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Focus on Poverty in Travis County
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Travis County Research and Planning has released "Focus on Poverty in Travis County: Snapshot from the American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates 2005-2009." The report uses the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey 2005-2009 5-Year Estimates data set to look at how demographic, social, and employment characteristics and geography interact with poverty. It also explores how poverty has changed over time.
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Local Impact of State Budget Cuts
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The state budget for the 2012-23 biennium, approved and signed into law on June 17th, is $15 billion smaller than the budget for the current biennium. The Texas Association of Counties has released a six page summary outlining the new budget's impact on programs serving people at the local level.
The Texas Association of Counties will host a Post-Legislative Conference August 24th - 26th in Austin.
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Dashboard for Children and Youth
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The Ready by 21 Collaboration has published a web-based dashboard of priority outcomes and indicators of child and youth well-being. This initiative is sponsored by United Way Capital Area, Workforce Solutions Capital Area, and the Community Action Network and implemented through the Steering Group on Children and Youth, a coalition of coalitions in Central Texas.
The indicators span many areas of the lives of children and youth in our community including health, education, social responsibility and emotional resilience. The outcomes and indicators were selected through a year-long process led by the Ready by 21 Coalition, involving more than 100 representatives, 60 agencies, and 10 coalitions.
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Provide Input on Capital Metro's Budget
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 | | Capital Metro 2012 Budget Overview |
As Capital Metro begins to plan for the Fiscal Year 2012 budget, the agency would like to invite Central Texas to learn more about where Capital Metro's money comes from, how it is spent, and what they are planning for next year. They also want to hear community ideas on how they can improve the budget. Watch the video and take the survey to get involved.
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Texas Gets $6.2 Million Bonus for SNAP Payment Accuracy
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Texas received a $6.2 million federal bonus for achieving one of the highest payment accuracy rates in the nation in the SNAP food benefits program. "We've improved the enrollment process for clients and done a better job of processing applications accurately and on time," said Texas Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Tom Suehs.
Texas had a payment error rate of 2.13 percent for fiscal year 2010, compared to a national average of 3.81 percent. The payment error rate measures how well a state does at correctly calculating how much in SNAP food benefits a family should receive. The state also was honored for having the most improved program in the nation. Texas distributes more than $400 million in SNAP food benefits each month to 3.6 million Texans. Most of the program's clients are children or ages 60 and older.
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| CAN Partners Consider Impact of State Budget Cuts | |
The CAN Board of Directors will consider the cumulative impact of state budget cuts on education, workforce development, health, human services, transportation and other areas important to our community.
The meeting, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. in the City Hall Boards and Commissions Room, will be televised and streamed live on Cable Channel 6. |
| Like CAN on Facebook |  Community Action Network now has a Facebook page. Like us and Share us with your friends and social media contacts. |
| Follow CAN's Tweets |  Get short, timely updates on meetings, research and more on CAN_Austin. |
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Community Resources 101
|  2-1-1 Central Texas and United Way Capital Area are
providing an on-going series of trainings for front-line staff and
volunteers in our community. The target audience for "Community Resources 101" is new case managers or front-line staff or volunteers that help connect customers to resources in the community.
2011 Training Dates are on the last Friday of each month from 2 - 4 p.m. as follows: - Friday, July 29th from 2:00-4:00 p.m.
- Friday, August 26th from 2:00-4:00 p.m.
- Friday, September 30th from 2:00-4:00 p.m.
- Friday, October 28th from 2:00-4:00 p.m.
Trainings are held at United Way Capital Area, 2000 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Registration is not required. However, trainings could be pre-empted in case of a hurricane. Call 2-1-1 the day of the training to confirm that it is taking place. |
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Travis County Considers Parks and Transportation Bonds
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A Citizens Bond Advisory Committee is considering what parks and transportation projects should be included in a potential $150-$200 million Travis County bond election this fall. The Committee will hold three final meetings before taking their recommendations to the Travis County Commissioners Court at a public hearing on Tuesday, July 19th. Public comment is accepted at the public hearing and at each meeting of the Citizens Bond Advisory Committee.
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Conference on Tobacco-Free Housing
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Implementing tobacco-free housing policies in multi-unit complexes can save money and lives. Now is the time to join with Austin/Travis County's Live Tobacco Free efforts and other like-minded housing organizations to learn about the benefits and steps to adopting and implementing tobacco-free housing.
Austin Travis County Integral Care's Communities Coming Together: Living Tobacco Free conference will be held on Wednesday, July 20th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center. The free conference will provide housing organizations with resources and information including technical assistance on how to implement tobacco-free policies.
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Free Diabetes Classes Offered in Spanish
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The number of people with diabetes in Central Texas is soaring. According to the Office of the State Demographer and the Texas Health Institute, projections are that 1 in 4 adults in Travis County will have diabetes by 2040.
To help better educate those with the disease, the Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department, in partnership with El Buen Samaritano, announces two free series of diabetes self-management classes in Spanish starting in July. Learn to manage type 2 diabetes, prevent complications of the disease and live a healthier life. Registration is limited. Please call (512) 439-8917 to reserve your space. The four-week classes will be held Saturday mornings at St. John's Community Center and Wednesday evenings at Ruiz Library. Learn more.
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Central Texas Livability Summit
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CAMPO, the Texas Transportation Institute and the Federal Highway Administration are co-hosting the Central Texas Livability Summit on July 14th, 2011, from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm, in the Council Chambers at the Austin City Hall, 301 West 2nd Street. This year's theme is "Creating Sustainable Communities - How Can Transportation Linkages Help?"
Spend the day discussing best practices for transformative projects in Austin and Central Texas. Join with peers from other agencies, to discuss how transportation systems can best support livability, for the Austin metro area and region. Participants at this free workshop will hear the latest information on major plans and projects that are advancing livability in Central Texas.
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Help Evaluate Programs that Serve People Who are Homeless
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The Ending Community Homelessness Coalition (ECHO) has an opening for a new member of the Independent Review Team. Members of this volunteer entity review and rank local applications for over $4 million in federal funding that comes to Austin and Travis County for housing and services for people who are homeless. The Independent Review Team also provides an annual program review of agencies that were funded in the previous year. Members of the Independent Review Team may not currently work for, receive compensation from, or serve on the Board of an organization that receives or is applying for HUD CoC funding in Travis County. The application is available here: www.austinecho.org/announcements/IRTnotice. The application deadline is Friday, July 15, 2011.
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 Community Action Network (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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