News
SacRT Unveils 2025 Holiday Bus, Offering Free Rides and Support for Foster Youth
Sacramento Regional Transit rolled out its festive 2025 Holiday Bus to spread holiday cheer and give back to a nonprofit focused on uplifting foster youth. The bus, unveiled at Stanford Sierra Youth & Families in Sacramento, will offer free rides through Jan. 2, 2026. Riders are encouraged to donate any amount on board the bus or online to support programs for foster children across the region.
Executive Insights: Dr. Laura Heintz Shares On 125 Years of Service and Adaptability
Sacramento Business Journal - Business of Giving
David Lichtman, market president and publisher of the Sacramento Business Journal, interviews Dr. Laura Heintz, CEO of Stanford Sierra Youth & Families. In this video, Dr. Heintz celebrates Stanford Sierra Youth & Families’ remarkable 125-year legacy of service and showcases the organization’s proven ability to adapt to the evolving needs of youth and families.
125th Anniversary Celebration Event
Comstock's Magazine Spotlight
Stanford Sierra Youth & Families celebrates their 125th anniversary on October 23, 2025 at their administrative office in Sacramento. The nonprofit is dedicated to providing programs for youth and their families to address needs such as mental health, juvenile justice, substance use prevention, foster care, and adoptions.
SSYAF Earns HRC Recognition for LGBTQ+ Inclusive Practices
Stanford Sierra Youth & Families has been officially recognized at the Building Tier by the Human Rights Campaign’s All Children – All Families (ACAF) Initiative, reflecting our commitment to creating inclusive, affirming services for LGBTQ+ youth and families. This recognition requires key policies to be in place, including non-discrimination protections for clients and staff, LGBTQ+ inclusive staff training, and visible signs of support—such as affirming materials and recognition opportunities—that help ensure all youth and families feel welcome.
We’ve earned the 2025 Gold Seal of Transparency from Candid!
Our nonprofit profile gives you an inside look at the impact we’re making in the community and how your support helps make it all possible.
Our Podcast Named One of the Top 40 Foster Care Podcasts of 2025!
Resource Families Thrive
We’re honored to share that our podcast has been recognized by Million Podcast, a leading podcast media contact database, as one of the Top 40 Foster Care Podcasts of 2025—earning the #17 spot!
Comstock’s Capital Region Cares
Celebrating 125 Years of Commitment to Youth & Families
Our impact is measured not just in numbers, but in the lives we help transform. As we celebrate 125 years, Stanford Sierra Youth & Families continues breaking cycles and building brighter futures—one family at a time.
Visionary Leaders Podcast
Featuring Dr. Laura Heintz
Dr. Laura Heintz, recently joined Dennis C. Miller on the Visionary Leadership podcast to share insights on leading a large nonprofit. She discusses board engagement, shared ownership, and strategic vision for lasting impact.
Help Youth Find Stability and Love
BizSpotlight Press Release - Sacramento
For 125 years, Stanford Sierra Youth & Families has been transforming lives by connecting youth with loving, stable families. Right now, there’s an urgent need for foster parents, especially for teens who need a safe home, guidance, and the chance to build a bright future. Could you be the one to make a difference?
People on the Move
Sacramento Business Journal Celebrates Women’s History Month in Sacramento
Celebrating 125 Years of serving youth! Since 1900, Stanford Sierra Youth & Families has been committed to ensuring every young person thrives. Under CEO Dr. Laura Heintz’s leadership since 2012, the agency expanded sites to 7 Northern California counties, supporting nearly 8,000 youth and families this year. Success is possible thanks to dedicated staff, volunteers, and families who open their hearts to children in need. As the agency marks this milestone, its mission remains stronger than ever.
Inclusivity in Business Award
Sacramento Business Journal Award Recepient
We’re honored to receive the Inclusivity in Business Award from the Sacramento Business Journal! This award reflects our commitment to fostering inclusivity, advocating for equity, and driving meaningful change in the communities we serve. Thank you to everyone who helps make this work possible!
Join Audacy in Delivering Christmas to the Youth We Serve
Bringing holiday joy to the youth we serve! Join us in Delivering Christmas with 102.5 KSFM and help make this season extra special for our incredible kids.
Celebrating Resilience and Belonging in Adoption
Adoption transforms lives, building connections that foster resilience and a sense of belonging. In this heartfelt piece, the Catalyst Center celebrates National Adoption Month by sharing a story of perseverance, love, and the powerful bonds formed at Stanford Sierra Youth & Families. Explore the inspiring narratives that showcase the beauty and strength of adoption journeys.
Understanding ICWA and Celebrating Native American Culture
The history of the indigenous peoples of North America is a complex story, often told from the perspective of European settlers. It’s important to keep perspective in mind. To understand the history of the individual and collective experiences of Native Americans, both past and present, is to recognize that it is a story full of hardship, grief, trauma, and forced assimilation. With that, also comes a deeply rich story of pride, community, spirituality, love, and resilience.
Celebrating Dee Hartzog
Our Inaugural Champion for Children Lifetime Achievement Award Honoree
We are thrilled to announce that Dee Hartzog has been selected as the very first recipient of our Champion for Children Lifetime Achievement Award. This award, which will become an ongoing tradition, is our way of honoring those who have made a lasting impact on our mission through years of dedicated support and service.
Empowering Youth
SSYAF & Sutter Health's School Based Mental Health Partnership
In Sacramento and Yolo County, where the need for comprehensive mental health support is undeniable, Stanford Sierra Youth & Families (SSYAF) has emerged as a beacon of hope. Through a transformative partnership with Sutter Health, SSYAF has extended its reach to provide vital School Based Mental Health Services, directly addressing the urgent needs of students in Sacramento City Unified School and Washington Unified School District.
Celebrating Foster Care Awareness Month
A Heartfelt Thank You to Dignity Health for Sponsoring Our 2024 Family Picnic
We are thrilled to express our heartfelt gratitude to Dignity Health for sponsoring our 2024 Family Picnic! This event is more than just a day of fun—it is a vital celebration of our incredible resource families and a cornerstone of Foster Care Awareness Month. This May, we came together to champion a vision where all children thrive in committed, permanent, and nurturing families, supported by their communities and enhanced by trauma-informed services.
Career Pathways Continues to Help Students Enter the Workforce
DHCS Announces MIP, Round 2, Awards
We’re excited to receive this grant award for our Career Pathways program! Our internship program continues to build behavioral health champions at the educational partner institutions we serve, and builds a pipeline for students to enter the field with knowledge, skills, and employment offers after their internship.
Ebony Chambers McClinton, Chief Officer of Equity and Partnership
Sacramento Business Journal's 2023 DEI Awards honorees
Join us in congratulating this year’s Champions for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Now in its second year, the Business Journal’s DEI Awards program honors the individuals and organizations in the region that have demonstrated a commitment to promoting a more diverse and equitable community.
A Strategic Partnership that Supports Local Youth and Families
Sacramento State University
Sacramento State University and Stanford Sierra Youth & Families (Stanford Sierra) have formed a strategic partnership for over five years. Both entities have a common vision of improving the well-being and quality of life for vulnerable youth and their families in the community. Stanford Sierra supports the entire family with professional treatment and compassionate care, so every youth has the opportunity to thrive at home, in school, and in the community.