About Us

The Pregnancy and Birth Parent Services program at LSS has been providing comprehensive non-directive decision making counseling services to Minnesota women facing unplanned pregnancies for over 100 years. We believe that each and every person facing the stress of an unplanned pregnancy has a very personal decision to make. As pregnancy services professionals it is our responsibility to know the options available, have a basic knowledge of the implications of the different options, and provide information and education on each option.

Allie Schmidt - Minneapolis/St. Paul Allie.Schmidt@lssmn.org • (612) 879-5262

Allie began for LSS Adoption in 1999 and began working as a social worker for Birth Parent services in 2002. Allie received her Masters degree in Social Work from Augsburg College in Minneapolis, MN. She has a real passion for working with clients.

Caitlin Moodie - Minneapolis/St. Paul Caitlin.Moodie@lssmn.org • (612) 879-5235

Caitlin is a licensed social worker who received her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from the College of Saint Benedict and her Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Denver. Caitlin began working with LSS as a Pregnancy Counselor and Birth Parent Services Worker in 2010. She enjoys providing support and advocacy to her clients.

Emily Alewine - Minneapolis/St. Paul Emily.Alewine@lssmn.org • 612) 879-5271

Emily is dedicated to working with women, men, couples and families who are examining their options regarding an unexpected pregnancy. She is a licensed social worker who received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and English from Hamline University in St. Paul in 2001. She earned her Master’s in Social Work from the University of St. Thomas/University of St. Catherines Collaborative Clinical Social Work Program in 2008. She has years of experience in pregnancy counseling as well as open adoption and joined LSS in 2011.

Dianne Delaney - St. Cloud Area Dianne.Delaney@lssmn.org • (320) 251-7700

Dianne earned her Bachelor's degree from the College of St. Benedict in 1986. She is a licensed social worker who has been providing birth parent services in central Minnesota since 1994. Dianne joined LSS in 2001. She is a passionate believer in open adoption, and is very dedicated to serving her clients' needs. She loves her work and feels it is what she was called to do!

Jessica Gunderson - Mankato Area Jessica.Gunderson@lssmn.org • (507) 625-7660 x 236

Jessica is a licensed social worker who received her Bachelor’s degree in social work from Minnesota State University, Mankato. Jessica has been working as a Birth Parent Social Worker since 2006. She enjoys working with clients and is a strong advocate for her clients needs.

Sarah Deacy - Duluth Area Sarah.Deacy@lssmn.org • (218) 529-2252

Sarah received her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from the College of Saint Scholastica (Duluth, MN) and her Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Minnesota – Duluth. Sarah began working for LSS in 2008 and began working with the birth parent and adoption programs in 2010. She is a strong advocate for each client’s individual needs and enjoys getting to know both birth parents and prospective adoptive families.

Vicki Haugen - Moorhead Area Vicki.Haugen@lssmn.org • (218) 236-1494 x215

Vicki has a passion for helping to build families for children from all around the world. She received her Bachelor's degree in Social Work from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN, and has previous experience in county and hospital social work. Vicki has been at LSS since 1997 serving the adoptive families and birth parents of northwest Minnesota.

Rachel Faust - Rochester Area Rachel Faust@lssmn.org • (507) 990-9335

Rachel graduated from Luther College with a degree in Social Work. She began working for LSS as a Pregnacy Counselor and Birth Parent Worker in the spring of 2008. She enjoys working with clients and advocating for each individuals needs.