April 19, 2022
Knowledge Is Power: Individualized Education Program Preparation
An IEP is a customized learning plan developed for children with special needs in a public school. Explore our tips for navigating your IEP. Read More
April 18, 2022
IDD-Friendly Activities for Families
Have a family member or loved one with an intellectual or developmental disability? Here a some local, IDD-friendly activities they may enjoy. Read More
March 18, 2022
LBSA Hires JR Larson as Director of Business Development
We are pleased to announce that JR Larson has joined the LBSA leadership team as its first Director of Business Development! This announcement comes at a time when LBSA is celebrating its 125th anniversary. This milestone stirs memories of the organization’s original founder, Laura Baker, and the hundreds and hundreds… Read More
February 9, 2022
Challenges and Triumphs
Challenges and Triumphs Well, it’s been an interesting few years at Laura Baker Services Association (LBSA) – and the challenges and triumphs continue into 2022. It’s messy. The pathway that once seemed relatively clear is now subject to unexpected twists and turns, or to disappearing in the forest with little… Read More
February 9, 2022
LBSA’s Every Step of the Way Gala Raises Over $253,000!
LBSA’s Every Step of the Way Gala Raises Over $253,000! Our 26th Annual (and first-ever hybrid) Gala was held at Carleton College on Saturday, December 4. With a reduced in-person crowd and nearly 100 online attendees, we were able to raise a record amount of money for our Annual Fund. Read More
February 9, 2022
Thank You, Anabelle
Thank You, Anabelle Through a decades-long partnership with Laura Baker Services Association, social work students from St. Olaf College are receiving on-the-job learning experiences. St. Olaf senior, Anabelle Xiong, is the most recent in a long line of students who have completed an internship. Anabelle is from St. Paul. She… Read More
January 4, 2022
LBSA Awards Two More Education Scholarships
LBSA Awards Two More Education Scholarships Juggling the demands of work and school can prove to be quite a challenge. Since 2020, Laura Baker Services Association (LBSA) has been helping ease the financial burden of school for its employees who are pursuing educational opportunities at the same time. The Gary… Read More
November 18, 2021
Meet Sam Gershman, LBSA’s Lead Family Navigator
Meet Sam Gershman, LBSA’s Lead Family Navigator For six years, Sam managed to work as a radio producer at WDLB and WOSQ, all while serving at-risk children through AmeriCorps. Sam explains that he worked with youth who came from a variety of backgrounds – whether they had disabilities, a bad… Read More
November 18, 2021
Embrace the Mess, Every Step of the Way
Embrace the Mess, Every Step of the Way 2020 AND 2021 HAVE BEEN VERY MESSY YEARS. Both internally at Laura Baker Services Association (LBSA), and in the world at large. At LBSA, our biggest challenge continues to be finding enough staff members to support our services. We’re joining with other… Read More
November 18, 2021
CARE CAN’T WAIT
CARE CAN’T WAIT To our neighbors, Our caregiving community is in crisis. The pandemic has created an employment crisis in our community. The causes of this dramatic shift in employee hiring and recruiting are complex, but its impact is blunt. We have a shortage of employees within our organizations to… Read More