Who We Are

Founded in 1972, Central Florida Health Care was born from a simple but powerful belief: every person deserves access to compassionate, quality care. What began as a response to urgent healthcare gaps affecting agricultural workers and families in Frostproof, Florida, quickly became a lifeline for a community too often overlooked. With one doctor, one nurse, and a deep commitment to service, the first clinic opened its doors and began caring for farm workers and their families with dignity, hope, and heart.

Today, that small beginning has grown into a far-reaching mission of care. With 18 health centers across Polk, Highlands, and Hardee Counties—including a unique Community Partnership School at Crystal Lake Elementary School in Lakeland—CFHC continues to meet people where they are. Mobile healthcare units also extend that mission even farther, bringing essential services to some of the most rural and underserved communities in the tri-county area.

CFHC provides care that touches every stage of life, offering adult and pediatric medical and dental services, OB/GYN, behavioral health, infectious disease care, lab and x-ray services, and nutritional counseling. Specialty services such as dermatology, endocrinology, optometry, podiatry, and rheumatology help ensure patients can find the support they need close to home.

For many patients, care does not end when the appointment is over—and CFHC understands that. Most health centers include an in-house pharmacy, allowing patients to see a provider and receive needed medication before leaving. Through the 340B program, the CFHC Pharmacy helps make prescriptions more affordable and, when needed, can deliver or mail medications to patients, easing one more burden on the road to better health.

At the heart of CFHC’s work is a commitment to patient-centered care that embraces every individual at every stage of life. Translation services are available in all languages, and specially trained Navigators, or Community Health Workers, provide no-cost support with everything from paperwork to transportation. These services reflect a deeper promise: that language, distance, or circumstance should never stand in the way of receiving care.

CFHC’s commitment to community reaches far beyond the walls of its health centers. Through partnerships with United Way of Central Florida, Freedom Tour, and Feeding Tampa Bay—with assistance from the George W. Jenkins End Hunger Initiative—the organization supports families through its Feeding Hearts Food Distribution program. By hosting food distribution events twice a month at nine locations across Polk and Hardee Counties, CFHC helps nourish both health and hope.

The heart of Central Florida Health Care is its people. More than 700 full-time employees bring skill, compassion, and dedication to this mission every day. Under the proactive leadership of CEO Ann Claussen since 2014, and with the guidance of a strong Senior Management Team, Board of Directors, and committed staff, the organization continues to reach new milestones while staying grounded in its purpose: serving communities with excellence and care.

Recognized as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization in 1973, Central Florida Health Care has continued to build a strong foundation for long-term service. Support from HRSA (Health Resources and Services Administration), local financing, insurance reimbursements, and payments from eligible uninsured patients through a sliding fee scale helps sustain the organization’s mission and expand access to care for those who need it most.

As it looks to the future, CFHC remains deeply committed to identifying grants and funding opportunities that will strengthen its current work and open the door to even greater impact. With each new opportunity, the organization continues its promise to care for communities, respond to growing needs, and help build a healthier future for all.