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 of 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.