Oral Health Program of Santa Barbara County
Mission and Vision
Our mission is to improve the oral health of our community's children through the coordination and execution of comprehensive oral health prevention, identification and restorative treatment programs and services.
Our vision is that every Santa Barbara County community member will have access to quality oral health services to prevent and treat dental disease and advance their overall health and development.
About the Program
Future Smiles of Santa Barbara County, is Santa Barbara County's Local Oral Health Program.
In 2019 , the Santa Barbara County Education Office (SBCEO) applied and received state funding in January of 2020 from the California Department of Public Health, Office of Oral Health to develop and implement a local oral health program. This funding was made possible by Proposition 56, a law passed by California voters in 2016 that places a tax on tobacco products to support healthcare and education programs.
Through this initiative, Future Smiles of Santa Barbara County serves as a central hub for oral health prevention, collaboration, data collection, and community outreach, helping ensure a healthier future for all Santa Barbara County residents.
What we Do
We work to ensure that all community members especially children, families, and underserved populations have the knowledge, support, and resources they need to maintain good oral health. Through a combination of school-based services and countywide initiatives, we strive to improve oral health outcomes for children and families across Santa Barbara County.
SERVICES
Our program special focus are children, low-income families, and communities with limited access to dental care.
Collaborative Programs
FIND A DENTIST
About Medi-Cal Dental
California’s Medicaid Program, Medi-Cal, currently offers dental services as one of the Program’s many benefits. Medi-Cal Dental is the program that provides free or low-cost dental services to eligible children and adults.
Contacts
MaryEllen Rehse
CFRS Executive Director
mrehse@sbceo.org
(805) 964-4710, ext. 4456
Darnyl Dal Bon Administrative Assistant
ddalbon@sbceo.org
healthlinkages@sbceo.org
Phone: (805) 964-4710, ext. 4453
Fax: (805) 682-4643
Jennyffer Rivera, MPH
Oral Health Program Manager
jrivera@sbceo.org
(805) 964-4710, ext. 4400
Social Media
Our Countywide Role
In addition to school-based services, Future Smiles Program leads broader efforts to improve oral health across Santa Barbara County:
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Conducts the Santa Barbara County Oral Health Needs Assessment (2018)
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Develops and leads the Santa Barbara County Community Oral Health Improvement Plan (2020)
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Develops and implements the Santa Barbara County Evaluation Plan (2021
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Coordinates the Children’s Oral Health Collaborative
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Leads the Brush, Book, Bed campaign to support healthy routines at home
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Collects and analyzes data from programs offering oral health services throughout the county
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Reports local progress and outcomes to the California Department of Public Health, Office of Oral Health
Together, these efforts help us better understand community needs, strengthen partnerships, and improve access to oral health care one smile at a time.
