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Comment on County's CDBG Spending
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 Travis County invites the public to comment on the proposed Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) projects for 2009-2010. An estimated $866,432 will be available from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for projects that benefit Travis County low- to moderate-income residents who live in the unincorporated areas of the county.
You can comment by attending a public hearing on June 30th or July 14th or by submitting comments in writing from June 24, 2009 through July 23, 2009. For more details visit www.co.travis.tx.us/CDBG or call Christy Moffett at 512-854-3460.
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Forum on Job Assistance
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"Help, I lost my job! Help, I want a Job!" was the topic of Friday's CAN Community Council forum on job assistance. Workforce Solutions - Capital Area, Goodwill, the Workers Assistance Program, Catholic Charities, Austin Community College, Travis County and the City of Austin partcipated in the forum and panel discussion. The forum will be re-broadcast today at 4 p.m. on Cable Channel 6. The forum covered unemployment insurance, job training, coping with the stress of job loss, and avoiding foreclosure due to job loss. Information on job assistance for special populations, including youth aging out of foster care, English language learners, older workers, and disabled workers was also covered. The presentation for the forum is posted on the CAN website www.caction.org under Community Council presentations. |
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Federal Stimulus - Local Impact
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The newest posting on the CAN Federal Stimulus webpage is
Tracking Federal Stimulus Funding in Austin and Travis County.
Visit caction.org for more stimulus links.
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College Pays Dividends-More So in Texas than U.S.
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 Economic research confirms what parents have told their children for generations: College education pays off in higher earnings. According to as article in the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas quarterly on-line magazine, the gains from earning a college degree in Texas have exceeded those in the U.S.
In 1980, a typical U.S. worker with a college degree earned about 50 percent more than a high school graduate. By 1990, the differential rose to 73 percent; by 2000, a college graduate earned 85 percent more. Now, it's up to 97 percent.
This "college premium" grew even faster in Texas. In recent years those with a college degree in Texas earn more than 10 percentage points more than college grads in the U.S. |
Investing in Behavioral Health Benefits Texas Economy
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A new report by Economist Ray Perryman of the Perryman Group finds that "severe mental health and substance abuse disorders cost the Texas economy some $269 billion in total spending each year and 1,675,582 permanent jobs." The report offers an assessment of the impact of severe mental health and substance abuse disorders on business activity in Texas and the anticipated economic and fiscal return on investment in expanded behavioral health services.
The report concludes, "Expanding funding for both traditional and innovative treatment options would pay sizable economic benefits even beyond the immeasurable quality-of-life improvement for those involved and represents an appropriate and highly productive use of State funds."
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City Grants to Fund Youth Services
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The City of Austin has released Requests for Applications for two grants to support youth in zip code 78744. The Juvenile Delinquency Prevention Services grant will fund up to $60,000 for organizations to provide youth-based services before, during or after school. A One-on-One and/or Group Mentoring grant will provide up to $45,000 for mentoring services. Funding for both grants comes from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. For more information visit the City of Austin website or contact Jacqueline Martin at 972-5087 or jacqueline.martin@ci.austin.tx.us.
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Progress Report on Housing and Schools Summit
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HousingWorks will offer a Progress Report on its November 2008 Summit on the importance of integrating the planning for schools and neighborhoods to build stronger communities. The symposium will be held June 23rd from 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. at the Carver Library, 1135 Angelina Street. Participants will review efforts, stemming from the November summit, to reduce student mobility, improve after school planning and conduct joint planning for schools and housing. View the recommendations from the 2008 Housing Summit. Seating is limited. RSVP to HousingWorksSummit@yahoo.com |
| Job Fair at Travis County Expo Center |
 Travis County Human Resources, the Travis County Sheriff's Office, Workforce Solutions Capital Area and Goodwill will host a job fair June 24th that officials are billing as the largest job expo ever at the Travis County Exposition Center at 7311 Decker Lane.
The fair, which is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., will include workshops on resumé building, online job searching and interview techniques. Along with the workshops, more than 40 public and private sector employers, who have job openings, will be in attendance.
Job seekers are encouraged to attend and bring resumés, as employers will be conducting interviews on site. For more information, visit www.co.travis.tx.us/ or contact Alison Gomez at 854-9302.
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Free HIV Testing
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 The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that one out of five people living with HIV in the U.S. are unaware of their HIV status. National HIV Testing Day is an opportunity for people nationwide to learn their HIV status and to gain knowledge to take control of their health and their lives. In observance of National HIV Testing Day, the Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department's Communicable Disease Unit will offer free and confidential HIV/STD testing. Rapid HIV test results are available.
Testing will be available on Saturday, June 27th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the RBJ Health Center, 15 Waller Street.
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Free Breakfast and Lunch Offered by AISD
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Austin ISD will offer free breakfast and lunch to all children aged one through 18 regardless of family income. Meals will be served in areas of the district that have at least 50% of enrolled students qualified to recieve free or reduced meals. Visit www.austinisd.org for a list of dates, locations and times. Households do not need to apply for this summer program.
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| Recognize Good |
Recognizing acts of kindness and good works can help perpetuate more acts of kindness and good works. The Samaritan Center and TyRex group have launched a new website that people to recognize someone who has done something "good." The good deed doer will receive notice that they have been recognized. Give someone the recognition they deserve at www.recognizegood.com. |
 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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