Wisconsin
Orphanages in the Milwaukee area were so overcrowded that there were many homeless and dependent children who were not properly cared for, putting them at risk for bodily and spiritual harm. Pastors and laymen in the Milwaukee area saw the need for orphaned, neglected and dependent children to be cared for by Christian families instead of institutions. On June 8, 1896 the Evangelical Lutheran Kinderfreund Society of Wisconsin was created to help these children.
New Children’s Receiving Home
A new Children’s Receiving Home was constructed at 8138 Harwood Avenue in Wauwatosa and a west wing was added in 1926.
Lutheran Children’s Friends Society of Wisconsin
The name changed to Lutheran Children’s Friends Society of Wisconsin to better reflect the advancement of the organization. Some of the changes included providing casework service and oversight of private foster homes for orphaned children.
50th Anniversary
In celebration of its 50th anniversary, the agency acknowledged that over 4500 children had been cared for through foster care, adoption or supervision.
Residential Treatment Center Opens
A Residential Treatment Center opened in Wauwatosa capable of housing 32 emotionally disturbed boys aged 6-12.
Counseling Center Established
A Counseling Center providing day treatment, was established by the agency to include an additional six boys.
Expansion of services of the Lutheran Children’s Friends Society included: 32 boys living full time at the Center and six receiving day treatment, counseling for unwed pregnant women, providing foster homes and care for infant, adoption services for physically disabled children, mixed racial children, children over the age of five and international adoptions, marriage and pre-marriage counseling, and group therapy sessions.
Residential Treatment Center Closed
The Residential Treatment Center was closed, allowing the agency to focus primarily on day treatment services. Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (AODA) services were added, in large part to assist veterans dealing with addiction issues. This program rapidly grew to include civilians as well.
Lutheran Counseling & Family Services
To better reflect the broad spectrum of care provided by the agency, the Board of Directors agreed that a name change was in order. The name was officially changed to Lutheran Counseling and Family Services of Wisconsin.
Continued Services
Today we continue to offer Christian counseling for children, individuals and families, alcohol and drug abuse counseling for teens and adults, in-school counseling for at-risk students, reintegration assistance for military veterans and a broad array of adoption services.
In other words, after over 125 years LCFS is still responding to meet the most crucial needs of Wisconsin society.