Mendocino County Department of Social Services Receives Generous Holiday Support from Partnership HealthPlan of California

Ukiah, CA - Mendocino County Department of Social Services (DSS) was the grateful recipient of a generous holiday sponsorship from Partnership HealthPlan of California, which significantly supported this year’s gift giving for children and youth in foster care.

Each year, the Family & Children’s Services division seeks support to provide holiday gifts for children and youth in Mendocino County’s foster care homes. These gifts are primarily provided by DSS staff, their friends and families, and community businesses, often based on individual wish lists. As the number of children and youth in care fluctuates throughout the season, gifts can sometimes be stretched thin—particularly when new youth enter care close to the holidays.

For the 2025 holiday season, DSS reached out to Partnership HealthPlan of California’s Eureka office, which generously contributed $2,500. This sponsorship made it possible to provide $50 gift cards to youth participating in Extended Foster Care (EFC), as well as to cover last-minute gift purchases for the children and youth in care who had not yet been sponsored.

Extended Foster Care allows eligible youth to remain in foster care up to age 21, offering critical support with a structured foundation while youth are learning how to transition into adulthood and build community connections. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, by age 27, approximately 90 percent of U.S. youth have moved out of their parental household at least once, and more than half have returned home at some point. For youth in foster care, this safety net is often unavailable. Extended Foster Care provides not only the stability of continued placement and connections, but also essential independent living skills and supportive services increasing success as youth transition toward adulthood.

Older youth, particularly teens and those over age 18, are often overlooked during the holiday season, as sponsors understandably gravitate toward purchasing toys for younger children. However, youth of all ages value the experience of receiving gifts, and the ability to choose their own items is especially meaningful. For many youth in foster care, this autonomy and sense of normalcy is something they experience far too rarely.

The Department of Social Services is deeply appreciative of Partnership HealthPlan of California’s generosity and partnership in supporting some of the county’s most vulnerable youth during the holiday season.

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