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Low-Wage Jobs Replace High-Wage Jobs |
From May of 2010 to May of 2011, the ten county Central Texas region saw a growth of 11,000 jobs, with 7,000 of those jobs in Travis County. But the new jobs do not pay as well as the ones that have disappeared. In its 2011 mid-year economic review, the Capital Area Council of Governments reports that high-wage jobs are disappearing, while low-wage jobs are growing. The six highest-paying private sector industries have all experienced employment declines since November 2008.
Most of the private sector employment gains have been in low-skill, low-wage industries.
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Police Report 36% Increase in Gang Members |
Austin Police Sergeant Gregory Thrash told members of the Austin Public Safety Commission Monday night that local law enforcement has documented a 36% increase in gang members in Austin over the past year. By the Police Department's most current count, 2,657 people belong to 113 gangs in Austin. You can view APD's presentation to the Commission on the growth of gang activity in Austin and on the possible connections between local gangs and the Mexican drug cartes on Cable Channel 6.
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San Antonio Bans Smoking in Public Housing |
Beginning in January of 2012, the San Antonio Housing Authority will prohibit residents from smoking indoors or away from designated outdoor smoking areas at all 70 of its public housing sites. The ban, which will affect about 15,800 residents, aims to protect nonsmokers from secondhand smoke and follows a growing nationwide trend to eliminate smoking at public housing authorities.
Since 2009, when the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development issued a directive that "strongly" encouraged housing authorities to adopt nonsmoking policies, the number of agencies that have banned the practice has more than doubled to an estimated 250, according to the Smoke Free Environments Law Project, a Michigan nonprofit that tracks the number.
San Antonio will become the largest housing authority in Texas and one of the largest in the country to adopt a smoking ban, joining other major agencies in Boston, Detroit, Portland and Seattle.
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Suicide Prevention: True Stories of Hope & Help |
 Suicide is the third leading killer of young people and the second leading killer of college students nation-wide. But suicide is preventable. This year, in recognition of National Suicide Prevention Week, the Mental Health Association of Texas and other local agencies are sharing the stories of young people who might have been included in the suicide statistics if it were not for friends and family who recognized warning signs and took action to help. The stories will be shared at a Premier Release Party and Panel Discussion Saturday, September 10th from 1-3 p.m. at the Alamo Draft House on Anderson Lane.
As a part of National Suicide Prevention week, people are encouraged to add the Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK to their cell contacts. Mental Health America of Texas has also created a new iPhone application called " ask?" to give people quick access to warning signs and information that can save a life.
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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.
Watch the Community Council in action. The next meeting is Monday, August 15th at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall. The topic is housing, from Permanent Supportive Housing for people who are homeless to affordable housing for families. All meetings are open to the public and can also be viewed on Cable Channel 6. |
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CAN Board Meeting | | The CAN Board of Directors will meet Friday, August 12th and will consider how shifting demographics impact service delivery and coordination. Austin's new Health and Human Services Director, Carlos Rivera, will discuss plans to embark on a new Community Health Improvement Plan. Board members will also learn how the Texas Benefit Bank can help connect community members to resources. The meeting begins at 1:00 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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Disproportionality: How Do We Create a Community of Equity? |
The Austin Disproportionality Advisory Committee will host a Town Hall meeting tomorrow night at the Carver Branch of the Austin Public Libary to discuss disproportionality. Disproportionality is the overrepresentation of a particular race or cultural group in a program or system. For example, African-American children are represented in the Texas Child Protective Services system at a higher rate than their percentage of the population. Learn why it happens, who is affected by it, and what is being done to end it. The Town Hall meeting will be held on Thursday, August 4th from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided. For more information, contact Rev. Ray Hendrickts, 512-293-6273. |
| Grant to Create Community Health Improvement Plan | |
Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department is one of 12 health departments nation-wide to receive grant funding to initiate and complete a robust community health improvement process in preparation for the new, voluntary, national accreditation process for public health departments due to launch in September. With support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, each local health department received $35,000 to develop a community health assessment and a community health improvement plan, two of the three prerequisites that every health department must complete before applying for accreditation. Carlos Rivera, the new Director of Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services will share information about the grant, awarded by the National Association of County and City Health
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Townhall Discussion on Impact of Health Care Reform |
 Austin Travis County Integral Care will host an interactive townhall to discuss the Affordable Care Act (Healthcare Reform) and how it will impact our community on Tuesday, August 23rd from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Texas Council of Community Centers Health Care Policy Director Melissa Rowan will provide an overview of the Affordable Care Act including the various stages of implementation and how the proposed provisions will impact people with behavioral health and intellectual and developmental disabilities in our community.
There will also be an audience Q & A moderated by Integral Care Executive Director David Evans. A portion of the audience questions will be drawn from questions submitted via Twitter and through the ATCIC website.
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Free Immunizations and Health Screenings |
Local health care organizations are partnering to offer free immunizations, health screenings and more at the Rundberg Summer Health Fair on Saturday, August 13th from 9 a.m. to noon. In addition to connecting to resources like vision screening, behavioral health services, smoking cessation and nutrition education, there will be live music, children's activities, food, and giveaways. |
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Seventh Annual Back to School Bash | |
Austin ISD and the City of Austin will help students and parents gear up for a successful and safe start to the new school year with the Seventh Annual Back to School Bash on Saturday, August 13th at the Austin Convention Center. Backpacks filled with bicycle helmets and school supplies will be given away. Free immunizations will be available, while supplies last, but students must bring a copy of their shot records.
Activities will include the Safe Walk to School, designed to help students develop safe walking habits to and from school and bus stops; and the Safety Fair, sponsored by the Austin School District Police, that includes a bike rodeo, bicycle helmet fittings, and safety demonstrations. The Bash will also provide valuable school-related information and activities for children and their parents.
Free shuttles will be available every 30 minutes beginning at 8:30 a.m. from the following locations:
- Reagan High School, 7104 Berkman Dr.
- Austin High School, 1715 W. Cesar Chavez St.
- One Texas Center, 505 Barton Springs Road
- Mendez Middle School, 5106 Village Square
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New CHIP/Children's Medicaid Brochures Available |
 Just in time for back-to-school events, the CHIP/Children's Medicaid General Rack Brochure has been updated, reprinted, and is now ready for distribution. The newly revised brochure has the most recent income guidelines chart, reflecting federal income guideline changes effective March 2011. Click here to see the new English/Spanish brochures and to order the new brochures. |
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Striking a Balance Conference | |
The 10th Annual Striking a Balance conference will take place at Norris Conference Center in Austin on September 9th and 10th. The first day of the conference is targeted to professionals who care for the elderly and the second day will be tailored for informal family caregivers.
Dr. Jamie Huysman, a leading authority and expert on caregiver issues, will address both groups. On Friday, he will highlight the Standards for Social Work Practice with Family Caregivers of Older Adults, which was released by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) in November 2010. In addition, he will speak on compassion fatigue and mental health, and addictions and co-addictions in caregiving. Continuing Education Units will be provided for social workers in this portion of the conference.
On Saturday, September 10, Dr. Huysman will be the keynote speaker for the family caregiver portion of the conference. The day will also include workshops on subjects of interest to all caregivers, with experts available for questions. A copy of Voices of Caregiving: The Healing Companion will be provided to each caregiver. Respite care will be available with a reservation at Elderhaven Adult Day Care. Click here for more information and to register. |
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Striking a Balance Conference | |
The 10th Annual Striking a Balance conference will take place at Norris Conference Center in Austin on September 9th and 10th. The first day of the conference is targeted to professionals who care for the elderly and the second day will be tailored for informal family caregivers.
Dr. Jamie Huysman, a leading authority and expert on caregiver issues, will address both groups. On Friday, he will highlight the Standards for Social Work Practice with Family Caregivers of Older Adults, which was released by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) in November 2010. In addition, he will speak on compassion fatigue and mental health, and addictions and co-addictions in caregiving. Continuing Education Units will be provided for social workers in this portion of the conference.
On Saturday, September 10, Dr. Huysman will be the keynote speaker for the family caregiver portion of the conference. The day will also include workshops on subjects of interest to all caregivers, with experts available for questions. A copy of Voices of Caregiving: The Healing Companion will be provided to each caregiver. Respite care will be available with a reservation at Elderhaven Adult Day Care. Click here for more information and to register. |
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CaregiverU - Support for Family Caregivers | |
CaregiverU is a collaboration of Central Texas non-profit agencies to provide support and resources to families caring for an older loved one. The six-week course is offered in churches, libraries and community centers throughout Central Texas. The tuition for the courses is covered through a grant from St. David's Foundation and curriculum materials are provided by Area Agency on Aging of the Capital Area. The curriculum, Powerful Tools for Caregivers is a series of classes designed to empower family caregivers of older adults by helping them reduce stress, improve caregiving confidence, establish balance in their lives, communicate their needs, make tough decisions and locate helpful resources.
Visit caregiverucentx.com for a list of upcoming classes and for more details.
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Mind, Exercise, Nutrition, Do It! (MEND) | |
Chidren ages 7 - 13 and their families are invited to participate in a free, 10-week exercise and nutrition program. MEND combines three key elements of safe, effective weight management and sustained lifestyle change: healthy eating, regular physical activity, and behavior change. Children and families who attend the MEND Program learn important skills and knowledge to help them manage their weight and feel fitter, healthier, and happier for the rest of their lives.
Classes will be held at several locations and will begin in mid-September. For information on locations and times and to register, visit the Mind, Exercise, Nutrition, Do It! website.
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Learn to Use 2-1-1 to Connect People to Resources | |
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. Classes 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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 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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