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View more news, opportunities and resources on the LPHA Info Hub.
HUB UPDATES
► The LPHA Update Call recording link from 9/8/2026 has been added to the CLPHS page
► The LPHA Directory (for internal LPHA use only) has been added to Quick Links section on the Hub home page
UPCOMING DUE DATES
► Sep 10, deadline to submit Financial Policies and Procedures questionnaire to DHSS’ Office of Compliance Services
► Sep 22, deadline to apply for the next round of accreditation funding
► Oct 1, Deadline to complete PHAB Readiness Assessment
DHSS UPDATES
► Measles
Missouri DHSS announces possible measles exposure at Sedalia train station, 9/9/2026
► Accreditation Funding
With support from the Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG), DHSS is offering funding support to mitigate the staffing and cost barriers of pursuing public health accreditation. Funds may be used to pursue initial accreditation or reaccreditation under either the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) or the Missouri Institute for Community Health's (MICH) frameworks or a combination of both. Apply by September 22.
► Wastewater Testing
Missouri’s Department of Public Safety is expanding wastewater testing to 160 – 200 high schools in Missouri in the coming year. Testing will no longer be optional for schools who are identified by DPS. As the list of participating schools is finalized, DHSS will communicate more details.
► LPHA Directory
DHSS is no longer updating the public DHSS website with specific contact info for LPHAs, including email addresses. However, to facilitate LPHAs reaching out to one another, an LPHA directory has been added to the Hub home page under Quick Links. This directory is for internal LPHA use only, and should not be shared publicly. https://9bd019ef-c7d3-43d0-92a9-65c72cb93cd1.usrfiles.com/ugd/9bd019_37865d0099f5464e829d90f204527099.xlsx
► Cannabis Licensing
Missouri’s Division of Cannabis Regulation (DCR) selected additional cannabis microbusinesses for licensing this week in the third of three separate rounds of random lottery drawing, in accordance with Article XIV, Section 2 of the Missouri Constitution. (press release)
NEWS
► 9/10/2026: In October the Trump administration plans to send $500 rebate checks to as many as 1 million people who it says were overcharged for their coverage under Obamacare. (link)
► 9/9/2026: Pediatrics group publishes FAQ on congenital measles after a stillborn death of an infant in Pennsylvania last month. (link)
► 9/9/2026: CDC merges its flu and COVID divisions to create the Influenza and Respiratory Viruses Division (IRVD) and to strengthen operational efficiency. (link)
► 9/9/2026: The White House proposes changes to the way census data is collected in 2030, including not asking about race and ethnicity and excluding non-U.S. citizens who do not have a green card. (link)
► 9/9/2026: New polls from the Annenberg Foundation and the Associated Press show American adults are losing confidence in the federal government in matters of healthcare, and trust in national public health leaders. (link)
► 9/9/2026: People who say they’ll get vaccinated against COVID and flu often don’t, not always because of vaccine hesitancy. (link)
MISSOURI NEWS
► 9/9/2026: Missouri health officials are warning of a possible measles exposure at the Sedalia train station on August 27. Fox 2 (link)
► 9/9/2026: A gift from Mercy completes the transformation of MSU’s Kampeter Hall, adding athletic training facilities for student learning. MSU (link)
RHTP
► Paul Schuler of Schuler Brothers Consulting and Analytics has created a map with information on the Rural Health Transformation Hub Anchors and associated organizations. It includes the Hub service areas/anchor organizations, hospitals, FQHCs, CCBHCs, and ambulance bases with the goal of making it easy to see how everything fits together geographically. This map is being developed independently of DSS, but may be helpful. LPHAs who are interested in being added to the map can complete the contact us form on the Schuler website. View map
RESOURCES
► New Report on Public Health Funding: The Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) released its annual public health funding report today, titled Underfunded and Under Strain: The State of America’s Public Health System. The report examines the impact of chronic underinvestment, recent workforce reductions and funding disruptions on the nation’s public health system. It reviews what Congress preserved in FY 2026 and what is at stake in the FY 2027 funding decisions ahead. It calls for restoring federal public health operating capacity and establishing more durable and predictable funding to ensure that public health agencies have the staffing, expertise, infrastructure, and continuity needed to carry out their missions effectively.
► Public Health Funding Toolkit:Utilizing Flexible Funding Strategies in Public Health Utilizing Flexible Funding Strategies in Public Health, ASTHO
► Restoring Public Health Influence: The article "Why Evidence is Not Enough: Power, Politics, and a Strategy Shift for Public Health" explains how in the face of economic, political, ideological, and physical power being used in ways that harm health, public health must use other forms of power in addition to knowledge power. The article suggests key actions, such as building collective people power through partnerships, developing and deploying a narrative infrastructure, and using sit-ins, boycotts, public art, mutual aid, and other nonviolent disruptive acts of radical resistance.
► St. Louis Long COVID Initiative: The initiative is focused on improving Long COVID care and access across Missouri, in both rural and urban communities where patients and primary care teams may have limited access to specialty care, rehabilitation, and other supports. Led by Washington University in partnership with health care and community-based organizations, the St. Louis Long COVID Initiative has developed a range of resources for clinicians, including:
- "Could Your Patient Have Long COVID?" - a quick guide to common symptoms, diagnostic considerations, and next steps.
- Symptom-specific clinical guides for concerns such as fatigue and activity intolerance, cognitive changes, autonomic symptoms, shortness of breath, chest pain, headaches, and mental health symptoms.
- Clinical workup and management tools with suggested evaluations, differential diagnoses, treatment considerations, and activity guidance.
- Practical rehabilitation videos with strategies patients can use to manage common Long COVID challenges, including fatigue, activity tolerance, dizziness, and cognitive changes.
- Patient-facing resources clinicians can share with people managing ongoing symptoms and their day-to-day impact.
Access the full collection of clinical tools, referral resources, and patient supports at the St. Louis Long COVID Initiative website,
OPPORTUNITIES
► Professional headshots: Free professional headshots will be available to attendees at the Public Health Conference next week, courtesy of the MPHA Section for Public Health Nursing and Ozarks Public Health Institute. A professional photographer will be in the vendor area between the SPHN and OPHI booths from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm on Sept 16. The background will be light grey, so that the photos can be branded for any agency. Consider wearing solid colors that match your industry. Avoid pure white shirts and colors too close to your skin tone. Add a blazer, jacket or sweater for layers. Wear small jewelry that won’t be distracting and glare-free glasses. Photographs will be retouched and available for download from the Conference Gallery by the end of next week. Reach out to Jaci McReynolds with any questions.
► Public Health Leadership Academy: This cohort-based program by the National Association of Counties in partnership with de Beaumont, supports county elected officials and public health leaders in building knowledge and shared understanding, strengthening collaboration, and developing actionable strategies to improve public health in their communities. Twelve county teams of two — one elected official and one local health department representative with decision-making authority — will participate in the program's second cohort. Apply by Monday, September 21.
► Moral Injury Focus Groups: As part of her DrPH dissertation research, Jaci McReynolds is exploring moral injury among public health workers in Missouri. Her goal is to identify individual and organizational strategies to help public health workers move beyond moral injury to rebuild trust and reclaim their lives. She will be hosting focus groups in mid-September to learn more about how public health workers in Missouri responded to moral injury over the past five years - the actions they took, the tools and resources they utilized, and what they wish they'd had access to. If you are willing to share about your experiences, please register by Monday, September 14. You must be currently employed by a local public health agency in Missouri to participate. You will receive a follow up email with the date and time for the Zoom focus group and ways to participate anonymously. Your input will help inform recommendations for strategies that could be adopted across Missouri to help thousands of public health workers. If you have questions, please email Jaci at jmcreynolds@unmc.edu or call 417-839-3579. This research study has been reviewed by the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA) (Study # 0561-26-EX), Jaci McReynolds, Principal Investigator.
DID YOU KNOW?
In 1777, during the Revolutionary War, George Washington required all the soldiers in the Continental Army to be vaccinated against smallpox. This significantly reduced the number of cases and is believed to have played a part in winning the war.
WEBINARS/TRAINING/CONFERENCES/EVENTS
► 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 16, 12:00 pm, Framing Strategies to Move Beyond Stigma, hosted by FrameWorks Institute. Stigma is the visible symptom of deeply-rooted cultural mindsets that shape how Americans think about health, deservingness, and justice. In this Framing Forum, we will explore what FrameWorks research tells us about stigma and the need to pay attention to foundational mindsets alongside efforts to decrease stigma. Register
► Sep 22, 9:00 - 10:30 am, Environmental Child Care Program annual invoice training, hosted by BEHRL. We will be discussing any changes to the invoicing process, going over important deadlines, and basics for completing invoice documents for the Environmental Child Care Program. This training is not mandatory but is highly encouraged. Alternate date is Sep 28. See the Hub Calendar for connection details.
► Sep 23, 9:00 am – 12:30 pm, Leading with Listening: Modernizing Public Health Communication in a New Information Age, hosted by WashU Bursky Public Health. Solving the problems people care about — rather than the ones experts think people ought to care about — could be the key to winning back the public trust lost in recent years. This free, in-person event (with Zoom option) explores how public health professionals can learn to listen better in a time of eroding trust, emerging technologies and increasing demands for community input on public health decision-making. Learn more and 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 28, 2:00 – 3:30 pm, Environmental Child Care Program annual invoice training, hosted by BEHRL. We will be discussing any changes to the invoicing process, going over important deadlines, and basics for completing invoice documents for the Environmental Child Care Program. This training is not mandatory but is highly encouraged. Alternate date is Sep 22. See the Hub Calendar for connection details.
► 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 6, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm, Advancing Advocacy: Fall 2026 Workshops for Missouri Nonprofits, hosted by Missouri Foundation for Health. Join Missouri Foundation for Health and Alliance for Justice for one of two free, in-person workshops focused on strengthening advocacy and developing partnerships. Enjoy informative training presentations, a conversational networking lunch, and a panel of inspiring Missouri leaders who are building collective power through policy advocacy, community engagement, and coalition building. Lunch will be provided. Register by September 25 for this event or see the Hub Calendar for a second offering on Oct 8 in Republic, Missouri.
► Oct 7, 12:00 – 1:00 pm, The Relationship Between Oral Health and Overall Health, hosted by DHSS’ Office of Minority Health and Health Equity. Learn about the importance of teeth and gums, ways to prevent oral diseases, and how oral health improves overall health. Register
► Oct 8, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm, Advancing Advocacy: Fall 2026 Workshops for Missouri Nonprofits, hosted by Missouri Foundation for Health. Join Missouri Foundation for Health and Alliance for Justice for one of two free, in-person workshops focused on strengthening advocacy and developing partnerships. Enjoy informative training presentations, a conversational networking lunch, and a panel of inspiring Missouri leaders who are building collective power through policy advocacy, community engagement, and coalition building. Lunch will be provided. Register by September 25 for this event at the Republic Branch Library, 921 N Lindsey Avenue, Republic, Missouri.
► 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 23, 9:30 am – 3:30 pm, Transforming Healthcare in Missouri, Part XI: Strengthening Public Health Infrastructure for Impact, co-hosted by the Center for Advancing Health Services, Policy and Economics Research as WashU and Missouri DHSS. Join this stakeholder discussion focused around the question: "How can Missouri’s public health infrastructure best be strengthened, given resource constraints, to deliver the most impact?" Together, we’ll explore the challenges facing Missouri’s public health infrastructure and crowdsource ideas for strengthening it for the future. The event will be held at Clark-Fox Forum, Hillman Hall, Wrighton Way & Forsyth Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63105. Register
► 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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