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November 18, 2009
Travis County Community Snapshot
Travis Co Snapshot 2008Travis County Health and Human Services, Research & Planning Division has released its annual "Travis County Snapshot from the American Community Survey 2008."   The report summarizes 2008 U.S. Census Bureau data on local social, economic, and housing characteristics as reported in the annual American Community Survey.  
Give an Hour to Support Fort Hood
Give an Hour, a nonprofit organization that provides free mental health services to U.S. military personnel and their families, has issued a plea for professionals to assist with the mental health needs of personnel at Fort Hood. To learn more or to sign up to help, visit http://www.giveanhour.org.
 
Smoking Trends Stall Out
 
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Smoking rates among U.S. adults remained stalled in 2008, halting the nation's progress in ending the tobacco epidemic, according to a Center for Disease Control study.  The study was released in advance of the American Cancer Society's Great American Smokeout on Thursday, November 19th.
 
The study, based on the 2008 National Health Interview Survey, found that 46 million Americans (20.6%) were cigarette smokers in 2008, which is virtually unchanged since 2004.  Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death, killing more than 443,000 people every year and costing the nation $96 billion in health care costs annually.
 
In This Issue
Support Fort Hood
Smoking Trends Stall
Workforce Trends
New Reports on Teen Behavioral Health
Bank on Central Texas
Homeless Memorial Service
Conversations on AISD Budget
CAN Appreciation Reception
CAN's annual celebration of the many people and organizations that work to build a healthier and more equitable community will be held on Friday, November 20th from 4 - 6 p.m. at the Mexican American Cultural Center, 600 River Street.  The 2009 Butler Awards will be announced at that time. RSVP to [email protected] .
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.
Join our Mailing List!
Employment and Workforce Trends
CAPCOG's Brian Kelsey gave a report on workforce trends in the U.S. and Texas at a summit at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas this week.  The report notes that people with a postsecondary degree earn 60% more than those without a degree.  However, as the graph below from the presentation shows, only 36% of new jobs over the coming decade are expected to require a college degree.  64% will require no postsecondary degree.  Click on the graph to see the full presentation.

job growth

 
 
New Reports on Teen Substance Abuse and Mental Health
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State-by-state reports on substance abuse and mental health among our nation's teens, aged 12 to 17 have been released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).   
 
The Texas report reveals that teenage boys are much more likely to use alcohol and illicit drugs than are girls.  Teenage girls are more than twice as likely as boys to have suffered a major depressive episode in the past year.
Bank Accounts for Low Income Workers
bank onBank on Central Texas is a new program to provide no or low cost starter bank accounts to help low income workers keep more of their hard earned dollars. The program, which is currently in the design phase, is being led by the United Way Capital Area, PeopleFund, and the FDIC.
 
Financial education will be a key component of the program, and Bank on Central Texas is seeking referral partners for this service. For more information, visit www.bankoncentraltexas.org.
 
Homeless Memorial Service
153 people who were homeless died in Austin this year.  These people will be remembered at the 17th annual Homeless Memorial Service at 7 a.m. this Sunday, November 22nd. Austin Councilmember Randi Shade will be the keynote speaker and Sarah Hickman will lead the group in song.  The service will be held at the Homeless Memorial Tree of Remembrance, located on Auditorium Shores near the Stevie Ray Vaughn statue at South First Street and Riverside Drive.
 
Community Conversation on AISD Budget
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The second of two community conversations on the AISD budget will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, December 3rd in the cafeteria of Travis High School, located at 1211 E. Oltorf Drive. Superintendent  Dr. Meria Carstarphen and Chief Financial Officer Nicole Conley-Abram will present the budget basics and the budget parameters adopted by the Board of Trustees.  Community members will then breakout into small groups to discuss their expectations and concerns related to the budget.
 
A light dinner and translation services will be provided. People who wish to participate are encouraged to sign up for the meetings on-line by visiting the Citizen Budget Review Committee webpage at http://www.austinisd.org/inside/budget.
 

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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 Interreligious Ministries, Austin Chamber, Austin Community College, Austin Independent School District, Austin Travis County Integral Care, Capital Metro, City of Austin, Community Justice Council,  One Voice Central Texas, 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.