March Updates from TLH: Belle Plaine

Social Work Month and more!

March is National Social Worker’s Month

The 2026 Social Work Month theme honors the prime mission of the Social Work profession – to enhance human well-being, meet the basic human needs of all people, and put special attention on the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed and living in poverty.

The ability of social workers to uplift, defend and positively transform the millions of people they work with each day is needed now more than ever. That is because our nation is experiencing a period of deep cultural, political, and economic divide.

Social safety net programs such as Medicare and Medicaid face budget cuts. Voting rights are being rolled back in several states. Discrimination against certain populations is on the rise. And our nation continues to face a mental health crisis, with suicide rates rising 36 percent between 2000 and 2022.

Social workers are on the front lines, helping individuals and communities so they can overcome personal and societal challenges and even thrive. Social workers are also adept at bringing people and communities together so they can find common ground and work to improve the welfare of all.

There are more than 810,000 social workers in the United States and it is one of the fastest growing professions in this country, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Social workers are in all areas of our society – with veterans, in schools, in social service and child welfare agencies, in adoption and foster care, in mental health care and health care, and in local, state, and federal government to name a few.

Social workers keep the core values of service, competence, integrity, the dignity and worth of the person, the importance of human relationships, and social justice at the heart of everything they do. Social workers Uplift, Defend, and Transform. Thank you for being there through these difficult times and doing this vital work. Those three words—Uplift, Defend, Transform—make up this year’s Social Work Month theme.

The Lutheran Home is very blessed to have three very talented social workers on our Team. Becky Brandt and Tami Juberian are amazing resident and family advocates. Both of them have previously worked as nursing assistants at The Home, which compliments their current positions. Anne Menden is also a social worker and she currently serves as our Admissions Coordinator. Anne’s calm welcoming demeanor facilitates a reassuring transition to our setting.

Becky has been employed with The Lutheran Home for over 25 years, Tami for over 3 years and Anne over a year. Thank you Becky, Tami and Anne for making such an amazing difference in the lives of our residents and families every day. It is my privilege to be your colleague in the very important work that all of us do to facilitate the Mission and Ministry of The Lutheran Home Association.

Have a blessed Spring,

Rick Krant - Administrator

WE would LOVE Your HELP!

Have you ever thought about how a few hours could make a difference?

The Lutheran Home: Belle Plaine is always looking for folks of all ages, willing to provide or help with meaningful experiences for our residents. Board games and puzzles, arts and crafts, bingo parties, gardening and flower planting, singing, playing the piano or other musical instruments, acting performances, and even trivia are all welcome ideas. Or bring an idea of your own!

For more information on how you can volunteer, contact our Therapeutic Recreation Director, Emily Bullert at 952-873-2124 or email Emily at ejbullert@tlha.org.

Upcoming Volunteer Opportunity!

Arbor Day and Earth Day are in the same week this year. We will be asking for help to make our outdoor spaces ready for resident and family visits. Please join us!

Watch for a date in our next newsletter asking for your help to make our community beautiful!

The Lutheran Home Association, the parent Ministry of The Lutheran Home: Belle Plaine, has recently released it's 2024/25 Impact Report, highlighting news about the ministry.

Please use the QR code to read the report, or if you prefer, click here to go directly to the webpage.

Flower arranging is a great activity—creative, relaxing, and it brightens up the whole space. Residents at The Lutheran Home often find that working with flowers brings back memories of gardening and the warm outdoors.

So pretty!

Our Star of the Month for March is Lucy Terlinden!

Lucy is the LPN Clinical Supervisor at TLH.

Team member nomination statement: “Lucy is extremely helpful. She is always willing to pitch in and lend a hand. She is knowledgeable and teaches others. Lucy is honest, reliable, and trustworthy. I am blessed to have her as a colleague.”

Thanks for all you do Lucy!

by Pastor Ed Fredrich - Chaplain at The Lutheran Home Association

“Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up.” John 3:14

You see them everywhere, around the neck, hanging from ears, even tattooed on people’s body parts. That doesn’t include the decorations in many homes and even in some businesses. We have come to accept that there should be a cross at a church, but why would the cross be such an important symbol?

When Nicodemus came to visit Jesus one night, he had many questions about salvation. As they were talking Jesus used an Old Testament reference with which Nicodemus would have been familiar. While in the wilderness, the Israelites sinned against God. On this particular rebellion, God sent poisonous snakes into the camp.