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View more news, opportunities and resources on the LPHA Info Hub.
HUB UPDATES
► Summer food sites updated on BEHRL (formerly BEHS) page
► Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases for Schools and Child Care Facilities manual added to Communicable Disease page under Resources
UPCOMING DUE DATES
► Aug 28: Deadline to register for Fall Preparedness Summit
► Aug 31: Vital Records MOU due to DHSS
► Oct 1: Deadline to complete PHAB Readiness Assessment (at no cost to LPHA)
DHSS UPDATES
► DHSS Staff Retiring
Alicia Jenkins retires this week after 30 years with the State of Missouri. Wish her well!
Aaron Winslow retires this week after 26 years with DHSS. Wish him well!
► Measles
DHSS will host a special call for LPHA Administrators and any staff they identify on Thursday, Aug 27 from 11:00 am – 12:15 pm. The purpose of the call is to provide an overview of measles, an update on measles activity, and discuss guidance and resources available for public health response efforts in Missouri. Information will be provided on how to order vaccine and how to collect and package tests for the state public health lab. DHSS' Office of Public Information will also share information about available communication resources for LPHAs, including social media and updated fact sheets, as well as the support available for media interaction.
► Accreditation Funding
DHSS has applied to CDC for an additional round of PHIG funding to support public health accreditation efforts. CLPHS will send a survey to LPHAs by the end of this week to gauge how many LPHAs are interested in applying for the funding. Additional details and budget reviews will be completed after CDC approves DHSS' funding request.
► Financial Policies and Procedures
DHSS' Office of Compliance Services requests that LPHAs complete a Financial Policies and Procedures questionnaire (10 questions) by September 10. The questionnaire should be filled out by the agency administrator or financial officer. Only one questionnaire should be completed per agency. Completing this questionnaire means LPHAs will no longer need to provide their policies and procedures to individual DHSS programs and contracts
► Health Informatics Data Requests
DHSS' Health Informatics Unit has developed a Data Request Platform, offering a single point of entry for all data requests from LPHAs. From the DHSS website, navigate to the Data and Reports menu, then locate the Data Request Form link.
NEWS
► 8/25/2026: Two unvaccinated Pennsylvania residents have died after being infected with measles, the first U.S. deaths this year related to the virus. (link)
► 8/25/2026: A study published this week in the Journal of Infectious Diseases based on plasma antibody testing suggests the rare tick-borne Bourbon virus is circulating more widely in the U.S. than previously thought. (link)
► 8/25/2026: Dolly Parton gave generously to healthcare causes over her lifetime, including early-stage research at Vanderbilt, a women's health center in her home county, a pediatric cancer program and an independent children's hospital in Knoxville. (link)
► 8/25/2026: U.S. Representative Nikki Budzinski, D-Springfield, IL, questions the owners of a Granite City hospital about issues she says are keeping patients from receiving care. (link)
MISSOURI NEWS
► 8/26/2026: A new Missouri law taking effect August 28 prohibits companies and developers from advertising or representing AI systems as licensed mental health professionals or claiming they can provide therapy, psychotherapy or mental health diagnoses. Columbia Missourian (link)
► 8/26/2026: Missouri cyclosporiasis cases are tapering off, but health officials say to remain vigilant. KOMU (link)
► 8/20/2026: An Arizona institute takes issue with the Columbia/Boone County Health Department requiring a food permit for a woman feeding the community from her home. KOMU (link)
RESOURCES
► Public Health Funding: A new resource from the Public Health Communications Collaborative offers tips and best practices for how public health professionals can best communicate and advocate for the resources they need to advance public health in their communities. Soaring Demand, Declining Resources: Overcoming Funding Challenges to Meet Community Public Health Needs offers practical insights on making the economic case for public health, strategically building relationships and seeking funding, and useful resources to support professional growth and career advancement.
DID YOU KNOW?
Brushing your teeth twice a day lowers your risk of heart disease by reducing plaque and harmful bacteria that can enter your bloodstream. (link)
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.
► Oct 27 - 28, DIMENSIONS: Tobacco Free Advanced Techniques In-Person Training for Missouri, hosted by University of Colorado. This two-day training covers tobacco fundamentals, tobacco addiction, tobacco cessation strategies, and a motivational intervention for tobacco cessation. Trainees will also be trained to facilitate the DIMENSIONS Tobacco Free Group curriculum—a 6-week tobacco cessation group. The Advanced Techniques training is a train-the-trainer model, meaning participants will leave the training with the materials and knowledge to train others at their organization. Training is free. Learn more and register by October 16.
► Oct 28 - 30, 2026 Missouri WIC Conference, hosted by DHSS. The biennial Missouri WIC Conference at the Branson Convention Center is an opportunity for Missouri WIC local and state agency staff to network and to learn more about implementing the Missouri WIC program and supporting WIC participants with research-based nutrition guidance. 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
► Jan 12 - 14, Tobacco Treatment Specialist Training (virtual), hosted by University of Missouri. Applications are due November 19. Scholarships may be available. Details
► 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.
► May 18 - 20, Tobacco Treatment Specialist Training (virtual), hosted by University of Missouri. Applications are due March 25, 2027. Scholarships may be available. Details
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