2025 Economic Impact Awards 21-35 Years in Business: Jordan Valley Community Health Center

A healthy population makes for a healthy city, as Jordan Valley Community Health Center has been proving for the last two decades. Acting as a bridge for underserved populations, including those who require financial assistance, its work keeps more people in the workforce and helps Springfield’s economy grow.

On average, Jordan Valley cares for 67,000 patients yearly, providing medical, dental, mental health and substance abuse services. Its impact cannot be understated and has touched many lives – so much so that children who were patients are now becoming staff.

“We are now old enough that patients we cared for as children are starting to work here, citing their care as a child is the reason they consider Jordan Valley as an employer,” says Dr. Matthew Stinson, president and CEO. “It has always been our goal to help break the cycle of poverty amongst our population. This is a long-term investment in our communities starting at the prenatal period and taking 18 years to reach maturity. Seeing the children in our communities serve as adults is a marker of success.”

Over 750 people in the region are employed by Jordan Valley Community Health Center, providing services for children, mothers, seniors and others who need a hand up. With Springfield’s poverty rate at over 19%, the health system believes it’s important to have services like this to give everyone access to medical care. Not only are there several clinics located in areas that are convenient for patients, Jordan Valley has mobile clinics to reach those with other barriers to service.

“Many patients have numerous social determinants of health that must be overcome to access care,” says Stinson. “By using the mobile units, Jordan Valley reduces these barriers and provides necessary care to patients throughout southwest Missouri. The Jordan Valley mobile units allow providers to offer medical, dental, and vision care to patients who cannot access care at a clinic.”

Above all else, Jordan Valley Community Health Center provides a range of offerings, from eye exams to apprenticeships, to keep the community healthy and growing economically.

“Our team members are trained to listen and meet people where they are with action,” says Stintson. “That may look like connecting them with a provider that is at one of our clinics with extended hours. It could be as robust as recommending they apply for our medical or dental apprenticeship program that gets them introduced to a new skillset and career path.”