Friendship Home is pleased to announce Lauren Payne as their first Executive Director.  Payne brings 26 years of experience with the development and administration of community-based social service programs.  She served in a variety of roles throughout those 26 years with Lutheran Social Services of New England. As Vice President for Program Services and Director of New Program Development, she has been responsible for the development and oversight of programs throughout Southern New England serving children, families and adults with disabilities. 

Payne has a BS in Psychology and graduate certificate in Community Human Service management.  She brings experience in finance, staff training and supervision, grants and fundraising, and all aspects of program development and start-up.  In particular, she lead Lutheran Social Services in starting programs for parenting teens in Brockton and Worcester, Massachusetts and in launching a unique permanent supported housing program for adults with developmental disabilities in Andover, Massachusetts. Payne has represented Lutheran Social Services in Romania and Vietnam, to further international adoption efforts and begin programs to find homes for orphaned children in those regions.  She has been an active member of the Children’s League if Massachusetts and served as the Vice Chair of the national Lutheran Adoption Network. Over the past 26 years, she has used her expertise to expand services and further the mission of Lutheran Social Services through programs for children and families and adults with disabilities.

She has enjoyed working with board members and volunteers to achieve organizational objectives and feels passionately about the mission of Friendship Home.  After meeting our Friendship Club Members and seeing our video, she enthusiastically agreed to join us, stating that, “the need is clear and we have to find a way to serve these deserving families.”  We look forward to our work together to expand Friendship Club and make the Friendship Home facility a reality.

Payne has lived in the area for 25 years. She currently lives in Pembroke with her husband.  She has two adult children living in the Boston area.  She serves as a volunteer on the Board of Directors for St. Paul’s Community Center in Brockton.