After years of working together to facilitate adoptions and foster care, two St. Paul-based nonprofits that date back to the 1800s have announced a planned merger.

Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota and the Children’s Home Society of Minnesota — both located in St. Paul’s St. Anthony Park neighborhood — are longtime neighbors and close collaborators who will now operate under one roof.

The organizations began working together in 2012, combining administration of their adoption services. In 2014, both signed an affiliation agreement, sharing programs and administration while keeping their brands separate. The next step is to ensure a seamless transition with state and county partners.

The merger is expected to be complete by this fall, and all 62 employees in Minnesota will continue to provide existing services.

Lutheran Social Service, which offers a wide range of human services to adults and children, began finding families for orphaned children in 1865. The Children’s Home began similar children’s services in 1889.

Between them, 5,800 individuals last year received foster care and adoption services, information, training and support, including 354 children and youth in licensed foster families, 103 youth who were placed in homes through domestic and international adoption, and nearly 1,500 individuals who received post-adoption support and care.

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