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January 13, 2010
Volunteer for the Annual Homeless Count
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Ending Community Homelessness Coalition (ECHO) is recruiting volunteers to canvas the streets and parks of Austin and Travis County to count the people living without shelter.  Hundreds of volunteers will be needed for the homeless count on Thursday, January 28th, from 4 to 10 p.m. Getting an accurate count helps our community receive federal funding to serve the homeless population.

Experience the realities of life on the streets in our community first hand and assist in expanding services that help homeless people leave the streets for a better life. Volunteers are trained and are organized into teams.  Sign up as a volunteer and learn more about the 2010 Austin/Travis County Homeless Count at http://www.traviscountyhomelesscount.org/  

Watch a 10 minute training video about the Count.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeSUvo1XI1k.
Community Forum on the U.S. Census
The League of Women Voters will hold a community forum this Sunday, January 17th on the importance of counting every Texan in this year's census.  Panelists include representatives of the Mexican American Legal Defense Fund (MALDEF), Travis County and the Literacy Coalition of Central Texas.

The forum will be held from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church Family Life Center.  Contact Karen Hayward [email protected] for more information.
MLK Day of Service
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Want to start off your new year by doing good in your community, and having fun in the process?  On Saturday, January 16th, United Way Capital Area will host the annual MLK Day of Service.
 
The MLK Day of Service will be kicked off with a keynote address by UT professor Dr. Richard Reddick, a graduate of Johnston High School, UT Austin and Harvard. 

To check out volunteer opportunities and to learn more, visit the Hands on Central Texas website.
 
Travis County Tax Office News
February 1st Property Tax Deadline
The deadline to pay 2009 property taxes without penalty is Monday, February 1st.  Property owners who can pay some but not all of their taxes are advised to pay as much as possible before the deadline.  Those who cannot pay any or all of their property taxes are advised to contact Travis County Tax Office to arrange a payment plan. 

February 1st Voter Registration
The deadline to register for voting in the March 2nd primary is Monday, February 1st.  Voters who recently received a new, blue voter certificate that displays correct name and residence information are registered to vote.  Those who did not receive a certificate, or who need to update their information can go to   http://www.traviscountytax.org/goVoters.do
 
Make Sure You Count on April 1!
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On April 1st every person in our country will be counted in the U.S. Census.  Forms will be mailed to every household about two weeks before the count.  The Census is safe, easy and important. 
 
Make sure Central Texas gets its fair share - in federal funding and in political representation.   
In This Issue
MLK Day of Service
Social Services Case Managment Network
Capital Metro Fares Increase Monday
Plan to Eliminate Health Disparities
Feria Para Aprender
New Poverty Fact Sheet and FAQ
In recognition of Poverty Awareness Month, the Basic Needs Coalition has released an updated Poverty Fact Sheet and a new FAQ with a focus on childhood poverty. Find links to both reports at the BNC website.
Community Calendar
Visit the CAN Events Calendar to keep up to date with community events and to post your events.
Follow CAN on Twitter
twitter buttonFollow CAN on twitter @CAN_Austin to find out about events, new reports, data and research relating to health and human services. 
Join our CANews Mailing List!
Texas Ranks 4th in Seniors at Risk of Hunger
Meals on Wheels Association of American has released a report "Seniors at Risk of Hunger: State by State" which ranks Texas fourth in seniors at risk of hunger.  Almost 9% of seniors in Texas who were surveyed were at risk of hunger, compared to 5.7% of seniors nationwide.
Social Services Case Management Network
Social services case managers are invited to learn about community resources available for their clients in monthly meetings of the Social Services Case Management Network.  Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are offered through Travis County Health and Human Services.  In honor of Poverty Awareness Month, this month's meeting will focus on poverty and helping the poor get free tax assistance.  The meeting will be held his Friday, January 15th from 9 to 11 a.m. at Goodwill Community Center, 1015 Norwood Park Boulevard.  The Center for Public Policy Priorities will address Poverty in Texas, and the Community Tax Center will share information on free tax preparation services.

If you would like to join the Network's email list, contact [email protected].
Capital Metro Fare Increases Take Effect Monday 
Cap Metro
In an effort to improve the financial sustainability of Capital Metro, the transit authority is implementing a fare increase on Monday, January 18th. The fare increase will apply to local and express bus, MetroRail, MetroAccess and RideShare services. Seniors 65 and over, riders with disabilities and Medicare cardholders will continue to ride for free.  
        • MetroBus Single Ride Adult: $1.00
        • MetroBus Day Pass: $2.00
        • MetroExpress Single Ride Adult: $2.50
        • MetroExpress Day Pass: $5.00
 For a table of all Capital Metro fares, please click here.
 
National Plan of Action to Eliminate Health Disparities
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The federal government has released a National Plan for Action, which captures the status of health disparities in our country and proposes 20 strategies for their elimination.  The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is accepting public comment on the strategies through February 12th.  

Despite continued advances in health care and technology, racial and ethnic minorities continue to have higher rates of disease, disability and premature death than non-minorities.  According to the report, two primary causes of these disparities are inadequate access to care and substandard quality of care.  Click here to find the report and opportunities for comment.
 
Feria Para Aprender
Over 10,000 children and parents are expected to attend the fourth annual Feria Para Aprender on Saturday, February 6th at the Travis County Expo Center.  This learning fair connects students and parents to important community resources to help them be successful in school and to make plans to attend college. Feria Para Aprender will feature more than 100 exhibits by school districts, non-profits, colleges, universities, and scholarship groups. 

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Community Action Network (CAN) is a partnership of agencies and organizations in Austin and Travis County that provide resources to improve the health and well-being of people in our community.  CAN is a collaboration of organizations and individuals 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 of Commerce, Austin Community College, Austin Independent School District, Austin Travis County Integral Care, Capital Metro, Central Health, City of Austin, Community Justice Council, One Voice Central Texas, Seton Family of Hospitals, St. David's Foundation, St. Edward's University, Travis County, 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 Afterschool
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.