History

Reynolds County Health Center (RCHC) was started in 1953 by the citizens of Reynolds County. The Health Center began with a $0.10 tax levy passed by the citizens of the county. This $0.10 tax levy reached it’s ceiling in 1972 and has remained the same up to and including today.

Reynolds County is located in the Ozark Foothills in Southeast Missouri. Reynolds County is 811 square miles with over 51,000 acres of land belonging to Mark Twain National Forest and Missouri Conservation Department. In 2007, the population was 6,465 with an estimated 19.3% of the residents being 65 and older compared to the state rate of 13.4%. At the same time, the Census Bureau estimated that young people (under 18) made up 21.4% of the county’s population, compared to 24.2% for the state in the same time period.

Reynolds County Health Center is located in Centerville, approximately in the center of the county. A WIC (Women, Infants and Children) annex was added to the original structure in 1993. Using funding from Missouri Foundation for Health, a meeting & training annex was added in October 2008.

In an effort to maintain communication and accountability to the citizens of Reynolds County, the Health Center strives to be sensitive to our county’s unique needs, values, and experiences. We are committed to excellence and work as a dedicated team in the ever changing health environment.

RCHC is governed by a five member Board of Trustees, who meets on a monthly bases at the RCHC. The Board of Trustees is made up of responsible volunteer citizens, who are elected and they represent different parts of the county. The monthly meeting is open to the general public and these meetings are posted 72 hours before the meeting.

RCHC is committed to Prevent, Promote, and Protect the health of all citizens of the county. RCHC is one of 114 Local Public Health Agencies (LPHA) within the state of Missouri. Like all of the 114 LPHA’s, we seek to provide the Essential Public Health Services.

• Monitor health status to identify community health problems
• Diagnose and investigate health problems & health hazards in the community
• Inform, educate and empower people about health issues
• Mobilize community partnerships to identify and solve health problems
• Develop policies and plans that support individual and community health efforts
• Enforce laws and regulations that protect health and ensure safety
• Link people to needed personal health services and assure the provision of health care when otherwise unavailable
• Assure a competent public health work force
• Evaluate effectiveness, accessibility and quality of personal and population-based health services
• Research for new insights and innovative solutions to health problems

RCHC is funded by the $0.10 tax levy, federal, state and private foundations and donations. RCHC has nine employees, five are full time and four are part time. The following is a list of the Board of Trustees.

To view an agency breakdown of services & financial information, click http://www.dhss.mo.gov/profiles/CountyInfo/CpiReynolds.html. RCHC became accredited with Missouri Institute of Community Health in September 2011.

RCHC is open Monday through Thursday 7:30am to 5:30pm. We are closed on Fridays & Government Holidays. If you need further information on individual program services, click on the appropriate link on the website or call us at (573) 648-2498.