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The LPHA Hub is not searchable on the web and is only intended for use by staff of DHSS and local public health agencies. However, anyone with a direct link is able to gain access. We encourage you to avoid sharing LPHA Hub links with anyone outside of DHSS or LPHAs. If information is needed for external users, please download and send the file, or copy/paste and provide separately. Thank you.

Emergency Response Center (ERC):  800-392-0272

Health Alerts, Advisories, and Updates, DHSS  

DHSS Updates​

► Director's Advisory Committee (DAC)  NEW!

The newly revived DAC provides LPHAs a formal advisory body to directly integrate LPHA perspectives into state-level strategic planning and decision-making processes. Nine peer-selected LPHA representatives will co-create actionable policy recommendations, mobilize joint state-local workgroups to tackle systemic infrastructure challenges, and collaborate to improve service delivery statewide. See the 10/22/2025 Bulletin for details.

► Incentive Funding and Shared Resources  NEW!

  • The proposal requirement outline for the shared resource competitive awards of $0 – 75,000 for new service and resource sharing proposals will be released and discussed on the LPHA Tuesday Call on November 3rd. Proposals will be due back to DHSS by November 24.

  • LPHAs who choose to participate in the resource sharing mapping project will receive $12,500. This will involve sharing with the contractor existing resource sharing projects in place and partnerships in place. If LPHAs choose not to participate, their $12,500 compensation will be put into a pot and all leftover dollars will be shared back out with all who did participate.

  • Distribution of the incentive funding base of $15,000 for each LPHA is currently in process. Invoices for this funding have been distributed for signature.  If you have not yet signed your invoice and returned it to CLPHS, please do so as soon as possible.  If you have signed and returned your invoice, your payment should arrive in mid-November. 

► Guidance on Transitioning LPHA Email from DHSS  NEW!

DHSS has issued a guidance document with details to help LPHAs navigate the transition. An MOU is still in development, but will be shared soon.

► Cannabis  NEW!

Missouri publishes the Missouri Cannabis Market Study: Phase 1 Report, with a phase two study on economic impact expected to be published in late 2026. (press release) 

► Onsite Wastewater  NEW!

DHSS has posted draft onsite wastewater construction permit application rules for public comment. These draft rules were developed in response to changes in state law that became effective on August 28, 2026. The draft materials will remain available for review through November 2, 2026.

The Department is considering filing both emergency and proposed rules. The emergency rule, if filed, could take effect quickly but would only remain in place for six months. The proposed rule, while following a longer promulgation timeline, would become more permanent once finalized.

► Fall Regional LPHA Meetings

  • November 4, Cole County: DHSS, 930 Wildwood, Maple/Birch Conference Room, Jefferson City, MO 6510

Presentations will be posted on the CLPHS page after all meetings have concluded.​

Upcoming ​​​​​Due Dates

► Nov 12: Deadline to submit CHIP H.S.I. Net expenditure report for Quarter Ending 09-26 (July 1, 2026, to September 30, 2026)

Calendar
Hot Topics

► Alpha-Gal Syndrome, DHSS
► Chemical Water Testing (revised test request forms):  

► Communicable Disease Data Dashboard, DHSS

► Cooling Centers Map, DHSS

► Hep C Testing:  Free Hepatitis C testing through the State Public Health Lab (10/20/2025 letter) (instructions)  
► Kratom, DHSS  

► Mental Wellbeing in the Workplace: Brown University offers Missouri LPHAs free online Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction courses. To enroll, email mindfulness@brown.edu with the subject line Mindful-Missouri to apply the LPHA  discount. View the class schedule

► Missouri Environmental Health Specialist Survey

Public Health and HIPAA (informational brochure)  
► Radon text kits available free to the public and videos on how to use the test kit (also in Spanish). (link)  

​​

Cancer 

► Addressing Cancer Concerns (video)

► Cancer, Chemicals, and the Environment (video)

​

Cannabis

► Cannabis Regulation (main webpage), DHSS

► General FAQ

► Adult Use FAQ

► Complaint Forms

​

Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention 

► Missouri Lead Risk Assessment Tool

► 2025 High Risk Lead Map

► Lead Poisoning Prevention landing page

​​

Emergency Planning  NEW!

Resources from the Fall 2026 Planner’s Summit:

  • An Overview of ASPR: Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, Patrick Lindner, Regional Emergency Coordinator, ASPR Region 7 (ppt)

  • OEC Updates and Org Chart, Ebola Process, Medical Incident Coordination Team, Cybersecurity, World Cup Lessons Learned, Accessibility During an Emergency, and SEMA Recovery Division (ppts combined into a single document)

  • MO DHSS empower Fact Sheet (pdf)

 

Naloxone

► Standing Order (updated 6/3/2026)  

► Naloxone Pick Up Locations in Missouri

 

Rabies

Health Advisory due to an increasing number of reported human rabies exposures and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) administration errors. 9/10/2026

​

Sexual Violence
► Sexual Violence Services, DHSS

► Sexual Assault Response: SAFEvT, Sexual Assault Forensic Exams via Telehealth Network (sites map)
► Sexual Violence Statewide Resource Map  

 

Tobacco
► Smoke-free Housing:  Missouri Smoke-free Housing Directory  

► Missouri Tobacco Free Workplace Toolkit, from DHSS

 

Vaccinations / Immunizations
► School Vaccination Requirements and Resources, DHSS

► Missouri School Immunizations Dashboard, DHSS

► Vaccine Guidance from DHSS and the State Board of Nursing regarding the updated vaccination schedule
► COVID-19 vaccine available for VFC providers to order via ShowMeVax  
► Docket® vaccination portal (smartphone app and web platform)
► Shared Clinical Decision-Making Guidance 
► ShowMeVax, Missouri Immunization Registry 
► CDC Revised Immunization Recommendations 

► 2026 Childhood Immunization Schedule, American Academy of Pediatrics

​

Wastewater
► Wastewater Surveillance: Program Update

► Wastewater: Find a Professional Tool  

► SB 914 was signed into law and updates state sewage regulations as of Aug 28, 2026. Changes include:

  • Elimination of percolation tests from the rules, replacing them with soil morphology evaluations.

  • Removal of the $90 permit fee cap, enabling the DHSS to set more current, cost-based permit fees.

​​

Quick Links

​​​​​​National News

► 10/21/2026: A new study finds that changes to federal hepatitis B vaccination recommendations could lead to more childhood infections and leave up to 1.8 million young adults vulnerable to the virus. (link)

► 10/21/2026: Kids are more likely to get fully vaccinated against HPV when doctors offer them the vaccine at ages 9 – 10 vs at ages 9 – 11, according to a new study. (link)

► 10/21/2026: The Pennsylvania Department of Health issues a health alert warning doctors about congenital measles, as dozens of pregnant women have contracted measles and now risk passing the virus to their baby in utero. (link)

► 10/20/2026: CDC adds a third U.S. measles death to its national tracker as total cases for 2026 surpass 4,400. (link)

► 10/20/2026: Shared clinical decision making for vaccines adds confusion for parents. (link)

► 10/20/2026: Nearly half of US parents believe children are healthier when vaccines are spaced out and not given in one doctor’s visit, even as confidence in several well-established childhood vaccines remains high. (link)

​​​​​​Missouri in the News

► 10/20/2026: The University of Missouri School of Medicine’s Center for Child Well-Being received a $6.4 million grant from the Rural Health Transformation Program to expand the Missouri Child Psychiatry Access Project (MO-CPAP) and the Maternal Health Access Project (MHAP). University of Missouri  (link)

► 10/20/2026: Missouri voters will again have the opportunity this fall to voice their opinion on access to abortion gender-affirming care for minors by voting on Amendment 3. KMBC  (link)

News
Training

Learning Management System, Missouri Rural Health Association  

​Ongoing or Archived Training

► Animal Bite & Rabies Investigations: Training video from DHSS 

► CIFOR (foodborne disease investigation and control), APHL

  *Note: Requires an APHL account.

► Community Water Fluoridation video training series 

► FDA Training and Continuing Education

► Grants Management and Compliance Training (eligible for incentive funds)

► Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act (HIPAA), DHSS

► Human Trafficking: The Missouri Attorney General’s Office offers free training. ​Training video for non-forensic medical staff and LPHAs

► Introduction to MO Health Alert Network System (HNS), DHSS

► Learning Connection, CDC

► Mathematical Modelling, by John Fieno  

► MO FPHS Model: Mastering Missouri's Foundational Public Health Services Model (asynchronous online training module; 30 minutes)

► MDROs and Infection Prevention

► Public Health Communications Collaborative Academy

► Roots of Health Inequity, NACCHO  

► SEMA Training Opportunities

► Sexual Assault Forensic Exams, training courses  

► Sexual Harassment Annual Training, DHSS  

► Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) Point of Dispensing Train the Trainer, SEMA 

► Subrecipient Training (slide deck), M Mahaney, DHSS OA, 5/14/2023

► TRAIN, CDC

► VFC 411 training sessions in 2026 (downloaded document) 

► Vital Records Training Guide, DHSS

Feedback

This program aims to strengthen the public health workforce by creating a pipeline program that supports students’ interest in public health and provides a pathway to permanent positions. DHSS has partnered with Missouri State University's MPH program to match interested students from across Missouri with DHSS and LPHA internships.

 

Students receive a stipend of $20 per hour up to $6,400 for completing an internship of up to 320 hours depending on academic program requirements and agency projects. Students and recent graduates in nursing, environmental health, undergraduate or graduate public health programs, and other disciplines interested in pursuing a public health career are encouraged to apply by the following deadlines:

  • Spring 2027 Semester: October 17, 2026

  • Summer 2027 Semester: March 14, 2027

 

Agencies interested in hosting a student should also apply.

 

Interns are randomly selected and matched to DHSS or LPHA hosts. Hybrid models are acceptable, but fully remote internships are not supported. Selection announcements will be made on the following schedule:

  • Spring 2027 Semester: October 20, 2026

  • Summer 2027 Semester: March 17, 2027

​

Direct questions to Rebecca Damron at MSU.

Pathways Internships
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This work is supported by funds made available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), National Center for STLT Public Health Infrastructure and Workforce, through OE22-2203: Strengthening U.S. Public Health Infrastructure, Workforce, and Data Systems grant. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

© 2024 by Ozarks Public Health Institute in partnership with Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

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