About Us

Our Mission:

To help ensure access to dental care and improve the overall health of underserved children in San Luis Obispo County through quality dental treatment, prevention and education.

Our History:

Partnership for the Children (PTC) of San Luis Obispo County was founded in 1994 with an original purpose to receive and distribute roughly $130,000 donated by then U.S. Congressman Michael Huffington to organizations serving children in San Luis Obispo County.  By 1998 the entire Huffington contribution had been allocated accordingly.  With the welfare of children still driving PTC, the board of directors learned about the critical lack of access to children’s dental services for underserved families throughout SLO County.  The realization that literally thousands of local children went without professional dental care launched PTC on a journey that resulted in the opening of the county’s first nonprofit children’s dental clinic – La Clinica de Tolosa – in July 2003.

Opening a nonprofit children’s dental clinic in San Luis Obispo County was a vision shared by several valued community partners.  The SLO County Board of Supervisors voted to donate space in Paso Robles to house La Clinica de Tolosa, the County Public Health Agency participated in financing and staffing, local contractors volunteered time and materials to help transform a vacated building into a state-of-the-art dental facility, and local dentists donated equipment and supplies.

Understanding the importance of good oral health, an infusion of start-up money for capital and operational purposes came in from some key foundations and other funding sources. The vision of a children’s dental clinic became a reality.  Initial funders were:

• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation - $500,000 four-year matching grant through their Local Funding Partners Initiative
• The California Endowment - $450,000
• The San Luis Obispo Community Health Foundation - $120,000
• The Giannini Family Foundation - $25,000                                           
• SLO County Children and Families Commission - $25,000
• Farm Credit West - $25,000
• Kiwanis Club of San Luis Obispo de Tolosa - $20,000
• Delta Dental Plan of California - $15,000
• United Way of San Luis Obispo County - $10,000                          
• California Dental Association - $10,000
• San Luis Obispo County Community Foundation - $5,000
• Partnership for the Public’s Health - $4,000
• Wells Fargo Foundation - $1,000

Since opening its doors, La Clinica de Tolosa has become a “dental home” for thousands of underserved children in San Luis Obispo County.  The clinic employs a bilingual team consisting of two pediatric dentists and one general dentist, several registered dental assistants and a professional front office staff. Day-to-day operation is overseen by a clinic director with over 20 years of dental office management experience. 

Operating Budget for FY 2010-11 = $1,225k

• Funding Sources in FY 2010-11:
• 93% -  Public insurance program reimbursements & sliding scale fees
• 3.6% -  Grants
• 2.7%  -  Fundraising Events
• <1%  - Donations

PTC employs an executive director to administer and support the activities of the organization which include board development and management, public communications and relations, fundraising development and implementation including grant writing, special events and campaigns.

Who We Are

Board of Directors

Officers:	Martin D. Craven, DDS / MD                                    President / Chairman
	Maureen Titus, RDHAP, BS                                    Vice President Central Coast Dental Hygienists Association
	David R. Booker Secretary / Treasurer American Perspective Bank
Board Members:	Chuck Braun - State Farm Insurance
	Dave Alles - Partner VERITAS  ESPN Radio
	Lynn Cooper - Real Estate Broker
	Jon E. Hollister, DDS
	James Oates, DDS
	James Tedford, MD
	Laurie Torgerson, Central Coast Dental Society
	Debbie Viborg, Viborg Sand & Gravel, Inc.
	Jac W. Pedersen II, DDS, Founder La Clinica De Tolosa/ Ex-Officio Board Member
Staff:	Suzanne Russell CDT Clinic Director
	Barbara Nicholson PTC Executive Director

 

How Do I become a Board Member?
Contact the Executive Director at ptcinfo@cdtslo.org, or any board member for information. 

A Community Partnership:

PTC/La Clinica de Tolosa interacts closely with many local agencies that provide health and social services to low-income children and their families in San Luis Obispo County to ensure that those who need pediatric dental care know about La Clinica de Tolosa. 

PTC/La Clinica de Tolosa has also been an active participant in the Oral Health Coalition of San Luis Obispo County since it was formed in 2008.  The purpose of the Coalition is to help ensure children’s oral health services in San Luis Obispo County are delivered in a coordinated and cohesive manner.