Missouri’s Public Health Response to COVID-19: Key Findings and Recommendations for State Action and Investment

COVID report cover graphic

This report from the study, Strengthening Missouri’s Capacity to Respond to Public Health Crises, summarizes key findings that are relevant to strengthening the state’s and local public health agencies’ (LPHAs) capacity to respond to future public health crises. With funding from Missouri Foundation for Health, a George Washington University study team conducted 138 stakeholder interviews within public health and other sectors involved in the COVID-19 response, revealing several key opportunities for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS). Missouri, like many other states, faced great challenges in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Missouri now has a singular opportunity to build stronger public health agencies at state and local levels with unprecedented amounts of funding from the federal government.