Tolosa Childrens Dental Center is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that was established in 1994. Tolosa Childrens Dental Center* (TCDC) opened in 2003 to address what was then identified as the greatest unmet health need in San Luis Obispo Countythe need for access to affordable childrens dentistry for low-income families. It has since become a dental home serving over 6,000 children each year; approximately 1,200 individual children are seen each month; over 16,000 individual children seen, in total, since it firstopened.

*Originally named La Clinica de Tolosa, the name was changed in 2013 in celebration of its 10th anniversary and to better convey the nature of the business and comprehensive dental services it provides.

To improve childrensdental health in San Luis Obispo County. Children in need in San Luis Obispo County have optimal oral health through access to compassionate, high quality, comprehensive dental care.

Ms.Russell has an extensive background and proven track record in dental practice administration and management having worked for several prominent dental practices in San Luis Obispo County since 1987. As Clinic Director since May of 2007, Ms. Russell effectively manages all aspects of the clinics financial and human resources, ensures adherence to policies and standard operating procedures while assuring quality, efficiency, productivity, patient satisfaction and compliance with State and Federal regulations. In addition, Ms. Russell is competent in public relations, representing TCDC at numerous public speaking opportunities and building partnerships with our collaborating agencies.

My family chose to return to the Central Coast 15 years ago. Raising our two children and a growing farm, it doesnt get much better than SLO County. I am so fortunate to do what I love, champion and advocate for local kids with a first rate non-profit. I joined TCDC in 2017 with hefty goals. The patients, staff, board and community support make TCDC a special place to work and connect the needs of our community with necessary pediatric oral health care.

Board Members serve minimum 2-3 year terms. Regular board meetings typically take place on the second Friday of every month (usually taking one month off in the summer) from 12:30-2:00pm with a casual lunch provided. If you are interested in learning more about board membership, contact the executive director at [emailprotected].

Tolosa Childrens Dental Center (TCDC) collaborates with many local agencies and organizations that provide or connect low-income families to health and social services to ensure those families with children in need of dental care are aware of services available at TCDC.

TCDC staff and board members have been active participants in the SLO County Childrens Oral Health Coalition since it was formed in 2008. The Coalition was created to provide input regarding the best strategies to improve childrens oral health in San Luis Obispo County.

Partnership for the Children of San Luis Obispo County (PTC) was originally formed in 1994 to receive and distribute donated funding to local youth-serving agencies through a grant-making process. Eventually, the lack of access to pediatric dental services for children of low-income families was identified as a critical issue, which led PTC to shift focus exclusively to addressing this need.

Opening a nonprofit childrens dental clinic in San Luis Obispo County was a vision shared by several valued community partners. The Board of Supervisors forSan Luis Obispo County voted to donate space in Paso Robles to house the clinic, 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.

The vision of a childrens dental clinic became a reality and La Clinica de Tolosa, the countys first nonprofit pediatric dental clinic, opened in July 2003. Since then over 15,000 children have received treatment (over 5,500 children annually), and it has become known as a trusted, dependable dental home for underserved children throughout the county, as well as a community partner who supports oral health efforts. In celebration of its 10th anniversary, in July 2013, the clinic was renamed Tolosa Childrens Dental Center to better convey the nature of the business andpatients served.

Partnership for the Children employs an Executive Director to represent the organization at a local, county and state level by advocating for childrens oral health issues, build partnerships and collaborations that improve the oral health of children, and administer board activities that support the dental centers programs and operations.

Open since July 2003 in space provided by the County of San Luis Obispo at 717 Walnut Drive in Paso Robles, Tolosa Childrens Dental Center is the only dental practice exclusively specializing in pediatric dentistry for children from the age of infant to age 18 who are on Medi-Cal insured, low-income uninsured or in the Foster Care Program. TCDC offers the full continuum of pediatric dental services including preventive, restorative, and emergency treatment, as well as care requiring the use of general anesthesia by board certified pediatric dentists, and general dentists. It is TCDCs philosophy that every family receives comprehensive, continuously accessible, coordinated and family-centered dental care a dental home that focuses first on preventing dental disease. At every visit oral health education and anticipatory guidance is provided to the entire family, reinforcing the instrumental role the family plays in breaking the cycle of poor oral health, thereby contributing to the goal of better overall health in the long-term.

In July 2014, TCDC expanded services through a unique partnership with the SLO Noor Foundation. Utilizing the Noor Dental Clinic, which serves only uninsured adults, TCDC provides services one day a week into the city of San Luis Obispo, bringing the high-quality pediatric dental services to Medi-Cal beneficiaries in the central region of the county, and thereby improving access to dental care for entire families.

PTC employs a professional team. Clinical operations are overseen by a 20 year veteran of dental practice management, and we employ four pediatric dentists, two general dentist, several registered dental assistants, and a front office staff of four to cover both locations to provide top quality care to our patients.

In 2011, thanks in part to funding support from First 5 SLO County, the dental office in Paso Roblesincreased its capacity to serve more children by gaining some space from the adjacent Public Health Office and undergoing an interior remodel to allow for more treatment chairs (for a total of 7), an additional exam room, added storage space, and a proper staff break area.

As ofJuly of 2014, throughformal agreement with the SLO Noor Foundation, PTC is leasing the SLO Noor Dental Clinic (for adults) in the City of San Luis Obispo to provide pediatric dental servicesone day a week (Thursdays) for Medi-Cal insured and low-income uninsured children.

When Dr. Jac Pedersen asked if I would consider serving on the Partnership for the Children board some 10 or so years ago, it didnt take long for me to say yes. Partly because Jac doesnt really ask, hes more like, you need to do this, but mostly because it was something that I truly believed was important. As someone who grew up in San Luis Obispo, and practiced dentistry here for many years, I knew there existed a great unmet need for childrens dental care in our community. Specifically, children from families with no insurance and few resources other than the States Medi-Cal program to help them. Plus, many of these children, some under the age of two, required the specialized care that only a trained pediatric dentist could provide. La Clinica de Tolosa, the forerunner to the Tolosa Childrens Dental Center, provided that need ; a dental office staffed by pediatric dentists, accepting Medi-Cal, and providing quality, compassionate care to literally thousands of our communities children.

The primary task of the TCDC board is to provide support and funding to allow our dental center to continue its mission of providing care to this population. Unfortunately, Medi-Cal reimbursements are not sufficient to pay all the bills, requiring us to consistently host fundraising events, grant write and ask for donations. Through the dedication of our board and staff and the generosity of so many in our community, weve been able to expand our office in Paso Robles, and then open up one day a week in San Luis Obispo. We are currently looking to expand our care in SLO as we look for a new location and we are working to develop novel, cutting edge approaches to provide care more efficiently to even more children.

It is a great pleasure to serve on this board with so many wonderful, caring members of our community. Equally rewarding is to observe the enthusiasm and professionalism of our staff while providing this essential service.

Dr Jim Tedford is a retired general pediatrician who has lived and practiced in San Luis Obispo County since 1975. Born and raised in So California, he received his medical degree from UCLA in 1969, and completed his residency training in pediatrics at Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles 3 years later. After moving to San Luis Obispo, he had the pleasure of working at the French Clinic, then as one of the Pediatric Associates, and finally, over the last 20+ years, at Patterson and Tedford Pediatrics. Hes the husband of Claudia (for 51 years), the father of 3 wonderful children and the grandfather of 8 special, successful grandchildren. He was drawn to volunteer for the Board of TCDC based on a career dedicated to the health and well-being of our children, recognizing the importance and the need for quality dental care for each of them.

My wife and I and our one year old daughter arrived in San Luis Obispo 43 years ago when I was offered a job on the Central Coast. In subsequent years we added three more daughters to our family. All of my daughters grew up in San Luis Obispo and enjoyed all the wonderful things that the central coast has to offer. For the first six years I was in SLO, I managed two businesses with up to 250 employees. Finally in 1982 I started my own State Farm insurance agency in Atascadero and during that time have had the great pleasure of meeting and getting acquainted with many people throughout SLO county. Ive served on the boards of several local non-profit organizations. I was president of Kiwanis de Tolosa and also served as a director and board chairman of the Atascadero Chamber of Commerce. Im an avid golfer and enjoy sports of just about any kind. Ive been a member of the board of directors of Tolosa Childrens Dental for six years, the last five as secretary treasurer. Ive found serving in this position to be a great honor that enables me to give back to the community that has enriched our lives and given so much to me and my family.

Laurie Torgerson is Executive Director for the Central Coast Dental Society. My husband, Steve, and I have had the blessing to have lived in San Luis Obispo since 1980 and have raised our 2 children in this wonderful community. I chose to serve on the Board of Directors of Tolosa Childrens Dental Foundation 5 years ago as I believed in the inception of a non-profit dental care facility to treat the under privileged children of our county. I understood the need to provide quality dental care for children who had limited access to providers. Quality dental treatment and education are imperative for the overall health of all children. It has been a heartwarming pleasure to serve on the board to further grow the services of Tolosa Childrens Dental Center and engage with our passionate staff who devote themselves to the well-being of their young patients and families.

Scott Milstead (familiarly known as Scotty) joined the board following 18 years of Restaurant ownership in Pismo Beach. With a wife and two children, Scotty has always been interested in the health and well being of youth. To play a role in an organization as valuable as Tolosa Childrens Dental Center to the physical and emotional health of children is why I happily participate on the board says Scotty.

Dr. Craven , an Oral and Maxilliofacial Surgeon retired from his practice after 40 years in San Luis Obispo. He was a Delegate to the American Dental Association from 1987-1998 and served as a Board Trustee to the California Dental Association as well Treasurer, Vice President and President. He served as Secretary/Treasurer, President Elect, President, Board of Directors and Delegate to the Central Coast Dental Society. He served on the Board of Directors for the San Luis Obispo Medical Society as well as an Alternate Delegate for the California Medical Association. Dr. Craven also was Chief of Staff and on the Executive Committee at both Sierra Vista Hospital and French Hospital. He also served as President-Elect of the Medical Staff and Chief of Surgery at Sierra Vista Hospital. He has served on the Board of La Clinica de Tolosa from 2005 to 2014 and on the Tolosa Childrens Dental Center from 2017 to present.

I began my career in dentistry as a dental assistant for the UCSD Free Dental Clinics. I continued on and chose a dental school with an emphasis on public health and working in underserved communities. After graduation, I worked at Community Health Centers of the Central Coast for five years and then joined my husband in private practice. As a dentist, Central Coast native, and child who grew up with Medi-cal/Denti-Cal, I have a deep-rooted personal interest in serving this population of children on the Central Coast. I hope to bring my experiences from both the public and private sectors to the board and help Tolosa Childrens Dental Center flourish in the community