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View more news, opportunities and resources on the LPHA Info Hub.
 Congratulations to the Cooper County Public Health Center for recently receiving a NACCHO Promising Practice Award for their work around tobacco-free schools. The Health Center partnered with Compass Health Network and five local school districts to implement two evidence-based prevention programs with 287 students. Program evaluation showed significant improvements in student knowledge of the health risks associated with vaping, tobacco use, and substance use. Students reported increased confidence in refusing tobacco and nicotine products, improved understanding of addiction, stronger decision-making skills, and greater ability to manage peer pressure and stressful situations.
HUB UPDATES
► John Fieno's Mathematical Modelling Training - Session 2 recording and materials in Training section on Hub home page
► Summer food sites updated on BEHRL (formerly BEHS) page
► Multiple updates to the BEHRL (formerly BEHS) page on the Hub (look for the NEW! Indicator)
► Perinatal Case Mangement page has a new case management letter added and new training opportunity
UPCOMING DUE DATES
► Oct 1: Deadline to complete PHAB Readiness Assessment (at no cost)
DHSS UPDATES
► DHSS Names New Division Director for Community and Public Health
DHSS is pleased to announce Daniel Bogle as the Division Director for the Division of Community and Public Health (DCPH). Daniel comes to this role with extensive experience in public health policy, strategic planning and statewide public health system transformation. As the DHSS Health Policy Director, he led efforts to advance evidence-based and innovative policy solutions, strengthen public health infrastructure and improve coordination across partners statewide.
Since joining DHSS in 2017, Daniel has served as the department’s legislative liaison, a special projects coordinator in DCPH, and the Chair of the DHSS Institutional Review Board (IRB)—guiding oversight and protection of human subjects in research. His background also includes work with the Missouri Grocers Association and numerous local and statewide campaign initiatives, giving him a strong understanding of Missouri’s communities, stakeholders and policy landscape.
Daniel holds both a Master of Public Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Missouri State University. He and his wife, Clare, a licensed clinical social worker and mental health therapist, share two young children, Berlin and Azariah.
We look forward to Daniel’s leadership as DCPH continues its mission of strengthening community health, advancing prevention and supporting partners across the state. Please join us in welcoming Daniel to this role and in congratulating him on this appointment.
► Measles
Measles Exposures: Iowa is reporting a measles outbreak in southern Iowa, with 12 confirmed cases as of Tuesday. Several exposures occurred in Davis County, IA, which borders Missouri. DHSS received notification from the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services of Missouri residents with possible exposures to measles cases in IA and possibly Pennsylvania. PA is reporting an outbreak with over 300 cases since April (60 cases in the past 7 days). Over half of the cases in PA are reported from a county that includes a large Amish community. The Missouri local public health agencies with persons with possible exposures and those agencies that share a border in close proximity to the county in IA have been notified.
► Emergency Preparedness
The Office of Emergency Coordination is excited to announce the Third Annual Fall Preparedness Summit, scheduled for September 1 - 2, 2026, in Jefferson City. This event is hosted by the Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) Program and the Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) and will replace the traditional Fall Planners Meeting. Please register by August 28, 2026. Agenda
Lunch will not be provided. No hotel space will be blocked, so if you need overnight accommodations, please make them on your own. Feel free to forward this invitation to colleagues who should attend. If you have any questions, please reach out to: Preparedness@health.mo.gov.
NEWS
► 8/19/2026: New CDC director Erica Schwartz says she will “speak truth to power” about science and said she believes vaccines are safe and effective. (link)
► 8/19/2026: President Trump nominates physician Heidi Overton to run the FDA after she assisted with the Executive Order reducing the number of childhood vaccinations recommended. (link)
► 8/19/2026: HHS awards nearly $97 million in grants and cooperative agreements this week for behavioral health services through SAMHSA. (link)
► 8/19/2026: More than 430 people in 32 states have gotten sick from eating fresh jalapeño peppers contaminated with salmonella. The peppers were recently recalled by Coast Citrus Distributors. (link)
► 8/19/2026: CDC reports more than 15,700 cases of domestically acquired cyclosporiasis since May, with another 11,800 needing further investigation. Only 9,500 of those cases in the 17 states connected to the cyclospora outbreak traced back to iceberg lettuce. The cause of the other illnesses is still under investigation. (link)
► 8/19/2026: FDA authorizes the first standalone robot that can draw blood from a patient’s arm without hands on operator intervention, but with phlebotomist oversight. (link)
► 8/19/2026: Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream, Inc. voluntarily recalls several kinds of Outshine Fruit Bars because they may contain pieces of glass. The recall covers Strawberry, Watermelon, Grape, Tangerine and Black Cherry 6-count boxes of 2.5-ounce bars and the 24-count Variety Pack of 2.5-ounce bars. (link)
► 8/12/2026: HHS announces $4 million initiative to expand rapid syphilis testing and treatment to protect mothers and babies. (link)
► 8/5/2026: Mindfulness-based therapy for opioid misuse offers a return on investment of $12 in economic benefit for every dollar spent, leading to a per-patient lifetime cost savings of more than $300,000. (link)
MISSOURI NEWS
► 8/19/2026: The investigation continues into a June ransomware attack on Cameron Regional Medical Center in Missouri. (link)
► 8/17/2026: Nearly 2,000 people in Missouri have tested positive for cyclosporiasis according to the most recent numbers from DHSS. This is a 24% increase from the previous week. (link)
RESOURCES
► AI and Public Health: ASTHO authors blog about the gap between state AI policies and public health practice, including the policy landscape, transparency, disclosure, data protection, and prohibited uses. Blog
► Immunizations: Building Resilient Immunization Programs: A 2026-2031 Roadmap for Public Health Leadership, from ASTHO.
OPPORTUNITIES
► Call for Presentations: The Missouri Department of Mental Health and the Missouri Behavioral Health Council will host the 3rd annual Missouri Disaster Behavioral Health Conference. The conference will be held March 10-12, 2027, at the Wyndham Executive Center in Columbia, Missouri. We would like to extend a formal invitation to you to submit a call for presentation for our conference.
This conference is designed for those who respond to and provide services after a disaster. It will focus on the disaster behavioral health needs seen within individuals and communities in various types of disasters (natural, human-caused, and terrorism) and consider lessons learned from past events. This conference is open to, but not limited to, members of the Behavioral Health Strike Team (BHST), those providing disaster behavioral health services, emergency managers, victim advocacy staff, crisis responders, disaster chaplains, and community members. If you have any questions, please contact Kelsey Mengwasser at kmengwasser@mobhc.org.
DID YOU KNOW?
The number of acorns on the ground may be a better indicator of how prevalent ticks will be next season, rather than how warm the weather was or the number of deer present. Learn how.
WEBINARS/TRAINING/CONFERENCES/EVENTS
► Sep 1, 12:30 pm, Designing and Implementing an Evidence-Informed Community-Based Model for Rural Population Health, hosted by the Prevention Research Center for Rural Health. Hear from former leaders at the Missouri Medicaid Office of Transformation, which developed and implemented the Transformation of Rural Community Health (ToRCH) model. Learn about the purpose of the model, implementation lessons learned, and early indicators of success. Register
► Sep 1 – 2, 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 will be held at Camden on the Lake, in Lake Ozark, Missouri. Register
► Sep 15 - 17, Annual Joint Public Health Conference. Registration is now open for the annual Joint Public Health Conference, hosted by MPHA, DHSS, MPHI, and MICH. This year's conference features a variety of presentations under the theme "Bridging Communities: Connecting Missouri for Better Health." The conference takes place September 15 - 17 at the Lodge of Four Seasons in Lake Ozark. Register
► Sep 24, 11:00 am, Making Sense of AI, hosted by Brown University. Join this moderated conversation examining the promise and the risks of AI while considering deeper questions about attention, discernment, human flourishing and the kind of future we hope to create. Register
► Sep 25, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm, 4th Annual Summit: Building Bridges of Care: Recovery, Resilience, and Family Empowerment, hosted by the Missouri Maternal Health Action Network at the Kauffman Foundation Conference Center in Kansas City. The Summit will feature engaging panel discussions, networking opportunities, resource tables, and the opportunity to learn from mothers with lived experience who are helping shape systems of care across Missouri. Space is limited to 175 attendees, and registration will close on Monday, September 14, 2026, or when capacity is reached. Register
► Sep 29, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm, Perinatal Hepatitis B Case Management Using ShowMe WorldCare, hosted by the Bureau of Genetics and Healthy Childhood. Register. Learn to:
- Navigate PHB case management workflows in SMWC
Interpret Hepatitis B laboratory results
Track required tasks and timelines for pregnant women and infants
Apply updated LPHA responsibilities related to pregnancy screening and follow-up
Support timely vaccination and post-vaccine serology testing
► Oct 14 – 16, Artificial Intelligence and Public Health Conference, hosted by the National Network of Public Health Institutes (NNPHI). In person in Baltimore, Maryland. Presenters will describe the state of AI adoption in public health organizations, governance frameworks for ethical use, and recommendations for addressing communities’ concerns with this impactful technology. Several workshops designed for different levels of technical expertise will be offered. Registration fees apply. Learn more and register
► Oct 21, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm, Safe Cribs Office Hours. See the Hub calendar for details.
► Dec 8 – 10, 2026 Public Health Law Virtual Summit, hosted by The Network for Public Health Law. This three-day virtual event explores the essential role of law and policy in public health data modernization. Under the theme "Convening, Aligning and Building Trust to Transform Communities," sessions will cover legal frameworks for data exchange, confidentiality protections, and the role of law in supporting justice, community power, and AI in data technology. $460 for nonprofit and governmental organizations. Register
► Mar 10 - 12, 2027, 3rd Annual Missouri Disaster Behavioral Health Conference, hosted by MO Department of Mental Health and the Missouri Behavioral Health Council at the Wyndham Executive Center in Columbia, Missouri. Additional details to be provided soon.
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