One exciting new ministry of First Lutheran is a partnership with Lutheran Family Services (LFS) to provide behavioral health services via TeleHealth. Through a new program made possible by a Cares Act grant, LFS has given the church a Chromebook computer that connects to their behavioral health counselors. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, LFS is not seeing clients at any of their facilities, relying instead on virtual meetings with clients for counseling sessions. However, many clients do not have internet access, or a safe, confidential space to have these sessions. First is joining a network of 12 churches across the state to provide an accessible place for clients to keep their scheduled appointments. LFS hopes to have 20 sites open by summer and eventually grow the program to a total of 40.
