CANews masthead

 June 3, 2009

Need Your Help - Austin 3rd Least Prepared City for Digital TV Conversion on June 12th
On Friday, June 12, 2009, all full-power television stations will cease "analog" transmissions and broadcast only a "digital" television signal. This affects all households that receive over-the-air television via rabbit ears or rooftop antenna.

Recent Nielsen statistics show that Austin is the third least prepared city in the nation. This means over 30,000 Central Texas households could be at risk to lose television reception. The risk is most concentrated in low-income, senior, and non-English-speaking households.  This is a serious public safety matter.  Television remains the most widely used resource for important news and information, such as current weather conditions.

You can help by informing the public of their options and the need to take action. Older televisions can receive digital signals with the addition of a low-cost digital converter box. Coupons are available from the federal government to offset most of the cost of the converter box.  Click here for coupon information.

The City of Austin is sponsoring a free DTV Walk-In Help Clinic through June 12 at the DeWitty Job Training and Employment Center, 2209 Rosewood Avenue, Suite 210. Clinic hours and additional information are available here

Additional resources to help people with the DTV transition:
  - Information on the DTV transition: http://www.dtv.gov/
  - FCC hotline for questions & assistance: 1-888-225-5322
  - Local Spanish-language assistance: 1-877-625-2591

For further information, please contact Chip Rosenthal at [email protected] or 512-573-5174.
City Budget Town Hall Meetings
211_newlogoThe City of Austin is facing a projected $30 million shortfall for the 2010 budget.  The City will host a series of Town Hall meetings to get citizen input on how best to close this budget gap. 

Meetings will begin with a budget overview followed by an interactive exercise designed to generate public engagement in setting service-level priorities. All meetings will be held from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday, June 10th - Northwest Recreation Center, 2913 Northland Drive.
  • Monday, June 15th - Gus Garcia Recreation Center, 1201 E. Rundberg Lane
  • Tuesday, June 16th - Toney Burger Activity Center, 3200 Jones Road
Visit www.ci.austin.tx.us/to learn more.
In This Issue
Digital TV Conversion
City Budget Shortfall
AISD Budget Cutting Options
Children's Summer Lunch Program
Affordable Housing Tour
Cooking Classes for Breast Cancer Survivors
Teen Summit
Cultural Diversity Workshops
Federal Stimulus Act - Local Impact
May 20th presentation by CAN Partners on stimulus funding.

Sign-up for grant alerts at Grants.gov.

Track stimulus funds coming to Texas at the State Comptroller's Stimulus Website.

Find other stimulus links and information on the CAN website.
Recent CAN Reports
Behavioral Health FAQ
Reentry from Incarceration
Developmental Disabilities
Join our Mailing List!
Housing + Transportation Affordability 
housing and transportationThe Center for Neighborhood Technology in Chicago has created a Housing and Transportation Affordability Index (H+T) to offer a more complete measure of affordability beyond the standard method of assessing only housing costs.  The areas in blue in the map at left indicate areas in Central Texas where the cost of housing + transportation exceed 45% of the median family income.

By taking into account both the cost of housing as well as the cost of transportation associated with the location of the home, H+T attempts to provide a picture of the true costs of housing decisions. Additional maps show gas cost impacts on a household with an annual estimate of gas costs depending on where a household is located.
Austin ISD Study Recommends Budget Cutting Options
efficiencyThe consulting firm MGT of America has released an Efficiency Study of the Austin Independent School District.  85% of the District's budget consists of personnel costs, and, as expected, the Efficiency Study calls for the elimination of numerous positions. 

The Board of Trustees intends to use this report as a tool to help guide deliberations on both the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 budgets.  Learn more about this report and download a copy at
http://www.austinisd.org/inside/superintendent/efficiency/.
Children's Summer Lunch Program
summer lunchCatholic Charities and Mobile Loaves and Fishes are partnering to deliver one thousand lunches to children this summer.  The Children's Summer Lunch Program will target children who don't have access to the lunches they would normally receive during the school year.  Lunches will be served on Mondays and Wednesdays from June 8th through July 8th.  Volunteers are welcome! For more information, contact Meg Kee at 651-6128 or visit http://www.ccctx.org/.
There's No Place Like Home Tour and Reception
HousingWorks will host its annual affordable housing tour and reception next Wednesday, June 10th.  A chartered bus tour will give policy makers, homebuilders, developers, and community leaders an up-close look at various affordable housing models and options in our city.   The afternoon tour will be followed by a "Spotlight on Design" Reception from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. at the Long Center for the Performing Arts, Kodosky Lounge.  This interactive event will explore, illustrate and demonstrate how to combine design and affordability and will include conversations with Austin architects, planners, developers, homebuilders and service groups on affordability.  There is a fee for the tour and reception.  Visit www.housingworksaustin.org to learn more.
Cooking Classes for Breast Cancer Survivors
The Sustainable Food Center will host a series of cooking classes for survivors of breast cancer.  Participants will learn to prepare delicious, healthy and inexpensive meals and will receive a free bag of groceries at the end of each of the 6 classes.

Participants should be at least 4 - 6 months out of treatment. Longer-term survivors are also encouraged to participate. Classes will be taught in English on Mondays from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. at the Carver Library, 1161 Angelina Street, beginning June 22nd and concluding July 27th

The cost is $30 for all six sessions. Participants must register for all six classes: 512.236.0074 x 103 or [email protected].
iChoose Teen Summit: Real Talk on Sexual Health
iChooseThe iChoose Teen Summit will be held on Wednesday, July 1st from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at ACC Eastview Campus.  The iChoose Teen Summit offers workshops on healthy relationships, abstinence, reproductive anatomy, family planning, college readiness, body image, and much more. Lunch and a t-shirt will be provided to all participants, and performances by The Cipher, B-boy City Dance crew, and teen slam poets will be held throughout the day.  

Visit www.ichooseaustin.org for more information and to download a registration form.

A free parent workshop will be offered on Monday, June 29 from 7:00-8:30pm at FamilyConnections. Dinner is provided and limited childcare is available. To register for the parent session, please contact Maria Gorham at 972-5122 or [email protected].
Cultural Diversity Workshop for Educators
Educators are invited to the third annual Pflugerville ISD and UT Diversity Conference on August 6th at Connally High School, 13212 North Lamar, Austin.  The conference is free and six hours of Continuing Professional Education credit is available. 
 
Sessions include:
  • Thinking Out Loud: Culturally Responsive Classrooms
  • Weaving the Tapestry of Your Classroom: Teaching in a Multi-Cultural Setting
  • Identifying and Supporting the Invisible Students in the Middle
  • Exploding Myths about Muslim Histories and Cultures
  • Creating a Safe Space for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Students
  • A Framework for Understanding Poverty by Dr. Ruby Payne

Panels of religious experts, parents and students will also share perspectives and experiences.   More information at http://www.pflugervilleisd.net/features/diversity.cfm.

RSVP to Sara Lucas (594-0110) or Rachelle Warren (594-0044).

CAN Partners
CAN logoCAN 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.