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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
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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.
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."
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Texas KIDS COUNT |
The 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. |
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Local Impact of State Budget Cuts |
At this month's CAN Board of Directors meeting, partner agencies discussed the local impact of anticipated state budget cuts. Travis County shared a synopsis of budget cut impacts proposed in HB1 that was created by the Texas Conference of Urban Counties. AISD Board President Mark Williams said the state cuts leave AISD in a position of cutting 1,000 positions.
View this and other CAN Board meetings on Cable Channel 6 under the "City Council" tab.
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CAN Community Council to Take Closer Look at Single Parents |
In last year's forums on the CAN Community Dashboard indicators, the Community Council learned that children of single parents are much more likely to be low-income. On February 24th, the Community Council will take a closer look at efforts to help single parents become successful. The 5 p.m. meeting will be held in the Boards and Commissions Room at Austin City Hall and is televised and streamed live on Cable Channel 6.
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CAN Overview | Click here for a brief overview of CAN that includes highlights of 2010 accom-plishments and the 2011 Work Plan. |
Follow CAN's Tweets | Get short, timely updates on meetings, research and more on CAN_Austin. |
Events Calendar |
Keep up to date with meetings and events in the community with the CAN Community 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 |
The 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 |
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 |
The 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 | United 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 register. Click 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.
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