Lutheran Social Services names
Vice President for Disaster Response
May 5, 2008

AUSTIN, Texas - Heather Gatlin has been promoted to vice president for disaster response for Lutheran Social Services.

"Through my expanded role I hope to continue building a responsive and caring disaster response ministry that brings help, healing and hope to those whose lives are affected by disasters," Gatlin said.

Gatlin, who returned to LSS in 2006 as director of case management for disaster response, has more than 13 years of experience working in health and human services, four of which were with LSS in San Antonio.

Gatlin was instrumental in establishing both LSS' Katrina Aid Today case management system across the Gulf Coast, which has served more than 7,000 households, and the Habitat Call Center, which is a partnership between LSS and Habitat for Humanity to assist hurricane survivors find affordable housing options. Since 2005, LSS has organized over 37,000 volunteers for more than 1.6 million hours of service, served 10,565 households through case management and rebuilt and repaired 10,080 homes.

Gatlin has considerable experience in developing social services programs and managing organizational change. She has also co-authored eight professional reports related to social service program projects and management.

Gatlin earned a bachelor's degree in Spanish from Marquette University and a Master of Public Administration degree from Texas State University.

Lutheran Social Services of the South, Inc., is the social service arm of The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. LSS annually serves nearly 35,000 children, elderly and poor in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi regardless of religious beliefs, ethnicity, gender or age. Its ministry includes disaster response, children's centers, therapeutic foster care, adoption, adult day care, health care and retirement centers and emergency assistance.

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