This is the third article in our Centennial Series. We feature a current employee who found social work as part of his Lutheran faith. Our founders in 1921 were a group of Lutherans who came together to help people who were struggling. While LCS is turning 100, our work in Southeast Washington started nearly 60 years ago. Services have evolved to meet the community’s need for intensive youth mental health services in Benton and Franklin Counties.

Faith is what brings Kyle Hulvey to work.

Hulvey is a Wraparound with Intensive Services (WISe) program supervisor for us in the Tri-Cities. Raised predominantly in a Lutheran tradition, Hulvey’s work is an expression of a Lutheran ideal – a calling to love our neighbor. 

Hulvey’s first encounter with social work merging with faith was at Camp Lutherhaven as a college freshman. One experience was a visit to Compass Housing Alliance women’s shelter in downtown Seattle. Watching staff selflessly serve others’ needs embodied faith in action to Kyle. 

That was the moment he started feeling his calling for social work. Working for LCS Northwest after he  earned a bachelor’s of arts degree in psychology  from Concordia University affirmed his calling. He went on to earn an MSW from Eastern Washington University.

“It is right in the core of our mission statement: health, justice, and hope,” Kyle said. ”Families are hurting when they come to us, but we work to transform suffering into meaning, strength and hope. Families leave us recognizing who they are, what they are capable of, and having found new hope.”

Being familiar with one organization and deeply involved in the other, Kyle follows news of the recent affiliation agreement between Compass and LCS Northwest.

“It is exciting from my perspective to see Compass and LCS reuniting in their common bond to serve,” he said.

Kyle recently celebrated 10 years of working in our Tri-Cities district. He explains that the way LCS serves the community mirrors his professional development. That includes opportunities for growth, mentorship and an action-based adherence to core values.

“People are not defined by their problems but by their resilience,” Kyle said. “They are capable of growth and change even under tough circumstances. Those same principles apply to me as a staff member. You would be hard-pressed to find more meaningful work.”