LPHA INFO HUB
DHSS Updates
► Missouri Smoke-free Housing Directory NEW!
► New training on how to use Missouri's Foundational Public Health Services model is being developed by DHSS and Ozarks Public Health Institute. Input from LPHAs is invited. Join one of three Office Hours sessions to share your suggestions. See the Hub calendar for Zoom connection information. NEW!
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Wed, Jan 7, 1:00 – 2:00 pm
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Tues, Jan 13, 3:00 – 4:00 pm
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Thurs, Jan 22, 9:00 – 10:00 am
► Communication Lunch and Learn: Next session is January 14, 2026 at 12:00 pm. Sami Jo Freeman and Spenser Bartholomew from the DHSS' Office of Public Information will share information on how to use social media as a key communication tool. Register
► VFC 411 training sessions in 2026 - Save the Date, registration details to be provided soon. (link)
► FPHS Costing Gap Analysis opens for FY25 in January. Training available 1:00 - 2:00 pm on Jan 12 - 15, Jan 26 - 29, Feb 9 - 11, Mar 16 - 18. See calendar for details.
► Radon text kits available free to the public and videos on how to use the test kit (also in Spanish). (link)
► Show Me World Care migration of all records, case notes, attachments, etc. is complete and all conditions included in the last phase of migration are now fully released to all user groups as appropriate. Contact information has been added to the DHSS Contacts page.
► Spring LPHA Regional Meetings, 2026
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April 22nd – Northeast Region
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April 23rd – Northwest
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April 28th – Central
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April 29th – Southeast
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April 30th – Southwest
► Mental Health First Aid training, qualifies for the incentive for LPHA Administrators. Register
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Jan 22, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm, Madison County Health Department, Fredericktown
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Jan 28, 8:30 am – 3:30 pm, virtual
► Register for Grants Management and Compliance Training (eligible for incentive funds)
Upcoming Due Dates:
► Dec 12: Applications due for grant funding from the Office of Oral Health for community water systems that have a local water fluoridation program. Apply
► Dec 15: DHSS' LPHA Satisfaction Survey due
► Jan 15, 2026: PHIG Monitoring Assessment for RP6 due
► Jan 15: PHEP semi-annual report due to DHSS
► Feb 27: MCH mid-year progress report due to District Nurse Consultant (DNC)
► Mar 31: MCH FFY2026 contract work plan amendments due to DNC
Mandated Reporting of Abuse or Neglect
Weekly Communication Bulletins
2025 Fall LPHA Regional Meeting materials
2025 Fall New Administrator (NAO/SAO) training materials
► DH-38 and DA-38 invoicing tools NEW!
► Shared Clinical Decision-Making Guidance
► Health in Rural Missouri, Biennial Report (2024-2025)
► Community Water Fluoridation video training series NEW!
► Vital Records: Local Public Health Agency Training Guide NEW!
► Vital Records: MOU template (due Aug 31 annually) NEW!
► Free Hepatitis C testing through the State Public Health Lab (10/20/2025 letter) (instructions)
► COVID-19 vaccine available for VFC providers to order via ShowMeVax. (details)
► Docket® vaccination portal (smartphone app and web platform)
► Show Me Vax, Missouri Immunization Registry
► SAFEvT: Sexual Assault Forensic Exams via Telehealth Network
► Cannabis: Unregulated psychoactive cannabis product enforcement
National News
► 12/11/2025: New analysis from WHO’s Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety suggests that, based on the available evidence, there is no causal association between vaccines and autism spectrum disorders (ASD), reaffirming decades of evidence supporting the safety of childhood immunizations. (link)
► 12/11/2025: The CDC hosts its first COCA call of the year and encouraged flu vaccination for all persons over 6 months old. (link)
► 12/11/2025: US Dept of Education awards more than $208 million in grants to states and schools for mental health programs in schools. (link)
► 12/11/2025: The Senate rejects legislation to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits for millions of Americans. (link)
► 12/11/2025: Several states issue recommendations, guidelines, standing orders, executive directives, and health alerts for providers to provide clarity and promote public confidence in the vaccine, after the ACIP recent decision to no longer recommend Hep B vaccination at birth. (link)
► 12/10/2025: Scientists report they have identified a pair of immune signals they believe drive myocarditis cases after COVID vaccination, and they offer early evidence that these signals can be blocked. (link)
► 12/8/2025: Common Health Coalition explains the ACIP's change in Hep B recommendation and outlines the implications, even while insurers and federal officials say coverage will remain unchanged through 2026. (link)
► 12/8/2025: ASTHO announces top five public health legislative priorities for 2026 (link) and what's driving legislation (link).
► 12/8/2025: The U.S. gets an overall grade of D+ in the 2025 March of Dimes Report Card on maternal and infant health, and Missouri scores a D. (link) (Missouri report)
► 12/5/2025: President Trump directs federal health officials to review the childhood immunization schedule and consider recommending fewer shots to align with other developed countries. (link)
Missouri in the News
► 12/9/2025: A new flu variant is emerging, but a representative at DHSS says the current vaccine should offer protection. KBIA (link)
► 12/9/2025: DHSS urges pet owners to make sure their pets are vaccinated against rabies. (link)
► 12/9/2025: St Louis earns a gold medal in City Health’s 2025 Annual Policy Assessment. See how other large cities in the nation scored. (link)
► 12/7/2025: Feature article on Tiffany Bayer of DHSS, Jefferson City News Tribune. (link)
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:
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Summer 2026 Semester: March 14, 2026
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Fall 2026 Semester: May 16, 2026
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Spring 2027 Semester: October 17, 2026
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:
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Summer 2026 Semester: March 17, 2026
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Fall 2026 Semester: May 19, 2026
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Spring 2027 Semester: October 20, 2026
Direct questions to Rebecca Damron at MSU.
► Subrecipient Training (slide deck), M Mahaney, DHSS OA, 5/14/2023
► Environmental Health Training, DHSS' BEHS
► FDA Training and Continuing Education
► CIFOR (foodborne disease investigation and control), APHL
*Note: Requires an APHL account.
► Intro to MO HNS, DHSS NEW!
► Learning Connection, CDC
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.