Who We Are
Since 1917, Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA), a human services and immigration relief and refugee welcome agency, has accompanied those in need throughout Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. to foster resiliency, self-sufficiency, and access to opportunities. We provide services that last beyond just the initial arrival for families, youth, children, and individuals rebuilding their lives in the D.C. metro area.
Motivated daily by our belief in the inherent dignity of all, LSSNCA’s innovative participant-informed programs serve refugees, forced migrants, immigrants, children and youth, and underserved communities by filling in the gaps. Piloting initiatives like the area’s first camp for kids impacted by the HIV/AIDS crisis, originating local pro se asylum workshops for Afghan Allies, launching a Resource Center to serve as a community hub for all recently arrived program participants, and offering myriad trauma-informed mental health support services, LSSNCA strives to create an inclusive community of well-being where people thrive.
Our Impact (Fiscal Year 2023)
From the Newsroom
This September, we’re marking a significant milestone for Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) as we celebrate 50 years of providing care for unaccompanied refugee minors (URM). This month, we’re sharing the story of Susan, a dedicated foster parent in Maryland. We talked with her about what inspired her to become a foster parent and how the experience has been so far.
LSSNCA calls on leaders and public figures to use their platforms to promote truth, respect, and unity rather than peddle harmful and divisive rhetoric. We stand in solidarity with the Haitian community in Springfield and across the United States, reaffirming our commitment to advancing equity, inclusion, and social justice and our belief in the inherent dignity of all humans.
Read our full statement.
Three years on, the [Afghan] arrivals have slowed dramatically but they’re still trickling in. And LSSNCA said the needs are persistent, albeit different. Volunteer drivers are particularly in demand asmigrants need to be taken tojob interviewsorother important appointments. ... Also needed are tutors for kids settling into American schools, and mentors for adults trying to find their way in a new culture and a new job. Doctors, lawyers and even military-trained jet pilots in Afghanistan find themselves struggling to match their skills with jobs here.
