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Our Story

For more than three decades, STRIDE Community Health Center has grown alongside the communities we serve, expanding access, deepening support, and strengthening our commitment to compassionate, high-quality care for all. 

Growing with Our Community Since 1989

Our journey began with a small team and a shared belief that every person deserves a trusted place to receive healthcare. Today, we are a network of clinics, programs, and partnerships built on that same belief, continually evolving to meet the changing needs of our neighbors.

1990s

Laying the Foundation

1992

  • Internal structures established

  • Sherryl Brandes hired as Finance Director

1993

  • David Myers becomes Executive Director

  • 5,600 users

  • $1.2M budget

  • $318K USPHS Grant

1994

  • Elmira Clinic opens

  • Launch of the Aurora Teen Pregnancy & Prevention Project

1995

  • Stein and Eiber Wellness Centers open

  • Colorado Access begins

1996

  • Hoffman Heights Clinic opens

  • 7,800 users

  • $2.5M budget

  • $404K USPHS Grant

1997

  • Shifts in national healthcare funding impact operations; Elmira and Aurora Clnics close

1998

  • Elmira reopens with City of Aurora support

  • Sheridan Adult Health Services and Englewood Clinic open with federal support

1999

  • MCPN (Now STRIDE) celebrates 10 years

  • Officially adopts the name Metro Community Provider Network

  • Receives Joint Commission accreditation

  • 10,900 users

  • $5.9M budget

  • $1.3M USPHS

2000s

Expanding Access & Services

2000

  • Expanded Englewood Clinic

  • Helena Clinic opens

  • Community Service Department created

  • Stein Wellness Center hours expanded

2001

  • Sheridan clinic hours expanded

  • Estes Street Clinic opens

  • Tobocca Funds Support additional Jeffco providers

  • Healthy Start expansion

2002

  • MCPN (STRIDE) assumes management of Littleton Health and Wellness Center

  • Teen Clinic opens at the Hoffman Heights Shopping Center

  • JCAHO re-accreditation

2003

  • Parker Place Clinic Opens

  • First dental clinic opens at the Altura Plaza Dental Clinic

  • Jefferson High School Clinic begins operations

  • Delaware Office opens with a Customer Service Line and relocation of Englewood Community Services

2004

  • Platte Canyon Clinic opens

  • Englewood Clinic moves to Helena

  • Dental expands to offer services at Jeffco Clinic

  • 30,500 users

  • $14M budget

  • $3.5M USPHS Grant

2005

  • Arvada Clinic Opens

  • JCAHO re-accreditation

  • Potomac Street Health Center opens

2006

  • New practice management system launches

  • Community Specialist Volunteer Program created

2007

  • Electronic Health Records launched

  • New Aurora configuration

  • Alameda High School Clinic funded 

  • Denver Adult Down Syndrome Clinic is established

  • South Aurora Family Health Services relocation

2008

  • Jeffco Head Start Clinic opens

  • North Aurora Family Health Services opens (closing Hoffman, Heights, Helena, Altura Plaza, Elmira, Potomac)

  • Medical Home Model grant awarded to Potomac Street Health Center

  • 40,000 users

  • $21.9M budget

  • $3.9M USPHS Grant

2009

  • 20 year annivesary

  • Awarded Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) accreditation

2010s

Innovation, Recognition & Community Expansion

2010

  • NCQA recognitino process for Medical Home begins for Jeffco and Potomac Street Clinics

  • $10.2M HRSA and $3M Colorado Health Foundation grant to build out Jeffco Family Health Services in Wheat Ridge

2011

  • Grants for School-Based Health Center Mobile Dental Program

  • Extended Care program at NAFHS was implemented

  • Level III NCQA recognition award

  • CWOWS (Clinic Without Walls) was implemented at five Behavioral Health locations.

  • HRSA Patient Centered Medical Home awarded

  • Participation in Regional Care Collborative Organizations and Accountable Care Organizations in Arapahoe and Jefferson Counties

2012

  • $1.2M Innovations Grant through Rutgers University

  • Helena Clinic re-opens

  • Elmira Clinic re-opens in partnership with the Colorado Refugee Wellness Center

  • HRSA New Access Point Grant to build Pine Tree Health Center in Parker, CO

2013

  • Six new health center locations: Elmira Refugee Health Center, Health & Wellness Center at the Asian Pacific Development Center, Helena Health Center, JFHSC, Pine Tree Health Center, and Union Square Plaza at Jefferson Center for Mental Health

2014

  • AAAHC full re-accreditation and Medical Home recognition at all locations

  • Human Resources department expansion to include Organizational Development

  • 361 Full-time employees

  • ICARE values launched

  • Social Media launched

  • Patient Portal re-design

  • AuMHC Chambers Health Center moved to 6th Ave., in Aurora, CO

2015

  • 43,344 patients

  • 267,000 service visits

  • 91% of patients below 150% Federal Poverty Level

  • 51% of patients on Medicaid

  • 39% uninsured

  • 33% 18 year old patients

2016

  • New practice management system launches

  • Community Specialist Volunteer Program created

2017

  • Electronic Health Records launched

  • New Aurora configuration

  • Alameda High School Clinic funded 

  • Denver Adult Down Syndrome Clinic is established

  • South Aurora Family Health Services relocation

2018

  • Jeffco Head Start Clinic opens

  • North Aurora Family Health Services opens (closing Hoffman, Heights, Helena, Altura Plaza, Elmira, Potomac)

  • Medical Home Model grant awarded to Potomac Street Health Center

  • 40,000 users

  • $21.9M budget

  • $3.9M USPHS Grant

2019

  • 20 year annivesary

  • Awarded Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) accreditation

2020s

Rapid Response & Strength

2020

  • Led a comprehensive COVID-19 response, administering 40,000+ COVID-19 tests, launching drive-through and mobile testing sites, and prioritizing access for frontline workers and vulnerable communities.

  • Rapidly expanded Telehealth and Teledentistry, ensuring patients could safely access medical, dental, and behavioral health care while maintaining continuity during the pandemic

  • Strengthened infrastructure and access, successfully transitioning to the Epic electronic health record system and expanding services with new health center locations, even amid unprecedented healthcare disruption

2021

  • Served more than 55,000 patients through 213,081 care encounters, delivering integrated medical, dental, behavioral health, case management, and telehealth services as community needs continued to evolve

  • Advanced COVID-19 response and community protection, administering 46,579 vaccines and 5,246 COVID-19 tests, while expanding outreach to unhoused individuals through mobile clinics and community partnerships

  • Expanded access and strengthened infrastructure, reopening clinics, launching new locations in Golden and Conifer, breaking ground on two school-based health centers, and achieving Level Two Age-Friendly Health System recognition

2022

  • Patients served through 206,386 care encounters, strengthening STRIDE’s role as one of Colorado’s leading Community Health Centers and providers of integrated, whole-person care.

  • Expanded access to care across the community, including the launch of two new School-Based Health Centers and continued growth of behavioral health, MAT, and supportive services for vulnerable populations.

  • Delivered measurable quality outcomes, outperforming state and national benchmarks in key areas such as controlled hypertension, depression screening and follow-up, and preventive health services.

2023

  • Served more than 53,000 patients through 227,000+ visits, delivering care across 14 clinic locations, 77 languages, and expanded telehealth and mobile services to meet patients where they are.

  • Strengthened access for priority populations, including 1,500+ newcomers and refugees, 4,000+ seniors through age-friendly care, and expanded school-based, reproductive health, infectious disease, and mobile health programs. 

  • Positioned STRIDE for sustainable growth, closing the year with $66.8M in revenue, continued investment in value-based care, technology infrastructure, pharmacy and dental expansion, and a clear strategic direction for 2024

2024

  • Expanded access to care for more than 47,000 patients, delivering over 172,000 patient visits (including 16,000 telehealth visits) and strengthening STRIDE’s role as a trusted safety-net provider across the community.

  • Deepened commitment to Whole-Person Care, integrating physical health, behavioral health, and health-related social needs to better support patients’ long-term health and stability.

  • Extended care beyond clinic walls, opening two new school-based health centers and expanding outreach to patients experiencing homelessness through school-based and community programs.

  • Strengthened organizational sustainability and workforce development, launching the APP Residency Program, expanding the Infectious Disease Program, and securing diversified funding to support continued growth and future locations.

Get Care Today

Call the STRIDE team directly or have us call you back at your convenience.

303-778-7433

Blog Network: Health & Wellness

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