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| Texas Gets a "D" for Financial Stability |
When it comes to achieving financial stability, Texans face serious barriers, according to a report released by the Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED), a national economic nonprofit. The state earned a "D" on the 2009-2010 Assets & Opportunity Scorecard, with Texas trailing behind the rest of the country in health care, education and asset-building policies and outcomes. CFED's Assets & Opportunity Scorecard measures the financial security of families in the United States by looking beyond just income to the whole picture of building ownership and protecting against financial setbacks.
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Unemployed are Four Times as Likely to Suffer Poor Mental Health
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 A new national survey shows the economic downturn is taking a toll on the mental health of Americans. The survey, conducted by Mental Health America and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) reports that individuals who are unemployed are four times more likely as those with jobs to report symptoms of severe mental illness. With a national unemployment rate approaching ten percent, we face a mental health crisis as well as an economic crisis, according to NAMI. Link to the press release.
The release of the survey data coincides with Mental Illness Awareness Week from October 4th - 10th. Major depression is a serious medical illness affecting 15 million American adults. Treatment is effective more than 80% of the time, yet less than half who require treatment receive it. Individuals can go to www.mentalhealthscreening.org to learn about free, confidential screenings or to take an anonymous screening online.
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Travis County Hispanic Population 25th Largest in Country
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 The Pew Hispanic Center has released an interactive map that displays growth in the Hispanic population for each of the nation's counties from 1980 through 2007.
Travis County ranked 25th among all counties in the U.S. in the total size of its Hispanic population in 2007. Travis County ranked 18th among 3,141 U.S. counties for the growth in the number of Hispanics from 2000 to 2007.
Houston's Harris County has the second largest Hispanic population in the country. Los Angeles County has the largest and fastest growing Hispanic population in the nation. | |
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Nominations for Butler Awards Close October 15th
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| Only one week left to nominate a person or collaboration for a 2009 Butler Award, in honor of former CAN Executive Director Fred Butler. Winners will be recognized at the CAN Appreciation Reception on November 20th. Link to the online nomination form. |
| CAN Community Calendar |
The new CAN website features a calendar of community events. Check out the events in our community and add your events to the calendar at www.caction.org. |
| Visit our website! |
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www.caction.org | |
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Teens with Disabilities More Likely to be Victims of Violent Crime
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 The U.S. Department of Justice last week released its first national study on crime against people with disabilities. According to the study, teenagers with disabilities were almost twice as likely to be a victim of violent crime than those without disabilities. In almost every age group, the risk of violence was higher for those with disabilities than for those without. Link to the report, Crime Against People with Disabilities, 2007. |
Results Based Accountability - Free Workshop
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How do we as a community know whether our actions are making an impact? Results Based Accountability provides a way to think about our community goals and how we measure our impact together to help us answer this critical question. Karen Finn, Consultant with Results Leadership Group and the Forum for Youth Investment in Washington D.C., will lead a Results Based Accountability workshop on October 13th from 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. at Goodwill. Participants will learn to... - establish results and indicators of community well-being;
- use results to drive decision making and budgeting;
- identify performance measures for programs, agencies & service systems; and
- use performance measures to improve performance and link program accountability to community efforts.
Advance registration is required and space is limited to 100. Click here to register. The workshop is free thanks to the financial support of United Way Capital Area, additional funding from Seton
Family of Hospitals, Dell Children's Medical Center, and St. David's Community
Health Foundation, and in-kind support from Ready by 21, Success by 6, the
Austin Community Collaboration to Enhance Student Success (ACCESS), the Child
and Youth Mental Health Planning Partnership, and Children's Optimal Health.
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Housing the Homeless: a Public Form
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 A public forum on housing the homeless in our community will be held on Friday, October 16th from 8 a.m. - noon at Austin City Hall. Bill Hobson, who was instrumental in developing a national model for housing the homeless in Seattle, Washington will be the keynote speaker. The event is sponsored by Judge Nancy Hohengarten in partnership with Travis County, the City of Austin and collaborations that serve the homeless. Hobson will discuss Seattle's "Housing First" model that places homeless chronic alcoholics in shelter first and then begins addressing health and other needs as the person is receptive and able to receive that help. The Ending Community Homelessness Coalition (ECHO) recently published a white paper in support of the Housing First model. The report, " Solutions for Homeless Chronic Alcoholics in Austin" can found in the CAN research links. |
Leadership Academy on How to Run a Political Campaign
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The non-partisan Leadership Academy for Public Service addresses sensible and specific strategies for assessing, planning,
and organizing a political campaign. Faculty include
elected officials and consultants who have organized successful campaigns at all
levels of government. The three evening course, to be held on three Mondays in November, offers a balanced and realistic view of the entire
campaign process. The Leadership Academy is ideal for individuals interested in
running for elected office, managing a political campaign, or exploring the
process behind the scenes. The Leadership Academy is a joint project of Leadership Austin and Austin Area Research Organization. Learn more about the Leadership Academy for Public Service.
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| PeopleFund Conference on Economic Opportunity |
 PeopleFund's Conference on Economic Opportunity (formerly the East Austin Economic Summit) unites community members, business leaders, and policy makers throughout the region in a dynamic dialogue about our region's evolving economy. From adult education and job opportunities to affordable housing options, the Conference addresses the key issues facing low- to moderate-income communities, and highlights strategies for creating opportunity for Central Texans. The conference will be held October 24th at ACC's Eastview Campus. Visit www.peoplefund.org to learn more and to register for the conference.
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Meeting Energy Needs and Protecting Our Environment: a Community Meeting
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Austin Energy and the Austin Climate Protection Program invite you to participate in a community meeting to discuss climate protection through resource planning for our municipally owned electric utility. The meeting will be held Tuesday, October 20th in the first floor assembly room of the Town Lake Center Building located at 721 Barton Springs Road, beginning at 4:30pm.
Karl R. Rábago, Vice President of Distributed Energy Services (DES), will begin with a brief overview of Austin Energy's new Resource and Climate Protection Plan and then open the floor to questions and discussion on meeting the dual goals of providing the electric energy needs for our community and protecting our climate. Open invitation.
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Last Chance for Free Tax Help
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October 15th is the last day to file a 2008 tax return, with an extension, and it is also the last day the Community Tax Centers will be open to the public. Individuals earning less than $25,000 and families earning less than $50,000 are eligible for free help filing taxes, following up on an IRS letter, or getting tax credits stemming from the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act stimulus plan. Call 2-1-1 for locations and hours or visit www.foundcom.org and click on "Get Your Taxes Done for Free!"
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Student Financial Aid Applications Increase 27%
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 The Austin Chamber has mobilized volunteers and resources to help families and students complete Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms. Due in part to these efforts, FAFSA submissions for the Austin metro area from January - August 2009 were up 27% compared to the same time period last year. Other Chamber educational initiatives are to increase college readiness by working with Austin Partners in Education to encourage business people to lead classes for high school students who need extra help to increase their academic skills for college entrance exams. A third initiative, "One Hour Per Week for Kids," recruits mentors for middle school students in collaboration with the United Way Capital Area. Learn more about the Austin Chamber's education initiatives. |
Grants for Technology Opportunities
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Grants for Technology Opportunities (GTOPs) is a City of Austin funded grant program to support local organizations' efforts to help more people connect to the emerging digital society. A total of $150,000 will be granted to organizations through matching grants of $5,000 to $25,000. A Pre-Application Meeting and Grant Writing Seminar will be held on Wednesday, October 21st from 3 to 5 p.m. at Austin City Hall. For more information, visit the GTOPs website.
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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 Integral Care, 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, Ending Community Homelessness Coalition, Early Care and Education, HousingWorks, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Coalition, Literacy Coalition of Central Texas, Ready by 21, Reentry Roundtable, and Regional Transit Coordination Committee. | |
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