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Texas Economy Faces Rough Ride in 2009
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 According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, the recession has officially arrived in Texas.
During the first half of 2008, while much of the rest of the nation fell into recession, the Texas economy continued to grow. However, in the last half of the year, the state's economic conditions deteriorated rapidly, according to an article in "Southwest Economy," a quarterly magazine published by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. The article states Texas was officially in recession as 2009 began and predicts the state will shed an additional 296,000 jobs this year. Read the article.
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Austin Tops Metro Areas in Annual Job Growth
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An Austin Chamber article cites U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data that show Austin ranked first among the nation's 50 largest metro areas in job growth from February 2008 to February 2009 and was the only metro area to see a net increase in jobs. The article states that Austin had the second lowest unemployment rate among the Top 50 Metro Areas.
Workforce Solutions Capital Area reports that employment in the Austin-Round Rock Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) increased by 6,000 jobs in February. Education, health services and government were responsible for 5,300 of those jobs. Read the press release.
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Increase in 2-1-1 Calls for Basic Needs Assistance
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 United Way Capital Area has released its 2008 Community Needs and Trends Report summarizing the more than 190,000 calls to 2-1-1 in 2008. 2-1-1 Texas provides free statewide referrals to more than 4,000 health and human services through its multilingual telephone helpline and website.
The report compiles call data for the 10-county Central Texas region. Calls to 2-1-1 reflected a 19% increase in demand for basic needs services from 2007 to 2008. Calls for food assistance saw the biggest increase of 34%.
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Local Impact of Federal Stimulus Plan
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CAN has created a web page with links to local, state and national information about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
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CAN Survey - Let Us Know How We Can Improve!
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The CAN website includes a link to the 2009 CAN Stakeholder Survey. After completing the survey, you can review the results.
CAN leadership will use the results of this survey to direct the work of CAN. The survey will remain open through April 22nd.
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Travis County's Community Impact Report
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 Travis County has released its annual Community Impact Report which provides an overview of the County's $4.6 million investments in community-based social service programs and summarizes community conditions.
Some community conditions highlights found in the 281-page report include:
- Median income fell 7% from 2002 to 2007, once adjusted for inflation.
- Between 2007 and 2008, Austin Energy received 41% more requests for utility assistance and experienced a 33% increase in the number of customers with deferred payment plans.
- 58% of Travis County residents who receive food stamps are children under the age of 18.
- The number of food stamp recipients rose 57% between May and December 2008.
- Foreclosure rates rose 33% from nearly 3,500 in 2007 to nearly 5,000 in 2008.
- An estimated 65,890 households, 17% of all Travis County households, spent 50% or more of their income on housing.
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| Local Community Could See $93 Million Economic Benefit by Increasing Food Stamp Participation
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Economist Ray Perryman testified to the House Select Committee on Economic Stabilization that every dollar of food stamp spending results in $1.84 of economic activity. Many Travis County families who qualify for food stamps do not receive them. Helping more qualified families receive benefits allows families to purchase food, and in the process, stimulates the local economy. The Center for Public Policy Priorities calculates that increasing the number of eligible residents who receive food stamps by 8% in 2010 and 10% in 2011, would result in an estimated $93 million in economic benefit to the Travis County economy through fiscal year 2011.
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| Bridges Out of Poverty - Free Professional Training |
Space is still available for free training offered by the Center for Child Protection April 9th and 10th. "Bridges Out of Poverty - Strategies for Professionals and Communities" will address the culture of poverty, barriers to change and successful program designs and policies to end generational poverty. The training this Thursday and Friday will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.at the Kozmetsky Center for Child Protection Conference Center, 8509 FM 969, Bldg 1. To register, email your name, title, and agency name to Collin Cook at ccook@centerforchildprotection.org. |
| Texas Recognized for Increasing Childhood Immunizations |
 Texas was named the most improved state in childhood immunizations by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at the CDC's 2009 National Immunization Conference in Dallas last week.
Texas increased 13.5 percentage points in childhood immunizations coverage rates from 2004 to 2008, based on National Immunization Survey data of children 19 through 35 months of age. Texas Department of State Health Services Commissioner David Lakey, M.D., credited the aggressive and sustained efforts by state and local leaders and the many partner organizations and families across the state who have made childhood immunizations a priority in Texas. Read the article.
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Worker's Defense Project Candidate Forum
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Learn where the City of Austin mayoral and council candidates stand on issues important to immigrants and working people. The Workers Defense Project Candidate Forum will be held Sunday, April 19th from 5 - 7 p.m. at The Salvation Army Community Center, 1001 Cumberland Rd. City Council and mayoral candidates will be asked to discuss low-wage worker's rights, fair treatment of immigrants and other worker rights issues. There will be child care, food, and music! RSVP by April 15th to maribel@workersdefense.org. |
| Wounded Spirits: Girls in the Juvenile Justice System |
Bonita Veysey, Ph.D., Director of the Center for Justice 7 Mental Health Research at Rutgers University, will be featured in the YWCA Greater Austin 2009 Hallmark Speaker Series. Dr. Veysey will discuss Wounded Spirits: Adolescent Girls in the Juvenile Justice System on Friday, May 15th from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the United Way Capital Area, 2000 E. MLK Blvd. The event is free, but seating is limited and early registration is encouraged. Register on-line .
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| 'Forgione Follies' Tribute to Pat Forgione |
Four long-time Austin community leaders - Kirk Watson, Carole Keeton Strayhorn, Gus Garcia, and Charles Akins - will co-chair the Forgione Follies, a Fine Arts tribute to outgoing AISD Superintendent, Dr. Pat Forgione. The Forgione Follies will be staged Wednesday, May 27th, at the Long Center for the Performing Arts, and will feature musical entertainment by Austin choir, band, orchestra, and theatre students of all grade levels. There will also be a display and silent auction of student artwork. The 'Forgione Follies' is a free event, however, tickets are required. Contact Pat Dabbert at 512-414-3991 or pdabbert@austinisd.org for more information. |
 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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