LPHA INFO HUB
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
DHSS Updates
► Measles
DHSS is issuing a health alert to bring broader public awareness and provider education as the number of measles cases continue to surge nationally, with case counts already surpassing 2025 totals. We have one Missouri resident who has been diagnosed out of state, and at last report was still physically out of state. There is an outbreak in Southern Iowa near the Missouri border and documented exposures have occurred both within Missouri and with Missouri residents. DHSS is actively pursuing interventions and communicating with health partners to coordinate efforts to limit the spread of measles within Missouri.
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Resources for LPHAs to use
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Social media content: see the Hub Resource Library.
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Updated county-level measles fact sheets with current data
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For general measles questions, please refer to your regional epidemiologist
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For media/communications questions, please email Lisa Cox
► BEHRL Management Update
Join the BEHRL (previously BEHS) team Sep 10 at 9:30 am for this session in their monthly webinar learning series. See the Calendar for connection information.
► 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.
► Environmental Child Care Program Annual Fall Training
This training will be held on Microsoft Teams and is mandatory for LPHA staff who conduct child care sanitation inspections. There will be three opportunities to attend this virtual training, so please keep an eye for additional dates to attend virtually. See the Hub Calendar for connection information.
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Sep 21, 1:00 - 2:30 pm
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Sep 24, 2:00 - 3:30 pm
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Sep 29, 9:00 - 10:30 am
► Water Fluoridation Training
DHSS' Office of Dental Health offers in person training sessions across Missouri in August and September (see training section below). Register
Upcoming Due Dates
► Aug 28: Deadline to register for the Fall Preparedness Summit (Sep 1 - 2); see the Hub Calendar for details.
► Sep 10: Financial Policies and Procedures questionnaire due to DHSS Office of Compliance Services
► Oct 1: Deadline to complete PHAB Readiness Assessment (at no cost)
LPHA Directory (scroll down to Find Your Local Public Health Agency)
Mandated Reporting of Abuse or Neglect
Weekly Communication Bulletins
ASAP Log-In Portal (add users or change access for users)
Data Requests, from DHSS Health Informatics NEW!
► 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
Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention
► Missouri Lead Risk Assessment Tool
► Lead Poisoning Prevention landing page
Naloxone
► Standing Order (updated 6/3/2026)
► Naloxone Pick Up Locations in Missouri
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:
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Elimination of percolation tests from the rules, replacing them with soil morphology evaluations.
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Removal of the $90 permit fee cap, enabling the DHSS to set more current, cost-based permit fees.
National News
► 9/1/2026: The House passes the Senate-amended Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2027 (HR 6500) funding the federal government through 12/11/2026 at mostly current levels. (link)
► 9/1/2026: USDA Rural Development rescinds outdated construction regulation governing certain planning, construction, and development requirements for USDA-financed single-family and multifamily housing in an effort to reduce red tape and support rural housing. (link)
► 8/31/2026: A new study published in the journal npj Mental Health Research finds that adults who spend 2.5 or more hours scrolling social media every day are more likely to develop depression. (link)
► 8/31/2026: Physicians say social media is the biggest contributor to the rise in medical misinformation, not patient use of AI chatbots. (link)
► 8/28/2026: Vaping company Juul Labs receives federal permission to sell an updated version of its e-cigarette, which includes an optional age-verification system designed to prevent underage use. (link)
► 8/25/2026: A new Pew Research Center survey finds more than one in three (34%) U.S. adults now use AI for health reasons, with the primary reasons being speed (28%), self-diagnosis (25%), and low-cost access to information (22%). Usage was highest among Asian Americans (56%) and adults under 30 years old (44%). (link)
Missouri in the News
► 9/2/2026: WashU releases an article that describes what WIC families face on a day-to-day basis, including obstacles to accessing healthy foods and navigating WIC benefits. WashU (link)
► 9/2/2026: Some of the biggest names in healthcare, education and government gathered in Lawrence, Kansas, this week to find new ways to keep rural hospitals open, efficient and equipped to serve the Kansas and Missouri rural communities that depend on them. Fox (link)
► 9/2/2026: Kindergarten vaccination rates continue to erode in Missouri, with only 89.5% of students having received two doses of MMR vaccine. Sullivan Independent News (link)
► 9/1/2026: Missouri DSS announces that starting October 1, 2026, SNAP applicants will be required to provide documented proof for certain expenses and resources rather than relying solely on self-reported statements. The Courier Post (link)
► 9/1/2026: Home State Health and Centene Foundation award $750,000 to nearly two dozen organizations working to address drivers of health to improve health outcomes for individuals and families across Missouri. Morningstar (link)
Learning Management System, Missouri Rural Health Association
► MO FPHS Model Training NEW!
Mastering Missouri's Foundational Public Health Services Model (asynchronous online training module; 30 minutes)
► Mathematical Modelling, by John Fieno NEW!
► Animal Bite & Rabies Investigations
► Human Trafficking Training
The Missouri Attorney General’s Office offers free training.
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Training video for non-forensic medical staff and LPHAs
► Water Fluoridation Training
DHSS’ Office of Dental Health (ODH) offers free, in‑person Introduction to Water Fluoridation Trainings. Each session includes a water plant tour following the training. Water and wastewater operators, LPHA staff, and dental professionals are encouraged to participate. DNR will provide 4 hours of continuing education credits for Drinking Water Treatment and Distribution certifications. ODH will provide 4 hours of continuing education for dental professionals. Classes will be held from 7:30 am to 12:00 pm.
Register for upcoming training:
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August 31, 2026 (Monday) – Chesterfield
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September 11, 2026 (Friday) – Rolla
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September 17, 2026 (Thursday) – Joplin
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September 18, 2026 (Friday) – Kansas City
Ongoing or Archived Training
► Subrecipient Training (slide deck), M Mahaney, DHSS OA, 5/14/2023
► FDA Training and Continuing Education
► CIFOR (foodborne disease investigation and control), APHL
*Note: Requires an APHL account.
► (HIPAA) Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act, DHSS (link)
► Introduction to MO Health Alert Network System (HNS), DHSS
► Learning Connection, CDC
► Roots of Health Inequity, NACCHO
► Public Health Communications Collaborative Academy
► Community Water Fluoridation video training series
► Grants Management and Compliance Training (eligible for incentive funds)
► Sexual Assault Forensic Exams, training courses
► Sexual Harassment Annual Training, DHSS (link)
► VFC 411 training sessions in 2026 (downloaded document)
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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Fall 2026 Semester: May 16, 2026
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Spring 2027 Semester: October 17, 2026
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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:
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Fall 2026 Semester: May 19, 2026
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Spring 2027 Semester: October 20, 2026
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Summer 2027 Semester: March 17, 2027
Direct questions to Rebecca Damron at MSU.
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.