Organ and Tissue Donor Program
Vision: Optimal health and safety for all Missourians, in all communities, for life.
Mission: To promote health and safety through prevention, collaboration, education, innovation and response.
The Organ and Tissue Donor Program educates the public about the importance of giving life and healing through organ, eye and tissue donation. We are committed to promoting and maintaining a statewide registry, saving and healing lives by providing individuals with a means to record their donor designations and providing authorized users with registry access.
Program activities include:
- administering, maintaining, and providing technical support for the Donate Life Missouri registry,
- programmatic planning,
- community and organizational education and awareness activities,
- developing and monitoring contracts to help reach program goals,
- supporting the Organ Donation Advisory Committee,
- developing and maintaining partnerships,
- seeking and sharing funding opportunities to support program efforts and maintenance of the Donate Life Missouri registry,
- monitoring the Organ Donor Program Fund expenditures to ensure they are within spending limits, and
- recognition programs.
Program Focus
- Maintain a statewide, confidential registry of potential donors.
- Develop and implement statewide donation awareness programs for the education of the general public.
- Implement donation awareness programs within secondary schools.
- https://health.mo.gov/living/organdonor/statutesandbills.php
Funding
The Organ Donor Program is supported by voluntary contributions at the driver’s license offices in the state and through direct contributions. Contributions to the Organ Donor Program Fund are preserved by law and cannot be used as general revenue. Likewise, the Organ and Tissue Donor Program and Fund is prohibited from receiving any general revenue funds (RSMo 194.297). Your generous support is appreciated.
Donate Life Missouri Registry
The Organ and Tissue Donor Registry is a statewide, voluntary, confidential registry of organ and tissue donors established by legislation in 2008. It is a first-person consent registry making your decision final unless revoked in a manner provided by law. Before a family member had to make the final decision, now you are in charge and family consent is no longer required. As an adult (18 years of age or older or an emancipated youth), your decision is legally binding. If you enrolled in Missouri’s registry before August 28, 2008, you will need to enroll again to obtain first-person consent status. To remain in the registry, you are strongly encouraged to say “yes”, every time you obtain or renew your instructional permit or driver/non-driver license when asked, “Do you consent to be listed in the Donor Registry System as an organ, eye, and tissue donor?” By saying “yes”, your registry record remains current. If you say yes, you also have the option of a symbol on your license. You will be asked, “Do you authorize an Organ Donor Symbol to be placed on your license or permit?” To review legislation passed related to Organ and Tissue Donation and the Missouri Organ and Tissue Donor Registry click here.
Organ Donation Advisory Committee
A ten-member advisory committee, appointed by the Department of Health and Senior Services Director, may assist with the development and implementation of the Organ and Tissue Donor Program and recommend priorities for expenditures from the Organ Donor Program Fund.