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View more news, opportunities and resources on the LPHA Info Hub.
UPCOMING DUE DATES
Sep 19: Deadline to complete the 3-question survey on whether you approve recommended revisions to the "health equity and social determinants of health" language in the Missouri FPHS Model.
Sep 19: Deadline to opt ouf of your Costing Assessment data being shared with Missouri Public Health Institute. Contact Daniel Bogle at Daniel.Bogle@health.mo.gov to opt out.
Sep 24: Deadline to register for 2025 Fall Preparedness Summit, taking place October 1st, 2025 from 8:30am-4:00pm at Living Hope Church, 3011 S Ten Mile Dr, Jefferson City, MO 65109. Lunch on your own. Afternoon will feature a Chemical Tabletop Exercise. Register
Oct 17: Deadline to apply to host a Pathways student intern in spring 2025
DHSS UPDATES
LPHA Update call 9/9/2025 (recording); Due to the Public Health Conference, the September 23 LPHA Update call has been moved to September 30th. This moves future calls forward a week, as well. Visit the calendar on the LPHA Info Hub for call dates and connection information.
National recognition: Director Willson will speak on a panel at the National Academy for State Health Policy’s Annual Conference in San Diego this week. She’ll present on the DHSS strategy to use social media to build trust with its online audience. Congratulations to DHSS and the Office of Public Information for this national recognition of their work!
Invoicing delays: Lori Brenneke shared that DHSS has been making internal changes to make invoice processing more efficient. These changes are causing some delays at the moment. Processing is taking about seven weeks from receipt of invoice. DHSS is working to reduce the backlog of invoice and resume a more reasonable timeframe. Significant improvements are expected by October.
Fall regional meetings: Fall regional meetings will take place at the following locations. The agenda is still being developed, but the sessions will run 10:00 am – 3:00 pm to allow for travel time in the regular workday. Your attendance applies to incentive funding. Registration information will be shared soon.
- Oct 14: DHSS, 920 Wildwood, Jefferson City
- Oct 15: Kirksville Chamber of Commerce, 315 S Franklin St, Kirksville
- Oct 16: Tri-County Ambulance District, 1703 W Highway 116, Plattsburg
- Oct 21: Marshfield
- Nov 4: Madison County Health Department, 105 Armory St, Fredericktown
Accreditation assistance funding: DHSS has applied for an additional year of accreditation assistance funding, and hope to hear back on the award in November. The PHIG team is working on a plan for how LPHAs can apply for the funds, if awarded.
Cost Gap Analysis: DHSS has signed an MOU with Missouri Public Health Institute to share data from the Cost Gap Analysis for a study on analyzing LPHA sources of funding and reliance on specific funding sources. Restrictions on its use require that the data be deidentified and aggregated so that no single LPHA’s data is identifiable. Also, no reports can be published until after the official Cost Gap Analysis report is published by DHSS and MU in December 2027. If you would like to opt out of having your county’s data shared with MPHI, please contact Daniel Bogle by September 19th at Daniel.bogle@health.mo.gov or (573) 522-2843. The data sharing agreement previously mentioned with PHAB has not yet been solidified. Daniel will notify LPHA administrators of any other data sharing requests that are received.
Rural Health Transformation Program: MO DSS, through the MO HealthNet Division, is seeking your input on the Rural Health Transformation Program. This new federal program, created under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R.1), will distribute $50 billion nationwide between 2026 and 2030 to support innovative strategies for improving rural healthcare. As CMS prepares additional guidance on the application process, MHD is seeking public input on key initiatives and priorities to consider for potential funding. Each state must apply to receive funding, and Missouri’s application will be guided by the priorities identified during this public comment period. States are required to select at least three of nine eligible funding categories, making your perspective especially important as we consider the needs of Missouri’s rural communities. The exact amount of federal funding that Missouri may receive remains undetermined pending the approval of its application. Your comments will help shape Missouri’s application and priorities. Provide your comments by September 30, 2025.
Missouri FPHS Model changes: DHSS and #HealthierMO at Ozarks Public Health Institute convened a workgroup of LPHA, academics, and DHSS representatives from the original workgroup that designed the FPHS model back in 2019 to open a discussion about whether changes were needed to the terms “social determinants of health” and “health equity”. Current verbiage has shifted to “social drivers of health” and the workgroup recommended the model be updated to align with current culture. The model was originally intended to be used internally within the public health system as a way to develop consistent language and structure, but it is increasingly being used more widely, including to help educate Missouri legislators on the field of public health. With a broader audience, the term “health equity” is often misunderstood, creating barriers to communication. After lengthy discussion, the workgroup recommended changing the verbiage to something that still conveys the meaning of health equity but doesn’t specifically use those words. Their suggestion is “removing barriers to optimal health”. Since the FPHS model belongs to all of Missouri, any changes to the model need to be requested with transparency and agreed upon by the whole system. Your input is being sought on these two recommendations. Please complete this three question survey by September 19th to share your thoughts. You are also invited to share the survey link with your staff and encourage them to complete it. All input is welcomed. The outcome of the survey will be shared at the Public Health Conference in late September.
Cybersecurity: Ryan Marsch reports DHSS has seen increasing hacker activity in the last few months, including imitating emails from DHSS that trick the user into clicking on a link where personal information is grabbed. If you receive one of these emails, do not click on the link. Forward the email to Tiffany Bayer or Ryan Marsch at ryan.marsch@oa.mo.gov so DHSS can take immediate action to help protect you and the DHSS VPN and systems.
Mental Health First Aid: About 100 LPHAs have received Mental Health First Aid training already this year! Virtual classes will be offered October 8 and November 4. Incentive funds are available for attending the training. Local training can also be provided upon request. Register for virtual training or contact Rachel Taube at info@mhfamissouri.org to request a training. Training is also available for people who work with youth, and you can also request to become a trainer yourself.
DHSS website updates: As part of DHSS’s website update, all Center for Local Public Health Services (CLPHS) intranet pages will be pulled down next week. LPHAs should use the LPHA Info Hub as their primary source of information moving forward. As the DHSS website update continues, public facing pages will have a more central focus on local public health.
Chagas: Chagas disease is caused by a parasite and is passed through contact with the droppings (feces) of infected triatomine bugs (kissing bugs). There is no medication or vaccine to prevent Chagas, so CDC recommends that the best protection is to avoid contact with the bug. CDC also suggests consulting a pest control expert before using insecticides against the bugs, as there are none specifically approved for them in the U.S. CDC also says roach traps don't work on kissing bugs, but properly treated bed nets and curtains do. Missouri had one locally acquired case, but it was back in 2018. Learn more from CDC.
New World screwworm: Missouri does not have any reported cases to date. Even though this is not an explicitly reportable condition in rule, CDC urges medical providers to immediately report suspected human cases to their state or local public health department. Larvae should be removed by clinicians and submitted to CDC for clinical diagnosis and confirmation. The BCDCP at DHSS will work with providers and individuals regarding any suspected cases or concerns.
Vaccine messaging: Despite media reports suggesting a national loss of support for required school vaccinations, a recent poll by the Washington Post and KFF show 81% of parents still support required vaccinations for measles and polio. In addition, DHSS is working with its state partners to develop talking points that clarify recommendations around COVID vaccine access. These will be shared out with LPHAs when completed.
Enhancing Communication: Recordings from the second and third Lunch and Learn sessions are available on the LPHA Info Hub. Click on the “Communications” option in the top menu to jump to the blue communications box and then scroll down to the Enhancing Communications section to find the links.
NEWS
News items are posted for your situational awareness only and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of either DHSS or OPHI. News stories behind pay walls will not be included in order to ensure fair access to all.
9/10/2025: CDC reports West Nile Virus cases are about 40% higher than normal this year with a higher proportion of mosquitoes carrying the virus. (link)
9/10/2025: During raids in six states this week, federal agents seize hundreds of thousands of illegal vapes smuggled into the U.S. from China. (link)
9/10/2025: Kids who had COVID had a higher risk of depression and anxiety, according to researchers at the University of Utah. (link)
9/10/2025: Utah reports a measles outbreak linked to a high school cycling event held in August, with 2,000 in attendance. (link)
9/10/2025: Emergent BioSolutions receives a $56 million contract extension from the U.S. government to supply doses of ACAM2000, a combined smallpox/mpox vaccine. (link)
9/9/2025: 39 New York City firefighters died this year, from illness related to their rescue and recovery efforts during 9-11, 24 years ago. (link)
9/9/2025: 24 years after the 9-11 attacks, remains of three more people killed in the assault have been identified by the New York City medical examiner’s office, where forensic investigations have been ongoing since the attack. (link)
RESOURCES
Make Our Children Healthy Again strategy report, Sep 2025
OPPORTUNITIES
Grant funding: DHSS has issued a grant funding opportunity for Reducing Barriers to Substance Use Disorder Recovery. The purpose of the grant is to establish new and/or expanding strategies that reduce barriers to accessing recovery supports and services for populations with higher rates of substance use disorders (SUDs), including those who have co-occurring substance use (SU) and mental health (MH) disorders. Projects should be tailored to meet the needs of target populations utilizing data-driven, evidence-based strategies that facilitate recovery and wellness contributing to an improved quality of life for those impacted by SUDs or co-occurring SU and MH disorders. Applications close October 14, 2025. Learn more
WEBINARS/TRAINING/CONFERENCES
Sept 12, 12:00 pm, Responding to “Make Our Children Healthy Again”, hosted by FrameWorks Institute. Dr. Julie Sweetland, and senior director of health justice, Dr. Katy Evans unpack the framing devices of the MAHA movement and why they resonate so deeply. They will also share fresh, research-backed strategies for shifting how people think and talk about kids’ health in the United States. Register
Sept 16 - 17, Missouri Rural Health Conference, Camdenton, MO. Learn more and register
Sept 16 - 18, Public Health Law Conference, Seattle, WA. View sessions and register
Sept 17, 12:00 pm, Closing Healthcare Communication Gaps with AI, hosted by Becker’s Hospital Review. Discover how AI-driven communications are transforming patient interactions, streamlining operations and supporting HIPAA compliance. Register
Sept 18, 2:00 pm, Succession Planning, part 2: Laying the Groundwork, hosted by ASTHO. Focus on the stages of developing a succession plan, including how to use staff survey data to inform planning efforts. Register
Sept 23 - 25, Annual Joint Public Health Conference, "It Starts Here: Investing in Public Health." Hosted by MPHA, Section for Public Health Nursing, DHSS, MOCPHE, and MICH. Register
Sept 24, 11:00 am, Ethical Innovation in Public Health Communication, hosted by Arclet. The session will explore how AI can responsibly support, not replace, public health communications works, with a focus on equity, transparency and accuracy. Register
Sept 24, 2:00 pm, Philanthrophy’s Role in Advancing the Greater Good, hosted by County Health Rankings and Roadmaps. Learn how public health and health care professionals can work with philanthropic organizations to advocate for equitable policies, transform narratives that build solidarity, and create systems-level change. Register
Oct 2, 2:00 pm, Succession Planning, part 3: Putting the Plan into Action, hosted by ASTHO. Walk through a phased implementation approach for succession planning. Register
Oct 7, Public Health Improvement Training, in Pittsburgh, PA. Strengthen your abilities through interactive, skill building workshops and networking. Use code FAF205 for 20% off when you register.
Oct 8 – 10, Open Forum, Next Generation, hosted by the National Coordinating Center for Public Health Training, in Pittsburgh, PA. Share skills for stronger public health workforce, grow your community, and envision a bright and innovative future. Use code FAF205 for 20% off when you register.
Oct 14 – 15, Introductory Capitol Workshop, hosted by Missouri Foundation for Health. The workshop provides an overview of Missouri state government and appropriate ways to engage policymakers. Participants learn the legislative process, participate in a mock hearing, and discuss how to effectively build relationships with lawmakers. MFH pays for hotel, mileage, and meals. Register
Oct 15 – 16, DIMENSIONS: Tobacco-Free Advanced Techniques Train-the-Trainer, hosted by DHSS at the Lodge of the Four Seasons in Lake Ozark. This one and a half day training covers tobacco fundamentals, tobacco addiction, tobacco treatment strategies and a motivational intervention for tobacco cessation. Trainees will also be trained to facilitate the DIMENSIONS Tobacco Free Group – a 6-week group curriculum. The Advanced Techniques training is a train-the-trainer model, meaning participants will leave the training with the materials and knowledge to train other at their organization. Every trainee will have download access to the program materials at the completion of training. Register
Oct 29 – 30, TEEX: Medical Countermeasures: Point of Dispensing (POD), Planning and Response, Springfield, MO. Hosted by the Region D LPHA administrators. Learn how to coordinate plans to provide mass distribution of medical countermeasures in response to a large-scale public health incident in order to meet CDC’s 48-hour standard. There is no cost to attend, but class size is limited to 35 participants. Register
Nov 13, Annual Missouri Advocates' Retreat, hosted by Missouri Foundation for Health. Learn how to build relationships with elected officials, how to be creative with coalition building, and organizing and advocacy skills. Learn more about this free event. Register
Dec 4 – 5, Annual Rural Health Research Summit. Hoted by the Rural Health Research Center at the University of Missouri-Columbia. This event at the Drury Inn Conference Center in Columbia assembles administrators, clinicians, nurses, community health specialists, and other professionals dedicated to advancing health care in rural communities. Save the date. Details to come.
Dec 8 - 10, Governmental Public Health Summit, hosted by Missouri Public Health Institute. Governmental public health leaders from across the state will convene at Old Kinderhook to strengthen service delivery, advance systems change, build lasting connections, and celebrate the hard work LPHAs do every day. Topics were selected by LPHAs, and DHSS Director Sarah Willson will provide the keynote. Early Bird registration saves you $50 through October 17. Registration closes November 7. Learn more and register
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