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| Small Businesses May Qualify for Health Insurance Tax Credits |
While most of the provisions of health care reform legislation do not take effect until 2014, small business tax credits begin this year. Businesses with fewer than 25 workers and average wages of less than $50,000 will be eligible to receive a tax credit for the health insurance that they provide for their employees. The value of the credit this year (and until 2014) is up to 35 percent of the employer's costs for employee coverage. Nonprofit employers may receive tax credits up to 25 percent of the costs for employee coverage. |
| Senate Considers Cutting $500 Million in Future Food Stamp Benefits |
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus has proposed cutting $500 million in future SNAP benefits to help offset the cost of a proposed Small Business Jobs Act. The Food Research and Action Center reports this is the second attempt in just over one month to raid desperately needed SNAP/Food Stamp funds to pay for other programs. |
| Council Approves Action Plan for Affordable Housing and Community Development | |
The Austin City Council last week approved the Neighborhood Housing and Community Development's Fiscal Year 2010-11 Action Plan, which serves as the City of Austin's application for new funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Action Plan outlines $24M in new funding for affordable housing and community development programs.
The NHCD website includes Acting Director Betsy Spencer's presentation to Council as well as a list of proposed projects for 2010-1011. |
| Weigh In on Changes to MetroAccess |
 Capital Metro staff will recommend changes to bus services available for people with disabilities at the August 23rd Capital Metro board meeting. The board is expected to take action on the proposed changes in September.
Changes being considered will impact who is eligible for services, how eligibility is determined, Call Center hours of operation and the taxi voucher program. Learn more about the current MetroAccess services and some of the changes being considered on the Capital Metro website. There is also a link for asking questions or giving feedback on the proposed changes. |
| Multicultural Career Expo | | The Multi-Ethnic Chamber Alliance will hold its 4th Annual Multicultural Career and Opportunities Expo this Friday, August 6th at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on North IH-35. About 50 employers are expected to participate in the jobs fair. There will also be training sessions on resume development, job hunting techniques, interviewing skills and international trade.
The Multi Ethnic Chamber Alliance is a partnership between the Austin Asian American Chamber of Commerce, the Capital City African American Chamber of Commerce, and the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. This year's Career Expo is offered in partnership with the City of Austin. |
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| Apply for CAN Community Council | | The CAN Community Council is now accepting applications for new members. Get to know the issues in our community and become engaged in building collaborative solutions. Apply at www.caction.org. |
| Stable Families, Healthy Community | | The CAN Board meeting on August 13th will include an update on a collaborative plan to steamline the enrollment of families and individuals in multiple benefit programs. CAN joined five other community partners in writing and submitting a grant to help fund the launching of an initiative to use Medicaider to screen people for Medicaid, CHIP, MAP, SNAP and TANF. The meeting begins at 1:00 p.m. and will be broadcast live on Cable Channel 6. |
| Forum on Health Indicators | | The CAN Community Council will continue its series of forums on the CAN Community Dashboard Indicators with a forum on the health indicators on Monday, August 16th. The forum begins at 5:30 p.m. and will be broadcast live on Cable Channel 6. |
| Follow CAN's Tweets |  Get short, timely updates on meetings, research and more on CAN_Austin. |
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| Spotlight on Early Childhood |  Forty percent of Austin children enter school two years developmentally behind, according to I Live Here, I Give Here's new Spotlight on Early Childhood. Investments in early childhood education are some of the most effective social investments we can make. I Live Here, I Give Here spotlights a new issue each month and highlights the non-profit organizations working to address it. The mission of the organization is to raise awareness and encourage more philanthropic support and giving in the Austin are.
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| Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan | | The Austin City Council and other City Boards and Commissions are currently tweaking the Vision for Austin's future for the Imaging Austin Comprehensive Plan. This plan will provide broad-level guidance on how Austin will grow and develop into the future. According to the City Charter, the Comprehensive Plan contains "the council's policies for growth, development and beautification of the land within the corporate limits and the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the city."
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| "What a Difference a Friend Makes" Contest | |
SAMHSA and the Ad Council have announced a contest for videos and essays that share how a friend has helped someone through his/her recovery of a mental health problem. Friendship and support are key aspects for recovery. The video and essay contest will help promote the powerful testimonies of friends supporting each other through recovery. Entries must be received by the end of August. Learn more. |
| Stepping Stones to Recovery | |
The Texas Homeless Network will offer training for service providers who wish to help people who are homeless apply for federal disability benefits. The SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access and Recovery (SOAR) training will take place August 19th & 20th at the Norris Conference Center. This training offers an introduction to the Social Security Administration Programs and helps develop the skills necessary to assist people who are homeless in applying for SSI and SSDI. |
| Plan to Create Permanent Supportive Housing |
The City of Austin will hold two sessions in August to get public input on strategies to create 350 permanent supportive housing units within four years. On March 25th, the City Council passed a historic resolution directing staff to develop a strategy that would prioritize housing resources - both local and federal - for permanent supportive housing for residents most vulnerable to homelessness. The City Health and Human Services Department and Neighborhood Housing and Community Development Department are seeking public input to develop a plan for achieving that goal. The proposed strategies will be presented to Council on October 1.
The Community Input Sessions will be held at the Street-Jones Building, 1000 E. 11th Street:
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Tuesday, August 17th 10 a.m. to noon
- Monday, August 23rd 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
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| Duty to Care: Coming Together Around Military Families |  The Zero to Three organization is offering a free training for professionals who serve military families. Healthcare, early childhood education, and mental health professionals are invited to participate in the training September 8th & 9th at the Renaissance Austin Hotel. The training will provide opportunities to gain an understanding of the challenges facing military families and children. Learn more and register at www.zerotothree.org/ctamf.
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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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