I Now Pronounce You… A Budgeter!

Written by Dana Goeman, Financial Counselor and Educator

 

You stroll down the driveway, open up the mailbox and – Alright, sweet! Another wedding invitation!

It’s wedding season, folks! Even if you yourself aren’t tying the knot this summer, there’s a good chance you may be invited to a wedding or two. Maybe you’re even part of the wedding party! Regardless, the expenses involved with being a wedding guest can add up quickly—there are bridal showers, bachelor/bachelorette parties, travel, lodging, food, clothing, gifts…

An essential part of navigating this season with as little financial stress as possible is being on a budget. And no, being on a budget doesn’t mean you CAN’T spend. Quite the opposite! A budget is really a map of where you want your money to go and allows you to plan accordingly for these expenses, giving you permission to spend on the things that matter to you. It lays out a game plan for your money based on your values.

When you plan out ahead of time how much you want to spend, it gives you a guideline to shoot for. Rather than aimlessly throwing things from the wedding registry in your online shopping cart and feeling overwhelmed later about how much you spent, you’re the one in control. Maybe your budget shows that while you can comfortably spring for a new pair of shoes to wear to the wedding, you might want to stick with wearing a dress you already own. (It’s okay to repeat an outfit. I promise!)

And keep in mind: If you know you’ve got room in the budget to attend the wedding festivities and go big on a wedding gift and that’s important to you, go for it! If your budget is a little tighter right now due to your circumstances, don’t feel guilty for not attending altogether—send a card or gift instead if it will save you some peace of mind. The amount you spend when someone gets married is not indicative of your appreciation for them.

Gift-giving and being a part of wedding fun is awesome, which is why we want you to do so in a way that doesn’t leave you feeling remorse after the fact. If you aren’t sure how to lay out a budget and want to walk through getting started with a professional, give us a call. Our financial counselors will meet with you to help you create a personalized budget that works for you. Call 888-258-2227 or email cfr@LssSD.org to get started.

 

LSS Center for Financial Resources
Consumer Credit Counseling Service | Housing Resources | Sharpen Your Financial Focus | Financial Fitness Education
705 East 41^st Street, Suite 100 | Sioux Falls SD 57105-6047
605-330-2700 or 888-258-2227
www.LssSD.org
Strengthening Individuals, Families & Communities

              

This Birth Mother’s Day, Remember, They Never Gave Up!

The Saturday before Mother’s Day is designated as Birth Mother’s Day. It’s a day for adoptees and adoptive families to acknowledge the women who made them a family. But it’s also a day to acknowledge the loss, the grief, the shame, the guilt, the struggle, and the heartbreak that birth mother’s go through that makes them birth mothers.

Trip to Pierre 2023

In the early morning hours of March 2, twenty-seven students, four teachers, one caseworker and three volunteers ventured out of Sioux Falls towards Pierre. The students were eager to see the state capital, meet with representatives and witness democracy in action.

The students first saw the state capitol building. Several marveled at the beautiful frescos and architecture of the building. The students then sat in on sessions in both the Senate and House of Representatives, where they were introduced by Senator Reynold Nesiba and Representative Linda Duba. In both chambers, the students received a standing ovation from the legislators. After watching the sessions, the students had the opportunity to speak with Senator Nesiba and Representative Duba and ask them questions.

After this, the group made their way to the South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center. There, they were given a tour of the museum and learned about South Dakota’s history. The students loved looking at the different items in the museum and learning more about South Dakota. Several students noted things that were similar in their countries. One student from Iraq was interested in the Lakota creation story about rock being the very first thing in creation. She said they had a similar story in her country. Another student saw an old loom used in South Dakota’s early frontier days and excitedly remarked that she had used a loom like that in Ethiopia.

After seeing the museum it was time to head home. The students had a wonderful time and chatted about the different things they saw on the ride back. Thank you to the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation, Adult Education and Literacy, and Lutheran Social Services, Center for New Americans for sponsoring the event.

Students, volunteers and staff speak with Senator Nesiba in the Capitol building.

Senator Liz Larson practices her Nepali with two Nepali students.

Students at the South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center.

Kate Harris: ESL Instructor & Career Navigator
LSS Center for New Americans
300 E. 6th St., Suite 100
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
P: 605-731-2000 | F: 605-731-2059
LssSD.org

What Time Is It? Tax Time

Benjamin Franklin once said, “In this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes.” While much has changed since Ben Franklin’s time (and thank goodness, can you imagine life with no air conditioning or microwave ovens?), one thing has stuck around—taxes. Paying taxes can be stressful, but with a little bit of planning ahead, tax time can go from downright scary to just a minor inconvenience. Here are a few things to keep in mind throughout the year as you prepare for next year’s tax season:

 

1. Make sure your employer(s) have your current contact information. Once the forms start flying after January 31^st, you’ll want to make sure you have access to your W-2s and any other fun forms you might need when you file your taxes. It’s simple, but save yourself the headache and make sure things are being sent to the right mailing address or email.
2. Keep good records. While being audited by the IRS is unlikely, you never know. It’s a good idea to make sure you have access to all your paystubs for the year in either physical or electronic form. Other pertinent documentation is good to have on hand too– Just in case.
3. Own a business? Keep track of your income AND your expenses. Keeping receipts in a designated location is a good rule of thumb, even if it’s just an envelope in a drawer. Additionally, consider using a spreadsheet or software in order to track every penny that goes in or out. Do this throughout the year to save you the stress of sorting out your income and expenses right before the filing deadline.
4. Look into what tax credits you may qualify for. There are many different tax credits out there that can benefit you at tax time. It might surprise you how many things you already pay for could give you a break on what taxes you’ll owe. Talk to a tax professional for detailed information.
5. Check your withholdings. While the amount withheld from your paychecks is dependent on many factors, in general if you had more withheld throughout the year than you needed to, you get a tax refund; if you had less withheld than you needed to, you owe money to the IRS. If year after year you end up owing money at tax time, or if you end up with a big refund but you’d rather have that money in your pocket each time you get paid during the year, check out this handy dandy calculator or consult a tax professional to see if some adjustments might be right for you. All it typically takes to adjust your withholding is filling out one form!

 

And if you do end up with a hefty tax refund and aren’t sure what to do with it, or you owe the IRS a chunk of change and aren’t sure how you’ll work that into your budget, we can help. Schedule a financial counseling appointment with us and one of our counselors will help you come up with a plan that works for you, your budget, and your goals. Call 888-258-2227 or email CFR@LssSD.org.

Written by Dana Goeman, Financial Counselor and Educator

LSS Center for Financial Resources
Consumer Credit Counseling Service | Housing Resources | Sharpen Your Financial Focus | Financial Fitness Education
705 East 41^st Street, Suite 100 | Sioux Falls SD 57105-6047
605-330-2700 or 888-258-2227
www.LssSD.org
Strengthening Individuals, Families & Communities

              

South Dakota CARES: Find Your Match

This April, we honor the history, tradition and vision of LSS through South Dakota CARES, a statewide week of giving featuring program site tours, online giving challenges and social celebrations! Join us and be part of our vision by making a donation during our biggest fundraising event of the year! Go to SouthDakotaCARES.org to learn more or make an online gift today.

Foster Care Services up to $25,000
All donations in support of LSS Foster Care Services will be matched up to $25,000! Donations made to LSS Foster Care Services support the recruitment, training and licensing of new treatment foster families; expanding our ability to serve youth in our South Dakota communities. Donations can also support experiences for youth in foster care such as extra-curricular activity fees and equipment, birthday gifts, outings and more. SouthDakotaCares.org

Cutting Edge Care Challenge
25 donors = $15,000
25 donors to the Cutting Edge Care Fund will unlock $15,000 to support our efforts to implement trauma-informed and evidence-based practices across the board! Please consider making a donation today to the LSS Cutting Edge Care Fund to ensure that therapists, social workers and direct care staff will continue to be on the cutting edge of new treatment modalities that are proven to be successful, ultimately changing the trajectory of the lives of those we serve. SouthDakotaCares.org

Center for New Americans and Multi-Cultural Center up to $25,000
Thanks to a generous donor, your donation during South Dakota CARES to support the LSS Center for New Americans and the Multi-Cultural Center will be matched up to $25,000. Your donation this spring will go further than ever before! Please consider donating today to help create a strong path forward for a new and exciting partnership between LSS and the Multi-Cultural Center.’ SouthDakotaCares.org

Adoption and Pregnancy Counseling up to $10,000
Support services offered by LSS Adoption Services and Pregnancy Counseling are critical steps in the adoption or parenting process. Birthparent counseling, educational meetings and adoption workshops equip birthparents with all of the information needed to make the best decision for themselves and their children. Please consider a donation to help support birth and adoptive parents in their journey to creating a family. All donations in support of LSS Adoption Services and Pregnancy Counseling will be matched, up to $10,000! SouthDakotaCares.org

Mental Health Challenge 50 donors = $25,000
Committed to ensuring that cost is not a barrier for clients to access mental health care, LSS is one of the only providers in the state to offer a sliding fee scale based on income. Your support can ensure our ability to continue offering these services at an affordable price. 50 donors will unlock $25,000 to support LSS Behavioral Health Services! SouthDakotaCares.org

A Glimpse of What My Life Was Like

LSS Adoption Services and Pregnancy Counseling Services

At age 17, a young woman found herself in a very difficult situation. She was pregnant. As overwhelming as the news was, she was excited and dreamt of her family, their future together and all of the possibilities yet to come. Unfortunately, life had a different plan in mind for her. The father was unwilling to be present in their lives.

Still in high school, she turned to her family for advice. That’s where she learned about LSS Adoption Services and Pregnancy Counseling. She started working with a team at LSS and began exploring the “how to” of making an adoption plan.

She felt the pressure and the weight of the decision ahead of her, but the support she received through LSS Adoption Services and Pregnancy Counseling helped her every step of the way. Through adoption workshops, educational meetings and counseling sessions she felt more prepared day by day.

From the potential adoptive family profiles, she found a family that touched her heart. “The first time we met, I was so nervous. I knew a lot about them, but they didn’t know anything about me.” To tell her story, she gathered a tote filled with framed pictures to share with the family. “I wanted to give them a glimpse of what my life was like growing up.”

She was concerned her child wouldn’t have a male role model to look up to, but as her relationship with the adoptive parents grew, she felt at ease. Knowing that her son had a father, a good example and a positive role model to count on brought her peace.

Support services offered by LSS Adoption Services and Pregnancy Counseling are critical steps in the adoption or parenting process. Birthparent counseling, educational meetings and adoption workshops equip birthparents with all of the information needed to make the best decision for themselves and their children.

Please consider a donation through SouthDakotaCares.org to help support birth and adoptive parents in their journey to create a family. All donations in support of LSS Adoption Services and Pregnancy Counseling will be matched, up to $10,000!

MCC Is Part of the Rich Tapestry of This Great City

LSS Center for New Americans & Multi-Cultural Center

In October 2022, LSS began integrating the Multi-Cultural Center of Sioux Falls (MCC) services with goals of strengthening and optimizing their services. The strong overlap of resources has created great synergy between both organizations. Both LSS Center for New Americans and the MCC have a unified mission to serve and celebrate the diversity in our community.

By joining LSS, the MCC can hone in on engaging and celebrating the many diverse communities in Sioux Falls because the administrative needs like finance, human resources and information technology are incorporated into LSS’s administrative services. The MCC gains stability for long-term success and the synergy that is created by aligning together better serves the community.

Valeria Wicker began her role to lead the Multi-Cultural Center in Sioux Falls last November. She comes to LSS from South Dakota State University, Brookings, where she served as a program coordinator for work with Lakota/Dakota programming. “We are excited to have Valeria in this role. Her education, fluency in Spanish, more than ten years of experience working in education and five years working with tribal nations will be valuable for the future of the MCC. She will do a great job in community building and empowerment in Sioux Falls,” says Rebecca Kiesow-Knudsen, LSS President/CEO.

“I feel very privileged to be at the helm of the Multi-Cultural Center. The vision of the MCC is very similar to my personal conviction that society is at its best when its wealth of cultures, backgrounds and experiences are valued and thriving,” says Wicker. “MCC is part of the rich tapestry of this great city.”

LSS Multi-Cultural Center

The spirit of the MCC’s mission, “to provide experiences and opportunities for all people to learn, celebrate and share through our community’s cultural diversity,” will be maintained through LSS’s vision that “all people in South Dakota will be healthy, safe and accepted” regardless of their background, beliefs or ethnicity.

In 2021 MCC’s free workforce development program helped more than 80 individuals find employment. As LSS prepares to welcome more New Americans into our community in the next two years, it will greatly benefit our growing workforce to have more resources and people available to support a growing number of those seeking employment.

LSS Center for New Americans

LSS began providing resettlement services for displaced Europeans in 1948, following World War II. Since then, we have helped thousands of individuals and families and continue to view our work with New Americans as a vital part of our mission, and essential service to our community. From the moment they are greeted warmly by their case worker at the airport, to setting up their first home, LSS Center for New Americans dedicated staff and volunteers work with New Americans every step of the way to ensure their success and to help them feel supported as they work toward self-sufficiency.

Individuals must complete 45 hours of community orientation, attend at least six hours of English language training per week in addition to workforce training to qualify for federal cash assistance. In 2021, 100% of working-age adults became self-sufficient within eight months of arrival and had a starting wage of $15.87. LSS Center for New Americans partners with local non-profits to provide fee waivers annually for services to those who have fallen on hard times and are unemployed. Services range from obtaining a state ID to obtaining an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) which allows the individuals to work.

Find Your Match

Thanks to a generous donor, your donation during South Dakota CARES to support the LSS Center for New Americans and the Multi-Cultural Center will be matched up to $25,000. Your donation this spring will go further than ever before! Please consider donating today to help create a strong path forward for a new and exciting partnership between LSS and the Multi-Cultural Center.

Meet Amber, “You helped us to get the counseling that we needed.”

LSS Behavioral Health Services

Amber fled an abusive marriage and used the LSS sliding fee scale to receive counseling services for herself and her son. “You helped us to get the counseling that we needed. To give my son a fighting chance to be a good man. So, thank you!”

Amber married in her early 20s. She didn’t realize the pain she would endure for the next three years of marriage until it was too late.

One month into the marriage, the abuse started—emotionally, physically and sexually. “He beat and sexually assaulted me. The abuse was so intense that I miscarried our first child because of it.” He isolated her from family and friends to gain more control of her life. She soon became pregnant again and had a son.

He convinced her she was a horrible person, wife and mother. Amber felt alone. “I was in this big black hole. A pit of despair. No one could reach me to help me. I was thinking about suicide because the abuse was that bad.”

“Even though my family was worried about my health and well-being, I felt like I was alone. And I couldn’t pull myself out.”

“Literally my son was the only thing keeping me alive at that point in time.” Her son’s safety was her first priority. “I figured if I could absorb all of the abuse and as long as it doesn’t trickle down to my son then I’m doing my part as a mother. As a wife.”

Once the emotional abuse was directed toward her son at just a year old, Amber found the strength to seek safety, file for divorce, and get the help she and her son needed.

Amber found help through LSS Behavioral Health Services. “Not only help for myself but my son too. Someone who could do youth counseling and therapy. They could help save us both.”

“Through therapy, he is able to be a happy young boy again.” After ten years, it is still difficult for Amber to tell her story. “It’s hard to relive all of that. He ripped all of my self-worth out of my soul.”

“We think we are alone. It’s not true.” Amber remembers, “I was comforted. It felt like LSS made me feel like I was at home. It was a completely judge-free zone. They made me feel like I was a person—that I could be seen. I wasn’t this scared, timid, outcast of a mother.”

“Thank you. Thank you for letting me cry and letting me feel again. Thank you for pulling me out of a black hole, out of the pit of despair. Thank you for making me feel like a good mom.”

LSS made Amber feel safe and accepted. “People should never feel the way I did. LSS was there to help me and my son. They have amazing people. They can help.”

Mental Health Challenge 50 donors = $25,000
Committed to ensuring that cost is not a barrier for clients to access mental health care, LSS is one of the only providers in the state to offer a sliding fee scale based on income. Your support can ensure our ability to continue offering these services at an affordable price. 50 donors will unlock $25,000 to support LSS Behavioral Health Services! Consider a gift today through SouthDakotaCares.org April 10-14, 2023.

Meet Henry, “I Became His Person.”

LSS Foster Care Services

After many years of struggling to start their family, Hannah and her husband turned to LSS. In the fall of 2016, they were officially licensed as a foster family and adoptive resource.

“We are thankful we chose to do this journey with LSS,” says Hannah. “We have been blessed to work with a team of people who are professional and faithful in their dedication to serving children and families. They coordinate resources and walk with us in difficult times and celebrations.”

Hannah and her husband have adopted five of their foster children placements through LSS Foster Care Services. Each child entered the family with their own stories, but there’s one who really clarifies for the family what their purpose on this earth truly is. His name is Henry.

Henry experienced traumatic injuries at just 12 days old and spent 12 days in the NICU where he was not expected to survive.

“He showed us one miracle after another,” Hannah continued. “I logged so many hours with Henry, day and night, for months. Pacing the floor with him, singing to him, praying over him. He cried and screamed his way through healing—and not just physically. He cried when someone coughed or sneezed and we found out later that his abuser had a perpetual cough. Henry would wake up screaming in the night, terrified. Many tears fell and many prayers went up in those first months.”

“As a result of the abuse Henry experienced, he is blind, has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, and over half of his brain is water.”

“The reality is that Henry was lost in there and could’ve been forever, except my heart connected with his in those horrific moments of pain and healing and I became his person. Henry’s pain was that he needed someone to love him no matter how long the nights were, no matter how he screamed and how he communicated his needs. My pain is that I had nine miscarriages and had asked God for a baby so many times that I’d given up hope and hoped again for 20 years. Henry and I were the perfect match because I needed him as much as he needed me.”

Henry needed a safe and loving home to help him heal, grow and survive. He is now five years old and has a safe home, four other siblings and he is loved deeply by his forever family.

“Every child deserves to grow up safe and protected from abuse and neglect— that is our goal at LSS. Caring foster parents offer children support and stability when they need it most. South Dakota is in extreme need for foster parents who can work with us at LSS to empower children in need to become stronger and more confident individuals as they grow into adulthood,” says LSS Permanency Services Director, Jill Jensen.

“We’ve been lifted up by generous gifts that LSS has connected us with,” says Hannah. “We thank LSS, all the faithful staff and volunteers and giving partners who give so generously to make life better for so many kids. I thank you for your heart, kindness, prayers and giving. You all make an enormous difference in the lives of kids who would be lost otherwise.”

Your impact takes shape in many ways at LSS.

Supporting LSS Foster Care Services ensures a safe home and sense of security are available to help children reach their full potential.

All donations in support of LSS Foster Care Services will be matched up to $25,000! Donations made to LSS Foster Care Services support the recruitment, training and licensing of new treatment foster families; expanding our ability to serve youth in our South Dakota communities. Donations can also support experiences for youth in foster care such as extra-curricular activity fees and equipment, birthday gifts, outings and more. SouthDakotaCARES.org

LSS Foster Care Services

LSS Foster Care Services offers a safe, nurturing environment for youth statewide through treatment foster care. LSS Foster Care serves youth under the age of 18 with behavioral, emotional, developmental and medical needs. In addition to supporting youth in foster care, LSS recruits, trains and supports foster families through Resource Family Services.

Walk With Us: Experience LSS Through a Tour

Come visit us at LSS April 10 – 14.

Meet staff and clients, and hear about how your dollars make an impact. Limited spots are available. Click on the button, call 605-444-7520, or email info@LssSD.org to register.

Tuesday, April 11
LSS Center for Children & Youth | Sioux Falls
Summit Oaks Center, Arise Youth Center & Foster Care Services
Masks or proof of vaccination is required to tour LSS Residential for Children & Youth facilities.
9–10 am CT
11 am–12 pm CT
1–2 pm CT

Wednesday, April 12
Canyon Hills Center | Spearfish
Masks or proof of vaccination is required to tour LSS Residential for Children & Youth facilities.
9–10 am MT
11 am –12 pm MT
1–2 pm MT

Thursday, April 13
Arise Youth Center | Rapid City
Masks or proof of vaccination is required to tour LSS Residentialfor Children & Youth facilities.
9–10 am MT
11am –12 pm MT
1–2 pm MT

Friday, April 14
Fishback Campus for Opportunity | Sioux Falls
Center for New Americans, the Multi-Cultural Center, Here4Youth & Re-Entry Services
1–2 pm CT
3–4 pm CT
4–5 pm CT

Social Events

Rapid City | Thurs., April 13, 5–7 pm MT
The Park, 707 Mountain View Rd.

Sioux Falls | Fri., April 14, 6–8 pm CT
Falls Overlook Café, 825 N. Weber Ave.