Preferred Family Healthcare building $13M clinic in Jennings

ST. LOUIS — Preferred Family Healthcare hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for its new $13 million clinic in Jennings Dec. 10.

Construction on the 28,186-square foot building is expected to be completed in September 2026. When it opens, the clinic will host a mix of outpatient and inpatient behavioral health care. The Jennings clinic will have a residential treatment facility for adults with substance use disorders, outpatient psychiatry services, primary medical care and an on-site pharmacy.

Preferred Family Healthcare (PFH) is part of Centerstone, a health care network that spans nine U.S. states.

Centerstone St. Louis Market President Tony Hilkin explained providers will offer primary care, psychiatric care, therapy and connections to helpful programs in the same place.

“This project is driven by our commitment to grow our services and expand access to behavioral health and primary care, recognizing the importance of comprehensive and holistic care,” Hilkin said. “I am confident that a person-centered approach will help meet a need for residents of greater North County.”

Preferred Family Healthcare program director Gerald Dennis is excited to offer some hope and an expanded line of services in Jennings.

“I am glad that I work for a company that listens to those few who often are put in a place to speak to the needs of a minority group,” Dennis said. “To be heard and allowed a voice is rare in this field. This facility represents voices in the community who want to help those who can’t help themselves. We will meet the needs of all who seek help and we will succeed together.”

Preferred Family Healthcare expects to create more than 25 new full-time employment opportunities at the Jennings clinic.

For a number of years, the property was the Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Church and school, and that parish has since closed. The City of Jennings took possession of the property sometime after 2020, and then Preferred Family Healthcare acquired it in 2024. The property was rezoned for medium density commercial use in August of 2025.

Jennings Mayor Gary Johnson said the clinic and treatment center will stand “as a symbol of what is possible when local government, nonprofit organizations and professional partners work together with shared purpose.”

“Together, we are creating a space where individuals can access high quality care and feel their lives move toward stability and independence,” Johnson said. “Here in Jennings, we believe that strong communities are built by lifting people up, not leaving them behind.”

St. Louis-based McGrath and Associates is the primary contractor for the PFH Jennings project. Springfield, Missouri-based Hood-Rich Architecture designed the building. The building is designed to provide a well-lit, comfortable, safe and secure experience for patients from the start to the finish of their treatment plans.   

State Rep. Yolonda Fountain Henderson, D-St. Louis, spoke at the groundbreaking and praised the turnout of more than 100 people.

“Preferred Family Healthcare has long been a place where compassion meets expertise,” Fountain Henderson said. “Here, everyone who walks through the door is seen, heard and supported whether they are seeking behavioral health services, recovery support, developmental assistance or simply a path to a better tomorrow.”

About Preferred Family Healthcare: For nearly 40 years, Preferred Family Healthcare has stayed committed to improving the health and wellness of the communities we serve by offering a full continuum of integrated health services. PFH has locations throughout Missouri, Illinois, Kansas and Oklahoma. PFH strives to serve the whole person by focusing on emotional and physical health and wellness, as well as addressing needs that may present barriers to success. Learn more at http://www.pfh.org. 

Contact: Rance Burger, director of media relations

rance.burger@burrellcenter.com; call/text (573) 286-9393