• New Era Begins: Ozark Center Shows Off Renovated Turnaround Ranch Campus to Public

News Release
 
For immediate release: Wednesday, June 18, 2025
 
New Era Begins
Ozark Center Shows Off Renovated Turnaround Ranch Campus to Public  
                                 
Joplin, MO. – More than 100 invited guests toured the beautified Turnaround Ranch campus Wednesday morning, as a four-year, $10.5 million dollar project has transformed Ozark Center’s residential treatment facility for adolescents into the envy of the state and nation.
“Transformation is at the heart of what we do here every day,” said Vicky Mieseler, Chief Executive Officer of Ozark Center. “Our (Turnaround Ranch) residents come to us seeking change, sometimes in little steps, sometimes by leaps of faith. This revitalized campus mirrors that same journey.”
Topped off by a ribbon-cutting ceremony, Wednesday’s celebration included live music, a catered lunch, and guided tours of renovated buildings and grounds. Facilities on the list included the administrative building, the Charles King Recreational Facility, the Family Life Center, Carl Junction School facility, and three single-family home-sized cottages named Hope, Trust, and Pride. Guests were invited to step inside the 6,000-square-foot Trust cottage, marveling at its modern amenities and unique, sunlit atrium.
“This beautiful campus is more than just a backdrop, it is a partner in the healing process,” Mieseler said. “It sends a message to our kids: You matter, and you are worthy of beauty, comfort and peace. It goes without saying that trauma-sensitive environments have become a way of life at Ozark Center, and this transformed campus is the final piece.”
Among several dignitaries acknowledged by Mieseler during the ceremony were Missouri Senator Jill Carter, long recognized for her support of behavioral health across Southwest Missouri, and Missouri Representative Cathy Jo Loy.
“(Turnaround Ranch) is exactly why we get into health care,” said Freeman President and Chief Executive Officer Matt Fry. “We are utterly committed at Freeman Health System to ensuring that we’re able to provide adequate care, comfort, and relief to all our patients and residents across the care continuum, and sometimes that care looks a little bit different. Under Vicky’s leadership and guidance, and under so many people leaning into a project like this, we have an opportunity to make a significant impact in this community.”
The multi-year renovation plan has truly been a team effort, he said.
“This does not happen by one or two people,” Fry continued. “This happens with hundreds of people being dedicated to a vision and then ultimately having the perseverance to see it through.”
Located off 20th Street, Turnaround Ranch cares for approximately 100 adolescents, ages 13 to 18, who are experiencing emotional and behavioral challenges. The overriding goal of this key Ozark Center program is to teach these young adults how to experience, regulate, and express their emotions in ways that are both socially and culturally acceptable, and to develop the skills they’ll need to live their lives to the fullest.
 
Media: Contact Kevin McClintock, Media Relations Coordinator, at 417.434.3458 if attending.
 
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About Freeman Health System
Locally owned, not-for-profit and nationally recognized, Freeman Health System includes Freeman Hospital West, Freeman Hospital East, Freeman Neosho Hospital and Ozark Center – the area’s largest provider of behavioral health services – as well as two urgent care clinics, dozens of physician clinics and a variety of specialty services. In 2024, Freeman earned dozens of individual awards for medical excellence and patient safety from CareChex®, a quality rating system that helps consumers evaluate healthcare providers and their experiences. U.S. News & World Report named Freeman Health System one of the Best Hospitals for 2022. With more than 320 physicians on staff representing more than 90 specialties, Freeman provides cancer care, heart care, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopaedics, children’s services, women’s services, and many others for all of the Four State Area. Freeman is also involved in numerous community-based activities and sponsored events and celebrations. Additionally, in the Joplin/Pittsburg areas, Freeman is the only Children’s Miracle Network Hospital in a 70-mile radius. For more information, visit freemanhealth.com.
 
 
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About Ozark Center
Ozark Center is based in Joplin, Missouri, and has been an entity of Freeman Health System since 1996. It has been providing comprehensive behavioral health services to children, adults and families since 1965 in an area that includes more than 450,000 residents from the Four States. Ozark Center continually looks for innovative ways to address the behavioral health needs of the community and promote awareness of behavioral health issues in an effort to eliminate the discrimination associated with it. For more information, visit ozarkcenter.com or call 417.347.7600.