Help from Division of Human Services and Social Services Boone County.
Very low income families in Boone County can call upon the Division of Human Services Social Service for advice and public assistance. They administer many of the state and federal government benefits for the region, and more details on the various grants and income based programs are below.
The main services, as expanded on below, are Dental Care, Information and Referral, Prescription Medication Assistance, Eyeglasses, and information on Health Insurance. This is often combined with referrals to private resources, such as Heat Energy and Light Program.
All funds are limited and restrictions are in place. Proof of hardship and more is needed. For example, when residents contact the Boone County DHSSS office, people need a photo ID, including driver’s license, Department of Corrections ID, proof of income and so on. For more details, call 573.874.7356.
Locate help and cash aid for paying bills
Financial assistance, including grants, for the payment of utility or heating bills is available to Boone County residents through two DHSSS programs. They include HELP, or the Heat Energy and Light Program and Citizens Assisting Seniors and Handicapped (CASH).
HELP provides one-time emergency assistance to working poor families who have young children living in the home. CASH is a similar emergency assistance program targeting low-income people with disabilities as well as senior citizens. There are also other additional resources for the disabled, and read more on Missouri disability financial aid programs.
No matter which option is selected, all applicants are thoroughly screened by Boone County Social Services specialists, and are required to participate in short as well as long term counseling. If someone is not qualified, then the government will furnish referrals to appropriate services to avoid future difficulties with their utility bill payment.
Division of Human Services Social Services uses donations to pay for those. Therefore, people wishing to contribute to the CASH or HELP program are encouraged to contact the City of Columbia Utility Customer Services or Boone Electric at 573-449-4181. No administrative costs are deducted from gifts, so all money goes to keep the heat and power on.
Division of Human Services Social Service programs for medical care
Help in completing health insurance applications and answers to questions or concerns and issues is available at DHSSS. Specialists from the county are trained to furnish information and assistance with applying for public health insurance programs. Examples include, but are not limited to, Medicaid, MC+, and the newly expanded Uninsured Women's Health Services. There are many other resources for the uninsured. They are all different, and as one example, MC+ for Kids enables qualified working parents to obtain either free or low-cost health insurance for their under insured children.
The purpose of the Medication Assistance Program is to help low-income Boone County residents with obtaining low cost prescription drugs. This assistance is for those who have been unable to access other types of prescription assistance on their own, but are still unable to afford what they need. Available coverage from the service is limited to those currently covered by the Division of Human Services. Eligibility is determined by Social Services specialists, who review the applicant’s income, resources, savings and needs, as well as dollar amounts and availability.
The Social Services Maternal/Child Health and Well-Being Services Program offers a variety of programs and resources to help women through pregnancy and the first few years of their children's lives. The county Division of Human Services Social Services will offer the following services, such as counseling, check ups, prenatal care, and other aid.
Temporary Medicaid and Medicaid for Pregnant Women provides coverage until a woman is approved for long term MPW. This is a free, state-funded insurance program that covers prenatal and delivery services.
The Boone County Eyeglasses Assistance resource is for the low income or uninsured. The department of social services provides one-time-only public assistance with obtaining prescription eyeglasses for permanent Boone County residents who meet financial eligibility requirements, as determined through a screening process done by a Social Services specialist. If the applicant qualifies, and pays a small co-payment towards their total bill, an appointment will be scheduled with a participating optician.
Dental care from the Division of Human Services provides services for permanent Boone County residents. This is for low to moderate income residents who meet financial eligibility criteria, such as on income and savings.
Once a client is found to be eligible for Dental Pain Relief Program, an appointment is scheduled with a DHSSS clinician, with the cost of the care or medications given to them determined on a sliding scale. The assistance can include X rays, non-surgical extractions, and simple restorations, pain relief, and referrals to specialists or free Missouri dental care clinics if needed.
Infant and baby resources
One other key public benefit that is part of Well-Being is the Healthy Babies Home Visiting Program. All medical care, with a focus on pregnancy support, is based on a curriculum called Partners for a Healthy Baby. The program is free, voluntary, and offers home visits from one of the county specialists.
Some of the services and items DHSSS can help with include cribs, clothing, car seats, free diapers, the Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC), applications for Missouri Food Stamps, Medicaid, and breastfeeding. A portion of the funding for Healthy Babies is furnished by Missouri's Children's Trust Fund.
Applications for help and contact information
For more information on these public benefits, call social services at (573) 874-7355 or 573.874.7356.
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