Lutheran Social Service outlines wraparound services, youth transitions program and community care closet in Virginia

Teresa, representing Lutheran Social Service (LSS), described the agency’s high-fidelity wraparound program, which uses strength-based teams to work with whole families and seeks surrogate supports for households that lack informal networks. She said most LSS referrals come through St. Louis County contracts (children's mental health and child protection), and that recent grants have allowed some self-referrals.

Savannah Parisian, LSS program manager, then summarized the fostering‑youth transitions program (formerly known as Ono 18). The program serves people ages 14–22 who have had at least 30 days of out-of-home placement after their 14th birthday. Services include one-on-one case management, eight‑week independent-living groups (Tuesdays, 4–6 p.m.), advanced community groups that practice skills in local settings (bank, public spaces), and a youth leadership council that helps participants advocate for system changes.

Savannah also described the community care closet — an unfunded, donation-based resource open to the public Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Family Resource Center (507 South 9th Avenue West, Virginia). The closet stocks clothing (new preferred), diapers, wipes, hygiene supplies and household goods; availability depends on donations. She said staff can assemble boxes of needed items on request and encouraged agencies and individuals to contact LSS to coordinate donations.

Teresa stressed that wraparound services center on family choice: "the family gets the right to choose, decide what needs they want and what they wanna work on." Both presenters offered to provide contact and referral information in the meeting follow-up and invited partner agencies to refer clients directly or arrange presentations.

Savannah noted the closet is staffed intermittently and advised callers to message staff before visiting to ensure someone is present. The presenters asked attendees to share referral contacts and to connect clients with LSS for program enrollment or donations.