Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska received a 2017 Better Business Bureau Integrity Award at the BBB’s annual luncheon held at Embassy Suites by Hilton Omaha La Vista Hotel & Conference Center on Tuesday, October 17.
The BBB Awards focus on organizations that demonstrate ethical business practices with key stakeholders including customers, employees and community at large. The Omaha-area Integrity Award winners were chosen by an independent panel of judges consisting of metro Omaha business leaders and members of the academic community.
“BBB’s Integrity Award Winners have shown that ethics and integrity are core values of their organization,” stated Jim Hegarty, president and chief executive officer of Better Business Bureau, Inc. serving Nebraska, South Dakota, The Kansas Plains and Southwest Iowa. “The 2017 BBB Integrity Award Winners join an elite group of organizations that realize dealing fairly and honestly with employees, customers and partners are central to profitability and growth. They serve as role models for all businesses located in Omaha, and the Better Business Bureau Foundation is pleased to honor them with this prestigious award.”
Ruth Henrichs, President and CEO of Lutheran Family Services, accepted the award on behalf of the organization.
LFS and other organizations submitted thorough applications that covered topics including ethical management practices, decision making and conflict resolution. The organization’s roots lie in the commitment to care for orphaned children at facilities in Omaha and Fremont. The nonprofit that grew out of that work has remained successfully accredited by the Council on Accreditation since 1996, a rigorous process that includes a detailed review and analysis of the organization’s administrative operations and service delivery against national standards of best practice. At its core, Lutheran Family Services remains committed to providing competent and ethical care for all people.
****************************
Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska’s vision statement encompasses the breadth of its work: to provide Safety, Hope and Well-Being to its neighbors. In its 125th anniversary year in 2017, the organization is committed to its mission: to express God’s love for all people by providing quality human care services that build and strengthen individual, family and community life – providing safety, hope and well-being.
The faith-based, not-for-profit, multi-service human care agency has locations in nine communities across Nebraska, including Omaha and Lincoln, as well as an office in Council Bluffs, Iowa. 18,717 people received service through an LFS program in 2016.
At every location in Nebraska and Southwest Iowa, LFS puts the mission into action through three broad service areas:
- Behavioral Health Services including outpatient mental health services and therapy, substance use treatment, sexual abuse/incest treatment, 24/7 mobile crisis response, peer support, At Ease therapeutic support for active military, veterans and their loved ones, Health 360 Integrated Care in Lincoln and specialized counseling for children, adolescents, adults and families;
- Children Services which provide parenting support and prevention/early intervention programs; RSafe® treatment for children and families impacted by sexual abuse; infant, international and foster care adoption services and searches; Right Turn® post adoption services; foster care; pregnancy counseling; maternal health care and family support services; youth diversion services;
- Community Services that provide refugee resettlement services, immigration legal services, interpretation services, case management, and education and employment services for new populations.
