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| January is Poverty Awareness Month |
Did you know?
- 84% of Travis County families living in poverty did not receive any type of cash assistance and 72% of families in poverty did not receive food stamps in 2008.
- 1 in 3 children raised in
poverty remain in poverty as adults.
- Boys raised in poverty are twice as likely to be arrested and three times as likely to be incarcerated.
- Girls raised in poverty are five times as likely to bear a child out of wedlock prior to the age of 25.
- Texas has the fastest growing child population in the U.S. and the Central Texas child population is growing at twice the state rate.
This and other information on how poverty affects our community and what we can do about it can be found in these two documents developed by the Basic Needs Coalition and CAN.
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| Community Impact Report |
 Travis County Health and Human Services and Veterans Affairs has released its 2009 Community Impact Report on Community Conditions. The report provides a general overview of how our community is doing with regard to basic needs, housing, workforce development, education, behavioral health and other areas in which Travis County invests funds for services.
A few highlights...
- Since the beginning of 2009, Austin Energy has received 75% more requests for utility assistance than for all of 2008.
- In November 2009, 107,288 Travis County residents received food stamps, up 68% from January 2008.
- Foreclosure postings in Travis County rose 110% from 3,482 postings in 2007 to 7,309 postings in 2009.
- There was a 28% increase in visits to local emergency rooms by individuals presenting primarily with mental health issues between 2006 and 2008.
- Between 2003 and 2008, the Austin MLS median home price rose by 22% and the average home price rose by 24%, but median family income increased only by 3%.
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Poverty is Moving to the Suburbs
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Brookings has analyzed poverty trends in the nation's 95 largest metro areas from 2000 to 2008. The Suburbanization of Poverty: Trends in Metropolitan America, 2000 to 2008 finds that the suburbs are home to the largest and fastest growing poverty populations. The report finds that the largest metropolitan areas saw the poverty rate in the suburbs grow by 25% from 2000 to 2008 - almost five times faster than the rate in the primary cities. Smaller metro areas did not share this poverty suburbanization trend. The report includes Metro Profiles (Austin metro trends on page 7). The five county Austin Metropolitan Statistical Area saw a 2.8% increase in poverty in the primary city and a 1.7% increase in the surrounding areas. |
| Work-Based Learning for Youth |
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The City of Austin and Travis County collaborate each year to provide hundreds of local young people opportunities to develop skills and confidence in a "real-world" work environment. The Work-Based Learning Program/Summer Youth Employment targets youth between the ages of 14 to 17 (14 to 22 for youth with disabilities) who live and attend school in the City of Austin or Travis County.
Young people will learn what it is like to apply for a job and earn a pay check working in a variety of government, non-profit and private business settings. Parents can register their youth for Job Readiness Training by calling (512) 854-4590. | |
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| Make Sure You Count on April 1! |
On April 1st every person in our country will be counted in the U.S. Census. In an effort to increase response rates among Latino households, NALEO, a non-partisan Latino civic participation organization, has launched the " ya es hora ¡HAGASE CONTAR" campaign. Starting February 22, households may call (877) 352-3676 or (877) EL-CENSO to request a census form in Spanish. Spanish-speaking operators will also be available to help households fill out the Census form.
The Census will hire about 4,000 people locally to help with the count, and is specifically recruiting bi-lingual speakers. For job information call 1-866-861-2010.
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New Poverty Fact Sheet and FAQ
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| 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
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Visit the CAN Events Calendar to keep up to date with community events and to post your events.
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Follow CAN on Twitter
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 Follow CAN on twitter @CAN_Austin to find out about events, new reports, data and research relating to health and human services.
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| Medicaid/CHIP Regional Advisory Committee Seeks Members |
The Texas Health and Human Services Committee is accepting applications for membership to the Medicaid/CHIP Regional Advisory Committees for 12 areas across the state. Applications will be accepted through Feb. 26, 2010. The committees will discuss and provide recommendations related to Medicaid and CHIP. Consumers advocates among others are encouraged to apply. Click here for more information. |
Imagine Austin's Future
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The City of Austin is seeking broad community input on a vision for the future of the City. This is the first step in creating a new Comprehensive Plan for the City, which will direct city policies on long-term growth and development. Residents, property owners and workers can participate in two ways: - Take the issues and aspirations survey at any Austin public library or online.
- Host a planning party in your home, church or organization. Ask for a "Meeting in a Box" which has everything needed to get the discussion going and capture the input.
Visit www.imagineaustin.net for more information. |
Partners Needed to Help Prevent Obesity and Smoking
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 The Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department has made a Request for Applications (RFA)for community partners to help prevent obesity and smoking. The Department has applied for $20 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds for a two year period. Agencies interested in applying for these funds must attend an informational meeting on either January 21st or January 22nd. Both meetings will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Mexican American Cultural Center, 600 River Street. Final grant proposals will be due by noon on February 25th. |
| Community Summit on Education |
 The community is invited to join Dr. Meria Carstarphen for a discussion on how "the power of us" can transform public education in Austin. The Austin ISD Community Summit on Education will take place Wednesday, February 3rd at 7:30 a.m. at the ACC Eastview Campus, Multipurpose Room. |
| Feria Para Aprender |
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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.
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