Board honors retiring behavioral‑health and homeless‑services leaders and proclaims Children's Dental Health Month

At its Feb. 3 meeting the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors adopted resolutions honoring two long‑time community leaders and proclaimed February 2026 as Children's Dental Health Month.

Behavioral health: The board read a resolution recognizing Star Graber for 39 years of service in county behavioral health, noting roles in drug and alcohol services, merger of mental health and substance‑use services, program development and grant writing that supported treatment courts and forensic mental‑health programs. Public‑health and behavioral‑health leaders, staff and former colleagues praised Graber’s leadership and cited recent efforts to expand treatment beds; Graber thanked staff and family and reflected on changes in technology and care over her career.

Children’s dental health: The board also proclaimed February 2026 as Children’s Dental Health Month. Barbara Morrow, county oral‑health program manager, and Alexandra Chamberlain of the Telosa Children’s Dental Center described school‑based screenings and outreach that serve underserved children; Chamberlain said Telosa has provided care for 23 years and noted that roughly 46 percent of county Medi‑Cal beneficiaries are age 0–21 and that only about half of eligible youth use their dental benefits, contributing to oral‑health disparities.

Homeless services: The board honored Jana Nichols on her retirement as executive director of the 5 Cities Homeless Coalition, citing organizational growth, wraparound services and leadership in shelter and supportive‑housing planning. Colleagues recounted cases and partnerships that expanded noncongregate shelter and system capacity; county officials thanked Nichols for mentorship and advocacy.

The board and attendees gave standing ovations and posed for photographs; the meeting recessed before returning to the afternoon agenda.