Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota traces its history to 1865 when Vasa Lutheran Church near Red Wing, a tiny congregation of barely subsistence farmers, opened its church to care for four children in need. These new immigrants from Sweden were the four surviving children of Mikola Erikson and his wife. Suddenly, they found themselves without home or family. Pastor Eric Norelius brought the children to Vasa and arranged care for them in a refurbished church basement. This later became Vasa Children's Home, Minnesota's first and oldest orphanage. Pastor Norelius saw children in need and came up with a community response that inspired hope and changed their lives - and the life of the community.
Improving Mental Health for Individuals, Couples and Families We believe that behavioral health builds the foundation for health and well-being. We are passionate about empowering you to create your best life through strong mental health and well-being. No matter what the circumstances, we focus on giving you the tools you need to successfully navigate the challenges you are facing.
Children's Therapeutic Services
Whether you're seeking services for a child, yourself or the entire family, LSS Children's Therapeutic Services offers a wide variety of therapeutic services and supports.
Correctional Halfway House
Portland House provides a community-based correctional program offering an alternative to incarceration for adult male felons.
Diagnostic Assessments & Psychological Testing
LSS Behavioral Health services offers diagnostic assessments and evaluations to better understand how what you or a loved one are experiencing could be related to mental illness or a substance use disorder. Receiving a diagnosis may be necessary for insurance purposes, to receive prescriptions to treat behavioral issues or to evaluate if a child or individual has learning problems, learning disabilities or behavioral disorders like ADHD.
Early Childhood Mental Health
Children develop a lot in their early years, so our staff are trained to work with infants, children and their families from an early age. We provide assessments that will help you understand your child's behavior, child-specific therapies and parent/guardian education. Intensive In-Home Treatment
For families in crisis, our staff are able to provide Intensive In-Home Treatment to help you learn the skills needed to foster stronger relationships, improve communication and cope better with life's challenges.
Mental Health Therapy (Individual and Family Therapy)
We have a team of compassionate, professional therapists and mental health staff who are dedicated to providing you and your family with high-quality services and support.
Military & Veterans Mental Health
Strengthening women and men of service and their families. LSS Behavioral Health Services offers a broad range of confidential services to veterans, service members, and their families.
Resiliency Programs
Based in St. Cloud and Baxter, our Kids Resiliency and Youth Resiliency Services are asset building, strengths-based programs that empower youth by building on the skills they already have. Through coaching, counseling and peer connections, kids learn to overcome the challenges they face at home, school and in their communities.
Saving Grace - Sex Trafficked Youth
Saving Grace is a specialized foster care program for sex-trafficked youth under the age of 18. We provide youth with safe housing and help them shape an individualized safety and life plan. We provide basic needs to help them find safe shelter and rebuild their lives, as well as help prevent other youth from falling prey to human traffickers.
Substance Use & Addictive Behaviors
We are a trusted partner on a difficult journey, offering comprehensive assessment, customized treatment and coordinated referrals to individuals who may be experiencing signs of substance abuse. Counseling and support are also available to family members.
Therapeutic Foster Care
LSS Therapeutic Foster Care strives to give children in transition a safe and supportive place to live and grow while moving children and families toward permanency.
Fees and Payment
For specific rates and fees for services, please contact your nearest LSS office. If you are unable to pay in full, we will work with you to develop a payment schedule and/or determine if you qualify for sliding fee counseling sessions. LSS Behavioral Health Services is a participating provider in many commercial health insurance plans and accepts Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare. If you are unsure about your insurance benefits and requirements, please contact the provider of your health care plan.
Services Offered To: Adults Couples Teens Children
Special Groups: Bilingual
Payment: Sliding Scale Pro-bono Medicare Medicaid
Were You Able To Make an Appointment?
One quick last question. Who was seeking counseling today?
Do you know the reason they are not accepting clients?
A community counseling agency is a group therapy practice that offers affordable mental health services. Most are independent non-profit agencies, state agencies, or publicly-funded agencies. A few may restrict who is eligible for services, so it is a good idea to check when you call.
Community counseling agencies are generally more affordable than other therapy providers, but how much more affordable they are will depend on whether you qualify for a discount or sliding scale fee (or if they accept your insurance). Many, but not all, have a policy that they won't turn away anyone due to inability to pay. You should ask about their fees when you first call.
Expect to talk to kind people who want to help you find the care you need. Most community agencies strive to connect you with a live person within 24 hours, if not immediately. If you're asked to hold or leave a message, don't give up; just leave a message and wait. You should hear back pretty quickly.
Most agencies try to set up an initial assessment appointment within a week (some do within 24 hours), though the waitlist to start therapy is usually longer—about a few weeks on average. If you're not eligible or if the agency is not right for you, it's usually still worth it to call or drop in, because staff are knowledgeable about local options and can often refer you to one.
