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February 16, 2011
Texas on the Brink - How We Rank
The Legislative Study Group, a caucus of liberal-leaning state legislators, has released the fifth edition of Texas on the Brink, a report that shows where Texas ranks among the 50 states on a host of indicators. 
  
Texas is near the top in:
  • 1st in number of executions
  • 1st in children with no health insurance
  • 1st in non-elderly adults with no health insurance
  • 1st in carbon dioxide emissions
  • 1st in toxic chemicals released into water
  • 2nd in births
  • 2nd in total public school enrollment
Texas is at or near the bottom in:
  • 50th in percent of pregnant women receiving prenatal care in the first trimester
  • 50th in percent of population over age 25 with a high school diploma
  • 50th in workers' compensation coverage
  • 50th on per capita spending on mental health
  • 49th in per capita spending on Medicaid
  • 49th in percent of low-income population covered by Medicaid
  • 49th in average credit score
  Click here to download the full report.
Moderate Expansion for Texas Economy
The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas reports the Texas economy is gradually improving with "with some notable acceleration in the final weeks of 2010 and 2011." Texas jobs grew at an annual rate of 1.7 percent in November and 3 percent in December.
employment graph
Existing home sales have begun to stabilize and other indices of
economic activity are also improving.  However, the Federal Reserve Bank article cautions, "Continued weakness in real
estate as well as an impending state budget shortfall may offset these positive signals to some extent."

Texas KIDS COUNT

kids count databook 2011The Center for Public Policy Priorities has released the 18th annual Texas KIDS COUNT data book, The State of Texas Children.  A breakfast briefing on the new data was rescheduled due to snow and will now be held on Friday, March 11th. National guest speaker, Bruce Lesley, president of First Focus, will give a national perspective on how we invest in our kids. Texas Kids Count Director, Frances Deviney, will give an overview of how kids are doing in Travis County and across Texas.  Click here to register and for more information.
Texas Ranks 48th on Child Health Scorecard

The Commonwealth Fund's recently released State Scorecard on Child Health System Performance examines states' performance on 20 key indicators of children's health care access, affordability of care, prevention and treatment, and health system equity.  The report ranks Texas 48th overall across all indicators.

In This Issue
Texas Economy Expands
KIDS COUNT
Scorecard on Child Health
Austin Energy Seek Input
Transit Needs Survey
Community Technology Symposium
ECT Stewardship Awards
East Riverside Corridor Planning
Community Resources 101
Local Impact of State Budget Cuts
CAN Community Council to Take Closer Look at Single Parents
CAN Overview
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Events Calendar

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Austin Energy Seeks Input on Low-Income Energy Assistance
Austin Energy is in the process of re-evaluating its rate structure with likely rate increases.  The city-owned utility is also re-evaluating its Customer Assistance Program that provides utility 
assistance to low-income customers.  The utility is seeking input on a potential new low-income assistance program with a brief 15-question survey.    
Survey of Transit Needs
RTCC logoThe Capital Area Regional Transit Coordination Committee (RTCC) is seeking input on unmet transportation needs to help guide a new Transit Coordination Plan for the Capital Area. The RTCC represents more than 25 organizations that are responsible for providing public transportation services or health and human services, or are interested in the coordination of public transit and client transportation services in the 10-county Capital Area region.  The goal of the RTCC is to develop and implement a plan for a seamless transportation system that achieves efficiencies, eliminates duplication, increases coordination, and addresses service gaps.  The ad hoc committee serves as the Transportation Issue Area Group for the Community Action Network.

The RTCC invites transportation consumers, particularly those who have a hard time getting around the region, to share their input through a survey now through February 25th.  To take the survey  visit http://www.capitalareaRTCC.org and click on the survey link.  To request a hard copy of the survey contact Stevie Greathouse, 512-974-9715, [email protected].

Community Technology Symposium
Austin Connects is hosting the 2nd Annual Community Technology Symposium on Tuesday, March 1st at AMD's Lone Star Campus in southwest Austin. The mission of Austin Connects and the role of the symposium is to provide educational and networking opportunities in support of digital literacy and inclusion. The symposium will focus on the different facets of digital inclusion and access such as engaging youth, digital storytelling, accessibility and instructional technology. The opening plenary will be delivered by Austin City Councilmember Laura Morrison, and the lunchtime keynote speaker, Kami Griffiths of the San Francisco Bay Area Community Technology Network, will bring a national voice to the digital inclusion landscape in Central Texas.
Envision Central Texas Community Stewardship Awards
Applications for the 2011 Envision Central Texas Community Stewardship Awards are being accepted through February 25th at noon. 
The ECT Community Stewardship Awards recognize and

honor the innovative people, projects and processes that are addressing the growth challenges facing our region in ways that will move us closer to a vision for our future that preserves and enhances our natural resources, economic vitality, social equity, and overall quality of living.

Local non-profit and community organizations, businesses, cities, counties, developers, builders,

designers, media, neighborhood groups and others based in the five-county Central Texas region are encouraged to submit applications for the sixth annual ECT Community Stewardship Awards. Self-nominations or nominations by others are welcome.  

East Riverside Corridor:  Planning for Future Growth
East Riverside CorridorThe City of Austin seeks input on developing a master plan for the East Riverside Corridor from I-35 to Highway 71. The City is now creating zoning and design regulations to guide growth and development in the Corridor and to transform it to a walkable, vibrant, transit-oriented, and attractive area that provides housing options for people with a range of incomes and provides a great place to live, work and shop for long-time residents and newcomers alike.
 
A workshop from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, February 26th will seek input on where to encourage new development and how to balance new development with existing neighborhoods. The results of this workshop will be shared at a public Forum on Thursday, March 10th from 6 - 8:30 p.m.  Both meetings will be held at Parker Lane United Methodist Church, 2105 Parker Lane.  Light Refreshments will be provided. Bus Routes nearby: 7, 300, 320, 331. For more information visit: www.EastRiversideCorridor or contact Alan Holt at [email protected] or 512-974-2716. 
Community Resources 101
HelpUnited Way Capital Area and 2-1-1 Texas are offering an on-going series of free trainings on community services for front-line staff and volunteers.  Participants will learn when to use 2-1-1 Texas and how to search the 2-1-1 Texas database to find information about available community resources.  Click here to registerClick here to view scheduled trainings.
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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 as a convener, connector and informer helps our community: 
 
- 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 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, Interfaith Action of Central Texas, 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, 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.