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Local Community Prepares for Budget Cuts |
Of the $15 billion in State budget cuts over the 2012-2013 biennium, $11 billion will be in the area of Health and Human Services. One of the most significant budget cuts will be to Medicaid provider reimbursement rates that will make it more difficult for clients to access care. In their meeting last Friday, the CAN Board discussed these and other impacts to the local community. Other key impacts discussed include housing for low to moderate-income individuals, public education, family planning, criminal justice diversion programs, and college financial aid.
Click here to view a presentation that highlights the impacts of the 82nd Legislative session. You can also see a recording of the CAN Board discussion on Cable Channel 6 under the City Council tab. For more details on cuts, click here. |
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Texas' Child Population Growth Concentrated in Eight Urban Counties | |
The Texas population grew at twice the national rate from 2000 to 2010, and much of that growth is attributable to growth in the child population. A recent report by the Center for Public Policy Priorities notes that Texas' child population growth accounted for more than half of the total U.S. child population growth over the decade.
Two-thirds of child population growth in Texas occured in eight urban counties, including Travis County. Hispanic account for a majority of the child population increase and the number of White children in the state has actually decreased from 2000 to 2010. 96% of all children in Texas are U.S. citizens. Read Texas' Child Population: More Kids, More Diversity, More Responsibility. |
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F for Fat: Texas is 12th Most Obese State |
 Texas was named the 12th most obese state in the country, according to the eighth annual F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America's Future 2011, a report from the Trust for America's Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). Texas's adult obesity rate is 30.1 percent. Adult obesity rates increased in 16 states in the past year and did not decline in any state. Twelve states including Texas now have obesity rates over 30 percent. Four years ago, only one state was above 30 percent. Obesity rates exceed 25 percent in more than two-thirds of all states. |
| City Hosts Meet-and-Greet on Social Services |
The City of Austin Human Resources Department will host a Community Meet-and-Greet to present information on a range of services for veterans, the disabled and those looking for affordable housing or needing advice if facing certain forms of discrimination.
This community event will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 16th at the George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center, 1165 Angelina St. |
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Affordable Homes Open House |
The City of Austin will celebrate a Ribbon-Cutting and Grand Opening for 12 homes recently built for low- to moderate-income homebuyers. Through a special State of Texas program to create affordable housing, these brand new homes are available for $110,000 at 0% interest with no money down to buyers who meet program guidelines.
The July 15 ribbon-cutting will mark the completion of the Frontier at Montana subdivision in Austin's Montopolis neighborhood. City of Austin's Chief of Staff Anthony Snipes will attend along with Frontier at Montana residents who have been assisted by the affordability program. City leaders will share how Austinites can qualify for the program.
There will be a Community Open House on Saturday, July 16, from 9 am to 1 pm at 6901 Montana Street. View flyer for more details. |
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Report on Community Needs and Trends | |
 Over 326,000 calls were made to 2-1-1 last year requesting referrals and help connecting to resources in Central Texas. This represents a 22% increase from calls received in the previous year. United Way Capital Area has released a Community Needs and Trends report for 2010 that summarizes the help people requested after calling 2-1-1.
Community Resources 101 is a free training for volunteers and front line staff on how to use 2-1-1 to refer people to the help they need. Trainings are held the last Friday of every month from 2-4 p.m. at the United Way, 2000 E. MLK Boulevard. Call 2-1-1 the day of the training to confirm that the training is taking place. |
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Apply for CAN Community Council | | The CAN Community Council is now accepting applications for new members. Learn about the issues in our community and help build collaborative solutions. Apply at www.caction.org. |
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Connecting People to Resources | | The CAN Community Council will learn about collaborative efforts to connect families and individuals to resources at its meeting this Monday, July 18th. The forum begins at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall 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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| Facing foreclosure? Apply for help! | |
 Homeowners facing foreclosure can apply for up to $50,000 in mortgage assistance. A federal Emergency Homeowners' Loan program is now available in Texas. Pre-screening applications will be accepted through July 22, 2011.
Mortgage assistance is available for up to $50,000 for up to 24 months through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The program seeks to assist homeowners who have become unemployed or underemployed due to the economic downturn or a medical condition. Visit www.ehlptexas.org or call (877) 417-8272. |
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Strategies to Improve Texans' Financial Readiness to Pay for College |  A college education provides opportunities for Texans to obtain good jobs and achieve greater economic security. A new report by the Center for Public Policy Priorities looks at strategies to improve Texans' financial readiness to pay for college.
Although enrollment at Texas' public colleges and universities has increased 47 percent since 2000, low-income high school students are less likely to enroll in college than other students, and only half of all high school graduates enroll in college after their senior year. Read "Ready, Steady, Go! Strategies to Improve Texans' Financial Readiness to Pay for College."
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Police Monitor Six Month Update |
 The Office of the Police Monitor has completed a "year in review" for 2009 and a report for the first six months of 2010. In 2009, the Office was contacted 1,595 times, an increase of 6 percent from 2008. Of these contacts, 1,358 were from the public and 676 of those resulted in some form of complaint being filed against one or more members of the Austin Police Department.
The most common complaints filed, both internally and externally, are for Code of Conduct violations, which include impartial attitude, courtesy, duty to identify as a police officer and neutrality in civil actions. While African Americans make up 8% of the Austin population, they accounted for 25% of complaints filed in the first six months of 2010. The office also reports that African Americans and Hispanics are more likely to be searched after a traffic stop than Caucasians. |
| Transportation - Key to Going Green |
 The Multi-Ethnic Chamber Alliance and the City of Austin will host a luncheon for businesses on Thursday, July 21st at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on North IH-35. One lucky attendee will win an opportunity to drive a 2011 Chevy Volt for one-week.
The Austin Asian American, Capital City African American and Greater Austin Hispanic Chambers of Commerce have teamed up with the support of the City of Austin Economic Growth and Redevelopment Services Office to bring the Greater Austin Community information on how to become Green Business Leaders. Click here to learn more and register. |
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Conference for Directors of Volunteers | | Directors of Volunteers in Austin (DOVIA) will hold its annual conference for volunteer management professionals on August 12th at St. Edward's University. Sessions will cover using social media, making effective presentation, internships, building a volunteer program and utilizing the media to share your message. For more information, visit the DOVIA website. |
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 Working to promote equity and opportunity. Community Action Network (CAN) is a partnership of agencies, organizations and individuals who work together to enhance the social, health, educational and economic well-being of Central Texas. CAN's role is to enhance awareness of community issues, strengthen partnerships, and support collaborative strategies to promote equity and opportunity.
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 Central Texas (iACT), One Voice Central Texas, Seton Healthcare Family, 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, HousingWorks, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Coalition, Literacy Coalition of Central Texas, Ready by 21, Reentry Roundtable, Regional Transit Coordination Committee and Success by Six. |
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