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View more news, opportunities and resources on the LPHA Info Hub.
HUB UPDATES
► GovDelivery subscription page added under Communications drop down menu – Email Subscriptions
► LPHA Call recording and Nathan James presentation added to Archives page
► World Cup LPHA Planning Checklist updated 3/19/2026
► Public Health System At-A-Glance booklet added to Communications page under Communication Resources box
UPCOMING DUE DATES
► Mar 19: PHEP FY25 contract monitoring documentation due to DHSS (only LPHAs who received notification via email)
► Mar 23: Register for Regional LPHA meetings (link)
► Mar 30: RHTP Digital Readiness Survey due (optional) (link)
► Mar 31: MCH FFY2026 contract work plan amendments due to DNC
► May 1: Deadline to submit documentation for Incentives program through CLPHS
► May 1: FPHS Gap Analysis, Module 1: Current Financials due
► Oct 1: Deadline to complete PHAB Readiness Assessment (at no cost)
DHSS UPDATES
► PHAB Readiness Assessment: LPHAs who have not yet completed the PHAB Readiness Assessment are encouraged to do so soon. The Center for Local Public Health Services (CLPHS) will cover the cost of the assessment, but it does have to be submitted by October 30, and there is training on April 9 or July 8 that must be completed prior to starting the Readiness Assessment. For more information contact educationservices@phaboard.org More details.
► GovDelivery: We now have a page on the LPHA Info Hub (under the Communications menu) where LPHAs can subscribe to DHSS information listserves by topic. This effort is in response to feedback from LPHAs. It aims to allow everyone working at an LPHA to customize the type of information they individually want to receive from DHSS. Please note, this list is different than the public GovDelivery subscription options. Please feel free to share the public link with your partners and communities, but the LPHA listing link on the Hub is only for use by public health employees and should not be shared outside of your health department.
► NPHW: National Public Health Week is April 6 – 12. DHSS is developing Missouri-specific social media content that will be added to the Hub Resource Library when completed.
► Nitrazenes: A Health Advisory and press release will go out from DHSS on Monday, March 23 regarding nitrazenes being discovered in wastewater testing currently being conducted with permission at 37 Missouri schools. Mark James of DHSS will be presenting on the issue at the Missouri Association of School Administrators meeting tomorrow (March 20). Communication materials are being developed by DHSS and state partners. For now, you can share the MO Highway Patrol fact sheet on nitrazenes.
► Naloxone: Nitrazenes are so potent, it may take several doses of Naloxone to combat the effects of the drug. UMSEL has a website that allows the general public to order Naloxone by mail and find Naloxone supplies near them.
► RHTP Digital Readiness Survey: You have until March 30 to provide input (optional) on this survey. The State is gathering information on digital tools, data exchange capabilities, security practices, reporting and governance, workforce capacity, financial sustainability, and infrastructure in order to identify gaps and prioritize targeted investments and support through the Rural Health Transformation Project. Surveys should be completed by LPHAs, hospitals, clinics, EMS, and Behavioral Health Facilities. One survey per organization, please. See the RHTP page on the Hub to view the FAQ and survey questions (pdf).
► Regional LPHA meetings: Please register each person who will attend by COB March 23 so CLPHS will have accurate numbers for catering.
- April 22 – A.T. Still University Dental School (Rooms 151 and 153), 500 W. Jefferson St, Kirksville
- April 23 – Platte County Health Department, 7925 NW 110th St, Kansas City
- April 28 – DHSS, 930 Wildwood, Jefferson City
- April 29 – Madison County Health Department, 105 Armory St, Fredericktown
- April 30 – The Depot, 420 S. Marshall St, Marshfield
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.
► 3/18/2026: Adam Sherwat, director of the FDA’s Office of Infectious Diseases will be stepping down in April. (link)
► 3/18/2026: A new study from the Urban Institute says American families with children need an annual income of $145,000 to be considered economically secure. The median household income in Missouri is $70,702 (US Census Bureau, 2024) (link)
► 3/18/2026: FDA’s annual report on foodborne illness shows fruits and vegetables were responsible for 60% of illnesses, followed by multi-ingredient foods (20%), dairy products (10%), and nuts/seeds and eggs (5% each). (link)
► 3/18/2026: CDC closes its investigation into the Salmonella outbreak linked to moringa leaf powder that led to 97 cases and 26 hospitalizations between Aug 22, 2025 and Feb 27, 2026. (link)
► 3/16/2026: A federal judge in Boston temporarily blocks RFK Jr.'s attempts to change the U.S. childhood immunization schedule. (link)
► 3/12/2025: The synthetic opioid cychlorphine is 10 times more powerful than fentanyl and has led to dozens of overdoses nationwide, but it is not detectable with fentanyl strips. (link)
MISSOURI NEWS
► 3/17/2026: A new rental inspection that launches in one Springfield neighborhood on March 23 will confirm rental units are safe, sanitary, and fit for habitation. The program will expand citywide after 18 months. (link)
► 3/17/2026: Rolla City Council unanimously approved an ordinance March 16 making synthetic kratom and 7-hydroxymitragynine (also known as 7-OH) illegal to possess or sell. The measure also makes natural kratom, delta-7 THC and delta-8 THC available only to people over 21. (link)
► 3/17/2026: Homeless services providers and city officials agree that St. Louis’ new Code Blue protocol to help vulnerable people during the coldest days of winter was an improvement over other years. (link)
RESOURCES
► Child Obesity: A February 2026 report from CDC shows more than one in five US children and teens (21.1%) ages 2–19 now have obesity, the highest level ever recorded, up from 5.2% in the 1971–1974 survey. (link)
► Women and Heart Disease: The American Heart Association projects that 3 in 5 women will develop heart disease or stroke by 2050, and that nearly one in three girls age 2 – 19 will have obesity. (link)
► Rural health needs in America (infographic) from NIHCM Foundation (Nov 2025) (link)
OPPORTUNITIES
► Nurse Corps Scholarship: Applications are open until April 9 for the Nurse Corps Scholarship, which covers tuition, fees, and other educational costs including uniforms, along with a monthly stipend. Upon graduation participants are obligated to work at an eligible health care facility with a critical shortage of nurses. Applicant must be a U.S. citizen, a national or lawful permanent resident, accepted or enrolled in a nursing degree program at a U.S. accredited school of nursing, starting classes no later than Sept 30, and not having any federal judgment liens, existing service commitments or overdue on a federal debt. Apply
WEBINARS/TRAINING/CONFERENCES
► Mar 24 - 25, Leading Change Workshop, hosted by ASTHO. Equip participants with strategies and skills to navigate change and uncertainty as individuals, team members, and organization-wide leaders. Emphasizes actionable instruction and resources, enabling leaders to create and implement real-world, targeted initiatives and foster tangible organizational change. Onsite in Arlington, Virginia. Details
► Mar 25, 12:00 pm, Protecting the Core: Prioritizing Foundational Public Health Services Under Fiscal Constraint, hosted by the University of Minnesota Center for Public Health Systems. Introduce frameworks for preserving essential capabilities (assessment, preparedness, communications) when discretionary funds shrink. This webinar is part of a series highlighting practical strategies for protecting communities when budgets tighten. Register
► Mar 26, 12:00 – 1:30 pm, The Public Health Impacts of the 2025 Executive Orders, hosted by the Network for Public Health Law. Information on the federal executive orders issued throughout 2025 was often scattered, making it difficult to appreciate the overall impact of these federal actions and related policies on public health. Learn more about the Network’s new resource, Executive Order Watch: Public Health Impact of the 2025 Federal Executive Orders, and the ongoing public health impacts of the 2025 executive orders and related actions in areas including equity, reproductive health, the Federal MAHA initiative, immigration, and voting. Register
► Apr 2, 1:00 pm, Identification of Potential Public Health Workforce Datasets and Their Utility for Future Research, Consequences of State Remote Work Policies on Rural Public Health, hosted by the Consortium for Workforce Research in Public Health as part of a series highlighting recent workforce topics. Register
► Apr 15, 1:00 - 3:00 pm, Grant Management and Compliance Training, Part 2, hosted by Missouri Public Health Institute. Register
► Sep 9 – 10, Fall Preparedness Summit, in Jefferson City, hosted by DHSS’ Office of Emergency Coordination with the Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) Program and the Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP). This will replace the traditional Fall Planners Meeting. Location, detailed agenda, and session times are being finalized, but attendees can expect engaging sessions on emergency preparedness and networking opportunities with partners across the state. Additional details, including a registration link, will be shared closer to the date.
► Sep 9 - 10, Missouri Rural Health Conference, hosted by Missouri Rural Health Association. Details to come.
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