Foster Youth Receiving Support Amid COVID-19 Thanks to Local Partnership
Date: 08/31/20
Health Net donates thousands of gift cards to help foster youth meet several important needs
LOS ANGELES, CALIF. (August 25, 2020) — Teens and young adults in foster care deal with many uncertainties as they transition to independent living, and those uncertainties have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Health Net announced today it is donating $50,000 in Amazon gift cards to iFoster to help ease the burden. iFoster, a national nonprofit that connects youth in the child welfare system with resources, will use the gift cards to help support foster youth as they transition out of foster care.
"The transition from foster care into independence comes with its own share of challenges. COVID-19 has added another obstacle to take on for our foster youth," said Serita Cox, iFoster's Co-Founder and CEO. "From school and work supplies to technology access, this donation from Health Net empowers our youth, and supports our efforts to close the digital divide."
As COVID-19 cases continue to rise in California, young adults from foster care backgrounds are under intense stress. Without a safety net, this challenge could lead to added mental stress and negative impacts. Health Net's donation is aimed to help bridge this gap. With these funds, California foster youth will receive access to technology and other day-to-day resources that will help them to achieve their potential.
"These gift cards will make a real difference in foster youths' lives. Bridging gaps to unmet needs during a time when they are vulnerable is essential. There is still much work to be done but these types of donations are incredibly appreciated," said Rochelle Trochtenberg, the state's Foster Care Ombudsperson in the California Department of Social Services. "I want to thank Health Net for reaching out and supporting our foster youth during this vital time."
This grant is part of a $40 million effort by Health Net to improve the health of California communities. Health Net's efforts focus on enhancing access to care, building stronger communities, and investing in the future of healthcare.
"We have been living in the midst of a national pandemic for nearly six months now. Continuing to uplift individuals who need it most is one way we can help our communities be strong and healthy," said Brian Ternan, CEO and President of Health Net and California Health and Wellness. "As the needs of our local foster youth grow, we hope these gift cards will help these resilient young men and women during this tough time for California's vulnerable populations."
About iFoster
iFoster is a national nonprofit that connects youth in the child welfare system with the resources they need to succeed. iFoster has built the largest and most inclusive online community of young people and organizations in foster care with over 60,000 members in all 50 states. On behalf of the community, iFoster negotiates and collaborates with hundreds of partners who can provide the basic resources, supports and opportunities that foster youth need to become successful adults. Visit ifoster.org.
About Health Net
At Health Net, we believe every person deserves a safety net for their health, regardless of age, income, employment status or current state of health. Founded 40 years ago, we remain dedicated to transforming the health of our community, one person at a time. Today, Health Net's 3,000 employees and 85,000 network providers serve more than 3 million members. That's nearly 1 in 12 Californians. We provide health plans for individuals, families, businesses of every size, people with Medicare and people with Medi-Cal — Coverage for Every Stage of Life™. Health Net also offer access to substance abuse programs, behavioral health services, employee assistance programs and managed health care products related to prescription drugs. We offer these health plans and services through Health Net, LLC and its subsidiaries: Health Net of California, Inc., Health Net Life Insurance Company and Health Net Community Solutions, Inc. These entities are wholly owned subsidiaries of Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC), a Fortune 100 company providing health coverage to more than 20 million Americans. For more information, visit HealthNet.com.
Media Contacts
Jaime Botello, Health Net
MediaInquiries@HealthNet.com
Reid Cox, iFoster
(530) 414-3393
reid@iFoster.org