Michiganders Take Leadership Roles With ISS-USA

BALTIMORE, Feb. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- International Social Services, United States of America Branch (ISS-USA) announced today that two Michigan-based family service experts have taken leadership roles within the organization.

Robert Miles, an ISS-USA board member since 2007, has been named President.  He is President and Chief Executive Officer of Lutheran Child & Family Service of Michigan - an organization that provides social services to more than 15,000 children, individuals and families each year in the Bay City, Grand Rapids and Metropolitan Detroit areas.

Miles also sits on the Michigan Statewide Taskforce for Permanency, Transition and Advocacy for Foster Care Youth; serves as board member and past president of the Board of Directors of The Michigan Federation for Children and Families, and is the Past Chairman of the Board of Directors of Lutheran Services in America (LSA), one of the largest human care networks in America.

"I am honored to move into the position of Board President," said Miles.  "ISS-USA is a unique resource in the U.S., providing unrivaled inter-country casework and asserting its influence in areas of scholarship, research, public service and advocacy."

David Thronson has joined the ISS-USA Board of Directors.  He is Professor of Law at the Michigan State University College of Law where he is co-founder of the Immigration Law Clinic. His research and writing seeks to develop frameworks and critical perspectives for analyzing the intersection of family and immigration, with a particular focus on children.  He also taught in Nepal as a Peace Corps volunteer.

"Our organization has experienced unprecedented growth in its scope and notoriety in the past five years," said Julie Rosicky, executive director for ISS-USA.  "As we continue to meet increasing demands for our services, it is essential to have a strong board to provide thoughtful direction and support.  We are excited that Bob Miles, David Thronson and Mary Jane Fales will be there to help us face the many challenges ahead."

Headquartered in Baltimore and part of an international network of more than 100 national branches, affiliated bureaus and correspondents with its General Secretariat in Geneva, ISS-USA is a nonsectarian, nonprofit international social work agency providing services to children, families and adults who encounter socio-legal problems around the world. These services include repatriation services, home studies, tracings, searches and other related services aimed at assisting children and families bridge social service issues that transcend national borders.  The organization also provides training to social and legal workers while serving as an advocate for the best interests of children.  In the past year alone, ISS-USA provided intercountry casework and related services to 3,363 people.

SOURCE Lutheran Child and Family Service of Michigan