The St. Louis American Lutheran Family and Children’s Services organization celebrates social workers, highlighting the crucial role social workers play in strengthening families across Missouri.
“Our social workers are the backbone of our organization and the heart of our mission,” said Mike Duggar, president and CEO of LFCS. “We are honored to celebrate their tremendous contributions.”
LFCS is headquartered in St. Louis, but has regional offices across the state. The nonprofit social services organization provides critical support to help children and families. The programs empower individuals and families to develop healthy, supportive foundations for a lifetime. Services are open to anyone regardless of race, faith, national origin, or gender.
LFCS honors the dedicated social workers who make a life-changing impact on children, families, and communities. Longtime social worker Latizia Williams, who has been with LFCS for 18 years, embodies the organization’s mission.
“Every day in social work is different, and that’s what I love about it,” said Williams, who now serves as assistant director of parenting services.
“From helping a child find a loving adoptive home to supporting a parent struggling with addiction, we have the chance to make a tangible difference in people’s lives. Knowing that my work contributes to stronger families and healthier communities motivates me.”
“We realized we couldn’t save that child, but we could help others. That was the beginning of my journey, which eventually led to my master’s degree in social work.”
Being a social worker allows her to help in various settings, including hospitals, schools, prisons, and social service agencies, Williams said.
“In all these environments, my role can range from assisting with grief and loss to supporting families experiencing mental and emotional distress,” she said. Williams also helps navigate access to medical equipment, medications, housing resources, substance treatment, and crisis intervention.
When Williams was in college, her then-boyfriend, who is now her husband, had a job in a children’s home and worked closely with a child who was frequently bullied. This kid, who was much younger than the other residents, would share his experiences with her husband. “We decided together that we wanted to help, at least by becoming foster parents,” said Williams. They became licensed to foster; however, tragically, the young child died in an accident.
“We realized we couldn’t save that child, but we could help others. That was the beginning of my journey, which eventually led to my master’s degree in social work.”
At LFCS, social workers play a crucial role in providing critical support through programs such as adoption, pregnancy services and support, parenting services, and mental health counseling.
In 2024, LFCS social workers provided 67,333 parenting service hours, 25,719 pregnancy service hours, helped 25 children from the Hilltop Child and Family Development Center graduate to kindergarten, and provided 3,347 adoption service hours.
According to the National Association of Social Workers, millions of families across the United States face challenges that can impact their well-being. These range from economic hardship and mental health struggles to the complexities of raising children. Social workers are essential in helping families navigate these challenges.
“Hearing that our services have made a genuine difference in people’s lives is always a high point,” Williams said. Years ago, while working in a low-income housing project with at-risk youth, Williams worked with a family facing food insecurity and domestic abuse. Williams helped one of the children apply for scholarships and complete college applications. Recently, she ran into this young man at the grocery store.
“I didn’t recognize him, but he remembered me. He told me that my coworkers and I helped motivate him to believe he could change his life and help his mother,” said Williams. The young man graduated from college and became a counselor. “I am helping to make a difference in the lives of the families we serve.”
Being a social worker isn’t easy. Williams says it’s tough to see families struggle because they lack the resources needed to maintain a safe and healthy lifestyle for their children. She has learned some coping strategies to help avoid internalizing those challenges. And with budget cuts at an all-time high, Williams fears things will get worse before they get better. She says most programs are already underfunded and more financial cuts could lead to program closures and job losses for social workers.
“The community can help by focusing on the specific needs of the populations they wish to support and by actively supporting organizations like ours that provide essential services,” Williams said. “Investing in and partnering with organizations like Lutheran Family and Children’s Services is a direct way to ensure vulnerable families continue to receive the help they need.”