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View more news, opportunities and resources on the LPHA Info Hub.
HUB UPDATES
► Two new trainings have been added to the BEHRL page under the Lodging section
► The Boil Water Order training recording link has been added on the BEHRL page under the 2026 BEHRL Learning Series section
UPCOMING DUE DATES
► Oct 16: Summer Food Service Program and At-Risk Afterschool Program participation agreement DA-38 for reimbursement, End of Year Summary, inspection reports, and other applicable documentation is due to BEHS.SummerFood@health.mo.gov by COB
► Nov 12: Deadline to submit CHIP H.S.I. Net expenditure report for Quarter Ending 09-26 (July 1, 2026, to September 30, 2026)
DHSS UPDATES
► Measles
Three additional measles cases were added to the statewide count this week from Wright County. WCHD is announcing the cases publicly; however, information about public exposure possibilities is limited.
The DHSS measles webpage does have a listing of cases by county, but please keep in mind these are all reported cases year to date - not active cases.
The September 22, 2026 LPHA call includes a presentation on "Engaging Plain Communities Regarding Vaccinations," from Dr. Cory Anderson, Pennsylvania State University (at the 00:05:29 timestamp.)
Relevant communications and guidance resources are available for you from both CDC and DHSS in the Box drive.
For general measles questions, please refer to your regional epidemiologist. For media/communications questions, please contact Lisa Cox at lisa.cox@health.mo.gov.
► Point of Dispensing Training
SEMA offers Strategic National Stockpile: Point of Dispensing Training, Train-the-Trainer. This three-hour course is designed to train individuals that will be training others interested in volunteering for a Point of Dispensing (POD) during an activation of the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) for a pandemic, bioterrorist attack, natural disaster, or other large scale incidents. This course will cover what is the Strategic National Stockpile and what it does, legislation governing the operation of PODs, how to conduct a medical dispensing operation, and how to relay that information to other potential trainers. Completion of this course will give volunteers the knowledge and certification to teach others to dispense medication at a POD. Register
► Fall Regional LPHA Meetings
- October 20, Webster County: Marshfield City Annex Building, 915 S Marshall St., Marshfield, MO 65706
- October 21, Madison County: Madison County Health Department, 105 Armory St, Fredericktown, MO 63645
- November 4, Cole County: DHSS, 930 Wildwood, Maple/Birch Conference Room, Jefferson City, MO 65109
NEWS
► 10/14/2026: In Pennsylvania, doctors are surprised to see the measles virus attacking multiple organs, including the gut, liver, lungs and brain, even in children who were previously healthy. (link)
► 10/14/2026: People with social security benefits and SSI benefits will see higher checks in January, with a 3.6% cost of living increase that will mean about $75 more a month for most. (link)
► 10/14/2026: The Trump administration cuts health subsidies for 189,000 people on the Affordable Care Act exchanges it says were duplicate beneficiaries on Medicaid and Medicare or deceased. (link)
► 10/14/2026: Suspicious white powder sent to election offices in Ohio, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. (link)
► 10/14/2026: WHO's Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization says one dose of HPV vaccine is the most efficient immunization strategy for cervical cancer prevention. (link)
► 10/14/2026: The most recent YRBS report highlights binge eating among youth as a public health concern. (link)
► 10/13/2026: The University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute has received new multi-year funding to adapt County Health Rankings & Roadmaps to focus on adding data, evidence and field-building resources for Wisconsin and Minnesota. The funding will also sustain select CHR&R data and evidence resources after RWJF funding ends in December 2026. CCHR (link)
MISSOURI NEWS
► 10/14/2026: The Wright County Health Department shared on social media that it had confirmed three measles cases. KSMU (link)
► 10/14/2026: Missouri launches Show Me Your Age, a digital tool designed to help businesses and regulatory bodies enforce legal age limits for regulated products by simply scanning a driver’s license or entering a date of birth. KMZU (link)
► 10/14/2026: Students in the Southern Boone School District near Columbia will no longer receive free oral health screenings and fluoride varnish as provider Compass health shifts its focus to communities with greater dental health needs. Boone County Journal (link)
RURAL HEALTH TRANSFORMATION PROJECT
► 10/13/2026: DSS in partnership with the Children’s Trust Fund, awards $1.46 million through the RHTP to Kids Win Missouri to expand its Child Care Works program, which helps working families cover costs for high-quality childcare. (link)
► 10/13/2026: In a partnership between DHSS, DSS, and the University of Missouri Sinclair School of Nursing, Missouri launches a midwife training program to expand rural maternal care. (link)
RESOURCES
► Communications Toolkit: Missouri DSS released an H.R. 1 Communications Toolkit to help community organizations, providers, advocates, and other partners understand upcoming federal changes and share clear, consistent information with the people and communities they serve.
This toolkit provides approved, plain‑language communications and resources to help partners inform Missourians about changes related to H.R. 1, including the new Community Engagement Requirements for MO HealthNet’s Adult Expansion Group.
► Data Tools: NACCHO offers two tools to help LPHAs with data management to strengthen epidemiology efforts, program planning, evaluation, and other public health activities.
- Build Skills — A curated collection of training resources to develop survey and data skills.
- Explore Tools — A comparison of commonly used platforms that support data collection, analysis, visualization, reporting, and collaboration.
OPPORTUNITIES
► Survey: Enter to win a $50 e-gift card! Spend 10 minutes taking a survey about resources you may have used or would use to respond to moral injury. The survey closes Friday, October 16. It is anonymous, and when you’ve finished, you can go to a separate link to enter to win an e-gift card. Your responses will help identifying individual and organizational strategies to respond to moral injury among public health workers in Missouri. This research study is part of Jaci McReynolds’ dissertation project and has been reviewed by the University of Nebraska Medical Center Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA) (Study # 0561-26-EX). Please reach out to Jaci McReynolds, Principal Investigator at jmcreynolds@unmc.edu or 417-839-3579 with any questions. Take the survey
► Environmental Grant Funding Opportunity: NACCHO announces two Environmental Public Health funding opportunities with support from CDC, to help local jurisdictions strengthen preparedness and adaptation capacity for extreme weather and other environmental health events.
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Prepare for Environmental Health Events Through Cross-Sector Collaboration with Emergency Management and Response Organizations: NACCHO will issue three awards of $20,000 each to LPHAs to identify, initiate, or strengthen partnerships with emergency preparedness organizations. Learn more and apply by October 26. Questions about this request for applications can be directed to PHLaw@naccho.org.
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Support Local Community Health Adaptation Initiatives Against Extreme Weather Events: NACCHO will award up to three local organizations up to $24,000 each to support practical community adaptation projects related to extreme weather and health, including outreach, staff training, adaptation planning, and other local strategies; small and rural health departments will receive preference. Learn more and apply by November 16. NACCHO and CDC will also host an optional informational webinar on October 20 from 2:00–2:30 PM ET for interested applicants. Questions about this request for applications can be directed to AAlsadi@naccho.org.
► RISE Communities Grant Funding Opportunity: NACCHO, in partnership with CDC, has announced the Resilient, Innovative, Safe, and Empowered Communities (RISE) funding opportunity to support youth and community violence prevention efforts. RISE will provide funding to selected sites to strengthen collaborative work across organizations and sectors, with a focus on local prevention efforts rather than the internal operations or development of a single organization. Eligible applicants include community-based organizations, local health departments, local government agencies, and other entities working collaboratively on youth and community violence prevention at the local level. Learn more and apply by November 16. Questions may be directed to the Injury and Violence Prevention Team at ivp@naccho.org with the subject line RISE RFP Question.
DID YOU KNOW?
Mosquitoes kill more people than any other creature by spreading diseases like malaria, dengue, West Nile, yellow fever, Zika, chikungunya, and lymphatic filariasis.
Source: David J. Spenser CDC Museum, https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/fc930abc18f648089c815e4d0210d356
WEBINARS/TRAINING/CONFERENCES/EVENTS
► Oct 20, 9:00 am – 12:30 pm, Primary Care & Public Health: Transforming Health Through Partnership, hosted by WashU. As the nation confronts rising rates of chronic disease, persistent health inequities, workforce crises, and growing pressure on front-line providers, we face the urgent need to strengthen primary care-public health partnership to improve health for individuals and communities alike. Join this half-day convening exploring how to revitalize the primary care and public health partnerships and innovation on the topics of health care delivery, workforce strengthening, and health policy and community engagement. Attend on campus at WashU in St. Louis or virtually via Zoom. Register
► Oct 20, 2:30 – 4:00 pm, Southeast Missouri Regional Convening, hosted by the Missouri Health Access Coordination Initiative. Join the regional conversation about what is happening, what partners are doing, and where gaps remain. Register
► Oct 21, 10:00 am, MHA 2026 Population Health Assessment Survey Report overview, hosted by MHA. Includes input from 120 Missouri hospitals. The report looks at value-based care readiness, community engagement, workforce challenges and efforts to address health disparities. The report will be released after the call. Register
► Oct 21, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm, Safe Cribs Office Hours. See the Hub Calendar for details.
► Oct 21, 12:00 – 1:30 pm, The Future of Public Health: Maternal Health and Innovative Technologies, hosted by Boston University School of Public Health. Researchers from Boston University and beyond will share about current technological innovations being used in maternal health and reflect on emerging technologies that may have the potential to improve maternal health outcomes in the years and decades to come. Register
► 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, 4:00 pm, Why Should I Trust You? (live podcast taping), hosted by WashU. The conversation will surface some of the most contested decisions of the last pandemic as we confront how to balance safety with liberty in the next one. Register to attend in person or via Zoom
► 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, 1:00 pm, Closing the Loop on the Full Public Health Improvement Cycle, hosted by NACCHO. how local health departments can connect Community Health Assessments, Community Health Improvement Plans, and performance management and quality improvement (PM/QI) in one streamlined process. Representatives from Madison-Dane County, Wisconsin, and Cook County, Illinois, will share practical lessons, and business partner Metopio will preview its new PM/QI module. Register
► Oct 28, 1:00- 2:15 pm, Conversations That Move Work Forward: Influence Through Conflict, hosted by ASTHO. Effective public health leaders know that one conversation can transform challenges into opportunities. Learn how to use the “Third Space” to navigate conflict, manage priorities, and build alignment. Through realistic scenarios and practical frameworks, strengthen your ability to move critical work forward with confidence. Registration closes Oct. 26. Log in to ASTHO to register
► 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
► Oct 29, 12:00 – 3:00 pm, Missouri Statewide Convening, hosted by the Missouri Health Access Coordination Initiative. Join the statewide conversation about what is happening around access to healthcare in Missouri, what partners are doing, and where gaps remain. Event to be held at Stoney Creek Inn Conference Center, 2601 S Providence Road, Columbia. Register
► Nov 5, 12:00 – 1:00 pm, Servant Research in Action: A CBPR Approach to Drowning Prevention in Rural Missouri. Hosted by the Missouri Rural Health Association. Learn how servant research principles shaped collaboration with community members on drowning prevention and water safety strategies, how local voices guided the research process, and how data can be transformed into practical tools for rural health and safety initiatives. Presented by Dr. Molly Lancaster Rodriguez, Public Health Faculty, Missouri State University. Register
► Nov 6, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm, Partnering for Access to Care and Training (PACT) Clinical Showcase Luncheon (for oral health) in St. Louis, hosted by Delta Dental of Missouri. Join us for the inaugural PACT Clinical Showcase luncheon, bringing together dental students, faculty, oral health leaders, and community partners to explore how strategic investments in dental school clinics are expanding access to care and strengthening Missouri’s oral health workforce. Hear directly from students at University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City University, A.T. Still University, and Saint Louis University as they present compelling patient cases, treatment outcomes, and lessons learned through Delta Dental’s PACT Program. Enjoy a complimentary lunch and network with peers. A block of rooms is available for discounted overnight stays at the Holiday Inn St Louis SW - Route 66. Call 314-821-6600 and reference "Delta Dental" or group code DDL. Register for the luncheon event by October 30.
► Nov 12, 9:00 am – 12:30 pm, The Human Rights Lens: How Science and Law Can Improve Population Health (online or in person at WashU in St. Louis), hosted by WashU. A human rights framework offers public health more than a set of ideals. It provides tools for understanding who is most vulnerable to poor health and why; examining the laws, policies, institutions, and power structures that shape health; defining the obligations of governments and other actors; and creating mechanisms for accountability when those obligations are not met. Learn how rights-based approaches can inform public health research, policy, and practice - from protecting health during conflict and displacement to advancing accountability and supporting the long-term well-being of communities affected by injustice. Register
► Nov 18, 1:00-2:00 pm, "Small but Essential: Understanding Rural Public Health Department Challenges and Strengths" will present key findings on the rural local public health workforce, drawing from PH WINS data. Hear from local leaders in rural public health and panelists to understand the people behind the numbers and learn ways to strengthen the workforce. Register
► Nov 19 – 20, Missouri Connected Care and Ethics Summit, hosted by MU and the Missouri Telehealth Network. Attend the hybrid conference in Columbia or join virtually to explore the rapidly evolving role of telehealth and digital health in healthcare delivery. Register
► Dec 2, 3:00 – 4:00 pm, CHIP HSI Collaborative, hosted by DHSS’ Center for Local Public Health Services. See the Hub Calendar for connection information.
► Dec 7 – 9, Governmental Public Health Summit, hosted by the Missouri Public Health Institute. Public health professionals and partners from across Missouri are invited to the 2026 Governmental Public Health Summit (GPHS) at the Lodge of the Four Seasons in Lake Ozark. This year’s theme, People-Powered Public Health, celebrates the people and partnerships that strengthen public health across our state. Attendees will have opportunities to learn from colleagues and experts, explore practical strategies, build new connections, and join conversations about the issues shaping public health in Missouri. Registration includes keynote and breakout sessions, networking opportunities, meals, a welcome reception, and the LPHA Celebration Dinner. Learn more, view the agenda, and register at the MOPHI website.
► 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
► Dec 10, 12:00 pm, Show Me Tobacco-Free Webinar Series (3-sessions), hosted by the Missouri Tobacco Prevention Workgroup and Tobacco-Free Missouri. 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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