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| Unprecedented Number of Americans Seeking Emergency Food Assistance |
 Hunger in America 2010, a landmark study released today by Capital Area Food Bank and Feeding America, reports that more than 37 million Americans receive emergency food each year through the nation's network of food banks. This is a 64% increase since the findings reported in Hunger in America, 2006.
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| New Sustainability Indicators Report |
The Central Texas Sustainability Indicators Project (CTSIP) has just released its 2009 Data Report, providing a valuable review of key regional trends on issues such as public safety, education, social equity, health, environment, and land use/mobility. Since 2000, CTSIP Data Reports have offered a comprehensive view of our region and offered leaders and communities critical information on areas where action is needed to ensure sustainability. In 2009, Burnet County was added to the reporting area, which also includes Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis, and Williamson Counties. |
| Economic Impact of Hispanics in Texas |
Immigrants, especially Latinos, are playing an increasingly important role in Texas's economy, labor force and tax base, according to research by the Immigration Policy Center. The report " New Americans in the Lone Star State" highlights the political and economic power of immigrants, Latinos and Asians in Texas. According to the report, 36% of all Texans were Latino in 2007 and one in five registered voters were Latino. In 2009, the purchasing power of Latinos in Texas totaled $175.3 billion. |
| Priorities for Community Projects |
 Travis County would like the public's help in identifying the community's needs and proposing projects for the unincorporated areas of Travis County. A series of five public hearings will be held throughout Travis County this month to identify community priorities for Community Development Block Grants projects to be implemented from October 2010 to September 2011.
Travis County will also seek input to determine funding priorities for the next three program years running from October 2011 to September 2014. To learn about CDBG and details on how to participate visit: http://www.co.travis.tx.us/CDBG | |
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| Everyone Counts! |
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The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that approximately $10,000 in federal funding is lost for every resident not counted. Texas faces challenges due to a reluctance to participate by some Hispanics and undocumented residents. |
| Federal Stimulus - Local Impact |
The Intergovernmental Stimulus Coordination Committee will update the CAN Board of Directors on how federal stimulus funding has been put to work in our community.
Tune in or view the webcast on Cable Channel 6 Friday, February 12th from 1 - 3 pm. The open meeting takes place at the Boards and Commissions Room at City Hall. |
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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| National Black HIV Awareness Day |
 The HIV/AIDS epidemic in African American communities is a continuing public health crisis. HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death for black women between the ages of 25 and 34. Even though African Americans account for about 13% of the United States population, they account for almost half of those who are diagnosed with AIDS.
Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services is offering free HIV and STD testing on Friday, February 5th from 10 am to 4 pm at the Montopolis Recreation Center. Other organizations and service providers will also be present with information and resources. Everyone tested will be entered into drawings for door prizes.
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| Austin Mobility Forums |
 The Austin Transportation Department will hold a series of forums to allow community members to share their priorities for Austin's mobility system. The forums will be held February 8th - 11th throughout the city. Click here for times and locations. |
| Impact of State Budget Cuts on Health and Human Services |
Governor Perry has asked all state agencies and entities funded by state government to submit plans for budget cuts of 5%. A stakeholder meeting to accept testimony regarding the potential impact of cuts to health and human services programs will be held Thursday, February 11th at 11 a.m. at the Health and Human Services Commission, Brown Heatly Building, Public Hearing Room, located at 4900 N. Lamar. Learn more from the Texas HHSC wesite. |
| Promise Neighborhood Initiative for Austin |
A local team is developing proposals for Promise Neighborhood Initiatives in Austin. Due to the success of the Harlem Children's Zone, a New York City-based program aimed at improving child outcomes in high-poverty neighborhoods through a "cradle-to-college" pipeline of services, President Obama has decided to replicate and fund the program in twenty "Promise Neighborhoods" around the country. Learn more about the Promise Neighborhoods Initiative.
Austin plans to compete for this federal funding, and local community leaders are considering how to best adapt the Harlem model to our community. T
he Austin Promise Neighborhoods Planning Team is conducting a community engagement process in the St. John neighborhood in northeast Austin. Two upcoming meetings of interest:
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Thursday, February 11th at 7 pm at the Reagan HS cafeteria (specifically for residents and stakeholders in Northeast Austin) and
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Tuesday, February 16th at 6:30 pm at the Webb MS cafeteria (for the greater Austin community). |
| What is Your Carbon Footprint? |
 An individual's carbon footprint represents the amount of greenhouse gasses that person produces through daily activities. These gasses generally come from the burning of fossil fuels (oil, coal, and natural gas).
Carbon dioxide (CO2), and other greenhouse gases, can have a profound effect on the climate. Austin has a new Carbon Footprint Calculator to help people understand their impact on the environment and how they can help to keep the planet cleaner. |
| Central Texas 2040: How Do We Plan for 3.3 Million People? |
CAPCOG's Brian Kelsey predicts the Austin Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)will almost double its 2009 population and reach 3,340,827 by 2039. The Austin MSA includes Bastrop, Caldwell, Hayes, Travis and Williamson Counties. Growth will be most pronounced with a 175% growth rate. Travis County population is expected to increase by 57%. This growth will mean the addition of 642,679 more housing units and 654,859 more vehicles. View Kelsey's February 1, 2010 presentation to the Austin Area Research Organization. |
| Social Services Case Management Network |
| The Social Services Case Management Network will explore landlord/tenant issues and how to better connect families to resources available in our community. The meeting will be held Friday, February 19th from 9 to 11 a.m. at Goodwill Industries, 1015 Norwood Park Boulevard.
Kathy Stark, Executive Director of the Austin Tenants' Council, will provide an update on Landlord and Tenant issues with a focus on the new laws effective in 2010. Vanessa Sarria, Executive Director of the Community Action Network, will gather feedback on strategies to expand our community's capacity to connect families to assistance. |
| Capital Metro Board to Vote on Service Plan 2020 |
 The Capital Metro Board of Directors will vote on ServicePlan 2020, a new plan to guide the transit authority over the next decade, at its February 22nd Board of Directors meeting.
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| Training for Effective Offender Reentry Programs |
Travis County Justice and Public Safety will provide a training on effective offender reentry strategies on Friday, March 5th. A national expert will share evidence based practice models for offender reentry management. The training will highlight strategies that do and do not work and will cover measuring the risk of recidivism, addressing offender needs and program evaluation. The day-long training begins at 9 a.m. at the ACC Eastview Campus. Space is limited. Please RSVP to kristy.vargas@co.travis.tx.us by February 12th. |
| Seminar on Treating Anxiety and Depression in Youth |
 The Austin Child Guidance Center will offer a Mental Health Seminar, "Uptight and Down in the Dumps: Treating Co-Morbid Anxiety and Depression in Youth" on Friday, March 5th. Anxiety and depression are among the most common mental health disorders faced by children and adolescents. This seminar will explore the cognitive behavioral therapy as a treatment option for children and youth with co-morbid anxiety and depresstion.
The Conference will be held at the Joe C Thompson Conference Center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Six Continuing Education Credits will be offered. Learn more and register. | |
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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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