Health and Human Services News

New Community Focus report brings updated Springfield region’s data into focus

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What does the Springfield region look like today — and where should it go next?

The Community Focus Report 2026 brings together local data and community perspectives to help answer those questions. It also marks a new chapter for the longtime resource, now housed at Missouri State University’s Ozarks Public Health Institute (OPHI).

Today, the institute released the report to the public at an event hosted by the Junior League of Springfield and at the Hatch Auditorium.

“My hope for every reader is that they find one thing in these pages that touches their sphere of influence and one concrete way to move on it,” said Traci Nash, OPHI Community Focus facilitator.

Read more on the News blog.

Welcome new faculty and staff

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This year, McQueary College of Health and Human Services (MCHHS) welcomed 26 new faculty and staff members.

“Their expertise and unique perspectives will strengthen our academic community and advance our shared mission,” said Dr. Letitia White Minnis, MCHHS associate dean. “I look forward to the many contributions they’ll make.”

Who they are

The new faculty and staff are joining various schools and departments in MCHHS:

School of Health Care Professions

School of Health Sciences

School of Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences

School of Nursing

Ozarks Public Health Institute

MCHHS Administration

Explore MCHHS

Springfield’s data becomes a compass

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For more than 20 years, the Community Focus Report has given Springfield a reliable glance at tracking housing, education, public safety, arts and more.

Last spring, Missouri State University’s Ozarks Public Health Institute (OPHI) began taking that effort a step further. The report is moving from a biannual publication into a continuous, community-driven program people can use year-round.

The next report is expected to be released in fall 2026. Upcoming editions will include several new features to help communities understand progress, compare data and identify issues that affect multiple areas.

“Community Focus is designed to be the bridge between what the data shows and what the community decides to do about it,” said Traci Nash, OPHI community focus facilitator.

More than a report

This cycle covers 13 topic areas and adds food and faith for the first time. The report remains community-authored, meaning practitioners, local experts and people with lived experience help inform what gets measured and what the findings mean.

According to Nash, the report underwent some structural changes this cycle. These include measurable objectives, which make it easier to track real progress, not just problems. The report also includes a peer community framework to compare Springfield to similarly sized cities in meaningful ways.

“The most important change is the shift from a publication cycle to a continuous program,” Nash said. “Instead of waiting two years for new findings, community partners can now track live indicators anytime through the Community Focus dashboard.”

Tracking what matters

A grant of more than $500,000 from the Missouri Foundation for Health made this transition possible. The funding helped OPHI build the infrastructure needed for this next phase.

The first phase focused on stabilizing data systems, creating dashboards and building a strong analytical foundation. That work is now largely complete.

Now, the work is moving deeper into community engagement.  The second phase focuses on analysis, interpretation and stronger collaboration with partners who use the data in real time.

Nash spends most of her time in community meetings, where she gets “a bird’s-eye view of data in action.”

Nash notes the funding allowed OPHI to bring in dedicated research expertise. In March, John Schupbach joined the team as community indicators research analyst.

“Having that analytical partnership is already changing what is possible,” Nash said.  “Students are also a meaningful part of this work too. Graduate assistants have supported data infrastructure, student engagement tracking and research on complete neighborhoods.”

Turning evidence into action

She added, “Community Focus data is already making a difference across the Springfield region. The report appears in grant applications, strategic plans and board conversations, helping organizations align priorities around a shared source of evidence.”

When organizations point to the same trusted source of regional data, it becomes easier to align priorities and make a stronger case for resources.

On April 27, Nash moderated a panel called “Sustainability and the Community Focus Report” at the Research that Shows Up” event hosted by the efactory. It highlighted how research at Missouri State can support organizations making community decisions.

“Our job is to organize the evidence and make sure the findings are accessible, so people can act on what they already know,” she said.

“We’re a public institution with a mission to invest our resources into the community for positive changes. OPHI will continue building analytical capacity, deepening relationships with community collaboratives and making the data as accessible as possible.”

Explore the Ozarks Public Health Institute

Staff spotlight: Lauren Hembree

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Lauren Hembree headshot.
Lauren Hembree

Our featured staff member is Lauren Hembree, clinic director for counseling services at the Collaborative Care Clinic.

She was previously director of the Center City Counseling Clinic, which became part of the Collaborative Care Clinic this spring.

Let’s get to know more about her.

Where are you originally from?

I was born and raised in Springfield. I attended school in Rogersville but have been a Springfieldian my entire life.

What brought you to Missouri State University and how long have you been here?

I came to Missouri State for graduate school and then stuck around. I began the counseling program in January 2021 and graduated in May 2023. While in the program, I worked as a graduate assistant and later began serving as interim clinic director for Center City Counseling Clinic in December 2023. In 2025, I transitioned into my current role as the full-time clinic director for counseling services at what is now the Collaborative Care Clinic.

Where else have you worked before joining Missouri State?

Before returning to school, I worked for several years as a paralegal in medical malpractice and insurance defense (as a kid, though, my dream job was to be a sandwich maker at Blimpie). In addition to my role at MSU, I also have a small private practice, Bright Spot Counseling, where I work with neurodivergent teens and young adults.

What’s your educational background?

I earned my bachelor’s degree in English in 2015 and completed my master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from Missouri State in 2023.

How has the Center City Counseling Clinic served the campus and larger community?

For many years, Center City Counseling Clinic has provided accessible counseling services to the Springfield community, as well as MSU employees, students and alumni. Sessions range from $0 to $20, as we never want finances to be a barrier to receiving care. We’re excited to join the Collaborative Care Clinic this semester and expand our outreach and impact across campus and the greater Springfield community.

What do you do in your role at MCHHS?

As the clinic director for counseling services at the Collaborative Care Clinic, I support students as they navigate their first field experiences while also ensuring clients feel safe and supported. I vividly remember how nervous I was starting practicum as a student, so helping our students feel prepared, empowered and encouraged is a top priority.

Lauren Hembree enjoys time with an animal.

Why did you choose your area of work?

I chose this field because — cliché alert! — I truly want to help people. While working in law, I realized the work conflicted with my values and who I am as a person. During the pandemic, I had time to reflect, which ultimately led me to pursue becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor. When the opportunity arose to return to MSU as director for the clinic where I saw my first clients, I jumped at the chance to combine my strengths in organization and logistics with my passion for helping others.

What do you enjoy most about working at MCHHS?

The people. As a graduate student, my professors and peers rallied around me during a difficult time in my personal life. Now, many of those professors are colleagues, and I’m grateful to work alongside supportive administrators who are genuinely present and available. The students are an absolute joy — I love getting into thoughtful conversations about everything from existentialism to Taylor Swift.

What do you do for fun or leisure?

I enjoy watching reality TV, currently obsessed with “Survivor” and “Vanderpump Rules,” reading fantasy novels and celebrity memoirs, and spending time with my partner, my dog Crickette (a lazy-eyed Shih Tzu) and friends.

What’s your favorite winter activity?

My ideal winter day is chilly and gray, curled up on the couch with a good book and my dog— bonus points if it’s snowing!

Learn more about the Center City Counseling Clinic