Congressman Lloyd Doggett joined City of Austin officials last week in announcing Austin's receipt of $2 million in Community Development Block Grants awarded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and made possible through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The money will fund the following projects:

• $500,000 to LifeWorks to purchase land for a new 32,000 square foot Resource Center.
• $500,000 to PeopleFund to fund a Center for Economic Opportunity to provide financial services to small businesses and low to moderate income homebuyers.
• $552,703 for historic renovation and new construction of the African-American Cultural and Heritage Facility, located at the historic Detrick-Hamilton House on E. 11th Street.
• $250,000 to build sidewalks in Central East Austin.
• $200,000 for Community Development Block Grant - Recovery administration.

For more information on this and other federal stimulus funded efforts, visit www.cityofaustin.org/stimulus.

For a brief summary of all stimulus funding coming to our community, visit the CAN Local Impact of Federal Stimulus page on our website.

The UT School of Social Work will present a professional development workshop "Early Childhood Mental Health: Developmentally Sensitive Approaches to Assessment and Treatment" on Thursday, September 24th. The day long training will introduce mental health clinicians to assessment guidelines and treatment approaches for children from birth to 6 years. For more information about the day-long training, call 512-471-2886 or visit www.utexas.edu/ssw/ceu/.

The Austin Travis County Health and Human Services Department has scheduled seasonal flu shot clinics.  Free flu shots are available for all Medicare recipients as well as uninsured or under-insured Travis County residents 6 month of age or older. People with mobility impairment are encouraged to use the drive-though clinics and those with young children are encouraged to attend walk-in clinics.  The shots are free with a suggested donation of $10.  Shots will not cover the "Swine Flu." H1N1 flu shots will be available later in the fall.

Flu Shot Clinics:

The Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Education and Sesame Workshop have teamed up to launch a new, national public service advertising campaign to encourage children and families to practice healthy habits and to take steps to prevent the spread of the 2009 H1N1 flu virus.

The PSAs will encourage actions recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to help prevent the spread of the flu virus and other infectious disease, including:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Keep your distance from others if you are sick.
• When possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick, and don't send your children to childcare or school if they are sick.
• Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing and sneezing.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

Community Action Network is a collaboration of organizations and individuals in Central Texas who are working together to build a community of equity and opportunity.

CAN's role in the community is to ...

• Enhance awareness of community issues;
• Strengthen partnerships and connect planning efforts;
• Support collaborative strategies that maximize community resources and impact; and
• Mobilize action by reporting on progress made to improve the community's well-being.

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.