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| Local Impact of Federal Stimulus Bill |
| Congressman Lloyd Doggett will join local officials for this Friday's CAN Resource Council meeting to discuss the federal stimulus package. This far-reaching economic stimulus package will impact infrastructure improvements, healthcare, workforce development, law enforcement, income subsidies and housing. CAN Resource Council members will discuss what their individual agencies are doing to utilize the stimulus funds and opportunities to collaborate. The Resource Council meeting will be held at City Hall at 1 pm and will be broadcast live on Channel 6 (the beginning of the meeting will be pre-empted by a City Manager's press conference). The meeting will be re-played Monday at 9 am. |
| State Impact of Federal Stimulus Bill |
| The Texas House of Representatives has appointed a Select Committee on Federal Economic Stabilization Funding which has created a website www.txstimulusfund.com to help the public track how federal stimulus funds are used in Texas. The Committee will accept public testimony at a hearing tomorrow at 2 pm at the Capitol in Room E1.014 on how the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act applies to Texas health and human services. Dr. Ray Perryman will testify. |
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| City of Austin Consolidated Plan |
| Friday is the last day to participate in an on-line survey on the City's Five Year Consolidate Plan. Link to the survey and review comment summaries from the public hearings at the NHCD web site. | |
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Texas Children at Risk of Homelessness |
 More children are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless in Texas than in any other state, according to a report released yesterday. The study by the National Center on Family Homelessness, ranks Texas at the bottom of a state-by-state report card on child homelessness. Follow this link to the report. |
| "David Has Issues" Legislative Forums |
David Kobierowski is holding weekly legislative policy/issues forums each Sunday from 4 - 6 pm at First United Methodist Church. State Representative Eddie Rodriguez will be the speaker this Sunday, March 13th. Rodriguez will discuss the top bills and issues his office is tracking during the 81st Legislative Session. Representative Dawnna Dukes will be the speaker on March 22nd, and Representative Rafael Anchia will lead the discussion on March 29th. Learn more at DavidHasIssues.com. |
| Rose Introduces Bill to Evaluate TIERS |
| Rep. Patrick Rose has introduced HB 3284 to evaluate and monitor the Texas Integrated Eligibility Redesign System (TIERS). The bill instructs the Health and Human Services Commissioner to contract for an independent analysis of the ability of TIERS to meet the needs of Texas residents eligible for federal and state subsidy programs. The analysis would look at staffing needs and would measure the ability of TIERS to meet state and federal benchmarks for processing applications. |
| "Decade of Neglect Has Weakened Federal Low-Income Housing Programs" |
 The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities in Washington D.C. has published a report on the status of federal low-income housing programs. The report documents the growing need for affordable housing, shows how recent funding shortfalls and policy changes have hurt these programs, and outlines a series of steps to make housing more affordable for low-income families. |
| AAHSA Candidate Forum |
| The public is invited to attend Austin Area Human Services Association's (AAHSA) Mayoral and City Council Candidates Forum on Thursday, April 9 at the Mexican American Cultural Center, 600 River Street. Austin voters will go to the polls May 9th to elect a new mayor and council members in Places 1, 2, 5 & 6. Click here to see a list of those running for office.
Get to know the candidates and their positions on how our community can better meet the needs of our most vulnerable populations. The Forum is from 11 am to 1 pm. Please RSVP by visiting the AAHSA web site: http://www.aahsa.clubexpress.com/ Attendees may also pre-order a box lunch via this web site which will be purchased and served beginning at 11 a.m. at the Forum. Questions? Call Suki Steinhauser at 512-464-9713. |
| Fresh Food For Families |
 Families can pick up fresh produce at three distribution sites. Fresh Food for Families is a partnership effort between Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services and the Capital Area Food Bank. Fresh Food For Families distribution dates and times are listed below:
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| Advancing Health Through System Reform |
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Mental health and substance abuse services are an essential component for advancing our Nation's health. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), states, local governments, providers, consumers and the recovery community are working together to bring the best possible prevention, health promotion, early intervention, treatment, and recovery services to people in need.
Your organization's ideas are welcome to gain insight into the options that would help ensure these services are met in local community environments through health system reform. Please use our template as a guide for providing and highlighting important information and perspectives that your organization would like to share. Try to limit your submission to no more than 3 pages.
Send all submissions to healthreform@samhsa.hhs.gov by March 27, 2009. The information your organization provides will be posted on the SAMHSA web site. |
| Hispanic Quality of Life Forum on Economic Development |
 The City of Austin is holding a series of forums to learn what citizens have to say about Hispanic quality of life. Join the discussion at the Hispanic Quality of Life Forum on Economic Development on March 24th at the Austin Community College South Campus, 1820 West Stassney Lane, in Room 1130, from 6:30 - 8:30 pm.
Learn more about the Hispanic Quality of Life Initiative and other forums planned on Cultural Arts (April 7th) and Health (April 28th). |
 CAN Partners: Austin Area Human Services Association, Austin Area Interreligious Ministries, Austin Chamber, Austin Community College, Austin Independent School District, Austin Travis County Mental Health Mental Retardation Center, Capital Metro, City of Austin, Community Justice Council, Integrated Care Collaboration, Seton Family of Hospitals, St. David's Community Health Foundation, St. Edward's University, Travis County, Travis County Healthcare District, United Way Capital Area, University of Texas at Austin, and Workforce Solutions - Capital Area.
CAN Issue Area Groups: Aging Services Council, Austin/Travis County Victim Services Task Force, Basic Needs Coalition, Behavioral Health Planning Partnership, Central Texas After-School Network, Child & Youth Mental Health Planning Partnership, Developmental Disabilities Planning Partnership, Ending Community Homelessness Coalition, Success by 6, HousingWorks, Literacy Coalition of Central Texas, Ready by 21, Reentry Roundtable, and Regional Transit Coordination Committee. | |
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