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View more news, opportunities and resources on the LPHA Info Hub.
UPCOMING DUE DATES
► Oct 24: Deadline to apply for Accreditation funding
► Nov 17: CHIP H.S.I. Net expenditure report for Quarter Ending 09-25 (July 1, 2025, to September 30, 2025)
DHSS UPDATES
► Missouri is among one of the first states to fully implement the Older Americans Act final rule. (press release)
► Congratulations to Mindy Laughlin, RN, BSN! She has been selected as the new Director of the Division of Regulation and Licensure at DHSS, effective Nov. 16. Bill Koebel has been serving as interim director for the past several months. (link)
► Public feedback is invited for proposed rule change that would authorize curbside pickup at licensed marijuana dispensaries. (link)
► The State Public Health Lab (SPHL) is making changes to courier services and will no longer be picking up on Fridays. (details)
► National Prescription Drug Takeback Day (Oct 25) offers a chance to safely dispose of old prescription medications — without the risk of abuse or environmental contamination. Search by zip code, city or county to find a takeback site near you. (link)
MISSOURI NEWS
► 10/22/2025: Liberty Public School district is concerned about a cluster of cancer diagnoses among staff, but the state says they will not open a formal investigation. (link)
► 10/22/2025: Governor Kehoe seeks to change the types of food that can be purchased with SNAP benefits, focusing on healthy foods instead of candy, prepared desserts, soda and energy drinks. Public comments will be accepted on the proposed waiver until October 29. (link)
NATIONAL 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.
► 10/22/2025: Despite the ongoing government shutdown, USDA will reopen about 2,100 county offices all across the country Oct 23 to help farmers and ranchers get access to $3 billion of aid from existing programs. (link)
► 10/22/2025: South Carolina reports 23 cases of measles in an outbreak in two schools with low vaccination rates. (link)
► 10/22/2025: In late 2025, the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota, and NEJM Evidence, will being publishing an open-access field notes-style publication titled Public Health Alerts that will offer research content no longer being published in CDC’s MMWR. (link)
► 10/22/2025: AGOG urges physicians to be aware of social and structural barriers to contraceptive care and the potential for bias and be prepared to address the most common misperceptions about contraceptive methods. (link)
► 10/22/2025: A town in northern California is set to become the third jurisdiction in the state to ban sales of all tobacco products, including vapes. (link)
► 10/22/2025: In a study published Wednesday in Neurology Open Access, researchers found adults with gum disease may be more likely to have signs of damage to the brain's white matter than people without gum disease, increasing the risk of stroke and brain damage. (link)
► 10/22/2025: Iceland records the presence of mosquitoes for the first time in history, which may be a result of global warming. (link)
OPPORTUNITIES
► Funding opportunity: Lilly Endowment granted Aspen Institute’s Weave project $22 million to spread tools to 75 communities across the nation and inspire places to develop and share a weaving way of living. Weave is now inviting applications from community host organizations for the first group of 25 communities. Each selected Community Host will receive seed funds of $225,000 along with tools, training, access to Weave resources, and peer support. The Host will work with other local groups and advocates to create events and distribute Awards to neighbors who are building connection. Details
WEBINARS/TRAINING/CONFERENCES
► Oct 29 – 31, Science for Health Systems, hosted by Washington University. Join this global forum virtually or in person to share new research on the measurement and improvement of health system performance. The inaugural conference will bring together researchers, policymakers, and implementers from multiple disciplines and regions of the world to share health system research methods and findings to maximize impact on health. Learn more and 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
► Oct 30, 12:00 pm, Improving the Lives of Individuals with Disabilities, hosted by UMKC Institute for Human Development. Explore the work of the Missouri Disability and Health Program (MODHP) addressing barriers such as high costs, limited recreational resources, and gaps in accessible care through innovative initiatives, community partnerships, and targeted strategies that promote better health outcomes for individuals with disabilities. Examine real-world barriers and facilitators to access, present levels of program impact, and discuss how providers, administrators, and community professionals can advance disability-inclusive health efforts across the state. Register
► Nov 4, 9:45 am - 3:30 pm, LPHA Regional Meeting, hosted by DHSS. Madison County Health Department, 105 Armory Street, Fredericktown, MO.
► Nov 12, 12:00 - 1:30 pm, Public Health and New Media: Modes of Persuasion, hosted by Boston University School of Public Health. Explore public health communication, with a focus on new media, including Twitter, TikTok, etc. Hear best practices for communicating reliable and trustworthy public health information and combatting mis- and dis-information. 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
► Dec 8, 2:00 - 4:00 pm, Grant Management and Compliance Training, Part 1, hosted by Missouri Public Health Institute at the Governmental Public Health Summit. Register. Alternative date is January 21, 2026 (virtual).
► Jan 21, 2026, 1:00 - 3:00 pm, Grant Management and Compliance Training, Part 1, hosted by Missouri Public Health Institute at the Governmental Public Health Summit. Register
► Mar 18, 2026, 1:00 - 3:00 pm, Grant Management and Compliance Training, Part 2, hosted by Missouri Public Health Institute at the Governmental Public Health Summit. Alternative date is April 15, 2026 (virtual). Register
► Apr 15, 2026, 1:00 - 3:00 pm, Grant Management and Compliance Training, Part 2, hosted by Missouri Public Health Institute at the Governmental Public Health Summit. Register
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