About Us

Detailed Information:

Partnership for the Children / La Clinica de Tolosa is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Fed. Tax ID 77-0346861

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 provided over 32,000 dental visits and is currently the “dental home” for over 6,000 underserved children in San Luis Obispo County.  The clinic employs a bilingual dental team consisting of one full-time pediatric dentist, one full-time general dentist, several part-time dentists and dental assistants. 

Operating Budget for FY 2009-10 = $1,165k

• Funding Sources in FY 2009-10:
• 86%  - Public Insurance Program Reimbursements & Sliding scale fees
• 11%  -  Grants
• 3% - Fundraising Events
• <1% - Donations

PTC employs a part-time executive director to coordinate board development and an annual fundraising strategy on behalf of La Clinica de Tolosa which incorporates grant writing, a direct mail campaign (via newsletter and letters of solicitation) and two annual benefit events.

Who We Are

Board of Directors

Officers:	Martin D. Craven, DDS / MD                                    President / Chairman                                                  SLO County Health Commission
	Maureen Titus, RDHAP, BS                                    Vice President SLO County Oral Health Coordination Team Central Coast Dental Hygienists Association
	Hilliard Wood                                                            Treasurer Retired IBM
Board Members:	Dave Alles                                                                  ESPN Radio
	David R. Booker                                                        American Perspective Bank
	Kena C. Burke                                                           Children’s Health Initiative SLO
	Lynn Cooper                                                 Real Estate Broker
	Jon E. Hollister, DDS
	James Oates, DDS
	Laurie Torgerson                                                      Central Coast Dental Society
	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:

We collaborate with the following organizations / agencies:

• First 5 of SLO County
• Children’s Health Initiative
• Children’s Oral Health Initiative
• Public Health Department
• Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Supplemental Nutrition Program
• Child Health and Disability Prevention Program (CHDP)
• Community Action Partnership (formerly EOC)
  • Head Start / Early Head Start Programs