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September 21, 2011 

Americans Living in Poverty Hits Record

A record number of Americans were living below the Federal Poverty Level in 2010 according to an Austin American Statesman report on new data released by the U.S. Census Bureau.   The Texas poverty rate was higher than the national rate. Comparable local data will be released later this fall.

poverty rate graph 2011

The Statesman article quotes Center for Public Policy Priorities' Frances Deviney as stating that population growth and an increase in low-wage jobs combined to drive Texas' poverty rate up.  She noted that Texas and Mississippi share the designation of having the highest percentage of hourly workers who earn minimum wage or less. 

 

The new Census data also show that Texas remains in first place as the state with the largest percentage of people with no health insurance. 

Funding Cuts to Women's Health

A National Public Radio story this week featured the impact of the 82nd State Legislature's decision to cut funding to family planning clinics by two-thirds. The funding was targeted as a way to prevent abortions and contraception, even though the family planning clinics do not offer abortions.  The NPR story quotes Dr. Celia Neveal, Director of Adolescent Health at the People's Community Clinic in East Austin as saying the cuts will deal a devastating blow to women's health in Texas, "that particular funding was used obviously for birth control, but also Pap smears, breast cancer screening, for diabetes, thyroid disorders, anemia, (and) high cholesterol."

 

The article notes concerns that the funding cuts will increase the number of unwanted teen pregnancies in Texas.  An estimated 300,000 women will loose health services, resulting in an estimated 20,000 unplanned births. The report states, "In San Antonio alone, unplanned children born to teens would fill 175 kindergarten classrooms each year."

Federal Authorities Say Criminalizing School Mis-Behavior Must Stop

A recent article in the Washington Post notes that U.S. District Attorney Eric Holder and Education Secretary Arne Duncan have spoken out in opposition to practices in Texas and elsewhere to use citations, ticketing, suspensions and arrests to impose school order. A report by Texas Appleseed found that 275,000 tickets were issued to students in Texas in 2009; one as young as five years of age.  The report found that African American and special education students were much more likely than their peers to be discretionarily disciplined at school. According to the Post article, federal officials want to limit punishments that send students from the classroom to the courtroom.

Austin ISD Approves Budget

AiISD_logoAISD Board of Trustees has unanimously approved a 2011-2012 school district budget of $974,270,872. The tax rate on maintenance and operations remains the same; the tax rate for debt service is increasing 1.5 cents to support debt costs previously authorized by voters through the 2004 and 2008 bond proposition elections. 

 

The budget reflects gap closing measures of $39.7 million, and provides for full-day pre-kindergarten, funding to comply with the 22-1 pupil teacher ratio in the early elementary grades, an additional planning period for secondary teachers, funding for magnet school transportation, and funding for the early college programs.

 

Board President Mark Williams and Superintendent Meria Carstarphen advised that the next year's budget will continue to be challenging as the district faces additional state reductions of as much as $20 million.

 

In This Issue
Cuts to Women's Health
Feds Say Stop Criminalizing School Mis-Behavior
Austin ISD Approves Budget
Central Health Approves Tax Increase
What Transportation Projects Should be Funded?
Reducing Health Disparities
Tax Center Volunteers Needed
NAMI Walks
Housing + Transportation
Community Resources 101

Deadline to Apply for CAN Community Council is Sept 30

Local Impact of State Budget Cuts

Members of the Travis County legislative delegation will join CAN Board members at their meeting October 14th to discuss the local impact of state budget cuts.  The meeting will be from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. in the Boards and Commissions Room at Austin City Hall and will be broadcast and streamed live on Cable Channel 6

Butler Award Nominations Open

The Spirit of Collaboration Butler Award, named for former CAN Executive Director Fred Butler, recognizes efforts that have brought people, organizations, and groups together to address community needs.  Collaborations may be CAN Issue Area Groups or other collaborative initiatives in Austin and Travis County that help to further the mission and vision of the Community Action Network.   Nominations close Oct. 28th.  Click here to learn more.   
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Central Health Approves 2012 Budget

Central HealthThe Central Health Board of Managers has approved increasing the health care taxing district's tax rate from 7.27-cents per $100 of assessed property valuation to 7.89-cents. Travis County Commissions Court approved the budget yesterday. The budget will bring in an estimated $75 million in property tax revenues, which will be leveraged with other funding to provide $118 million in health care services and delivery.

 

Since it was created as a health care taxing district in 2004, Central Health has expanded enrollment in the Medical Access Program (MAP) from 8,466 enrollees in 2005 to more than 20,000 in 2011.  Over the last four years, Central Health has increased the number of primary care visits it funds by almost 60%.  The new budget will allow Central Health to further expand CommUnity Care, the non-profit corporation that operates 20 health clinics, which will result in serving an additional 43,000 people.  In 2012, Central Health will fund the start-up of a Medicaid HMO, Sendero Health Plans.  Sendero will provide Medicaid managed care in the eight-county Central Texas region and will manage the care of MAP patients.  Learn more about the Central Health budget at www.centralhealth.net.

CAMPO Seeks Input on Transportation Priorities 

The Austin area is expected to receive over $126 million in federal transportation funding in 2012-2014. The Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization is seeking public input on which transportation projects should receive priority for that funding.  Cities, counties and transportation providers in the five-county metro area have submitted applications for nearly $775 million in transportation projects, but only a portion of those can be funded and public input is needed to help CAMPO prioritize these projects.  Go on-line to www.campotexas.org to review the requests and comment on them.  A public hearing will be held on Monday, September 26th at 6 p.m. in the Joe C. Thompson Center, 2405 East Campus Drive. The public comment period closes September 30th at 5 p.m.

Integral Care Joins National Effort to Reduce Health Disparities

Integral Care has joined with the Office of Minority Health through a formal partnership with the National Partnership for Action. The goal of the partnership is to increase awareness of health care services, behavioral and physical, through culturally sensitive education. Integral Care will be obligated to increase the activities that support the mission of the National Partnership for Action through strategies tailored for the local community and measurable outcomes. For more information or to learn what other communities are doing, go to: www.minorityhhealth.hhs.gov/npa/.

 

Volunteers Needed to Help Families Complete Tax Returns

Foundation Communities is looking for volunteers, especially Spanish speaking volunteers, for their Community Tax Centers program. Over 700 volunteers are needed to help 20,000 families complete their 2012 income tax forms.  Many low-income people are eligible to receive tax credits and refunds, but don't know it and will not receive the funds unless they complete and submit their income tax form. In 2011 Foundation Communities helped 17,000 low income families get back $30 million in Earned Income Tax Credits and regular tax refunds. The average income of the families served was $18,000. Learn more at the 6th Annual Volunteer Kick-off Lunch on September 28th from noon to 1:00 p.m. at Skyline Terrace Apartments.  To RSVP or for more information e-mail [email protected].

 

NAMI Walks to Support Mental Health

NAMI WalksHonorary Chairs for this year's NAMI Walk to raise funds and awareness for mental health are Travis County Sheriff Greg Hamilton and Judge Nancy Hohengarten. The family-friendly event will be held on Saturday, October 8th.  The walk begins with live music on the north shore of Lady Bird Lake and will proceed along Congress Avenue to the State Capital and back.  Start a walking team or join another walking team and learn more at the NAMI Walks website.

Connecting Affordable Homes to Transit-Oriented Development

housing plus transit 2011Mayor Lee Leffingwell will join panelists from Atlanda, Denver, Minneapolis and Salt Lake City to discuss best practices for connecting affordable housing and transit-oriented development at a symposium on Friday, October 21st from 1 - 5:30 p.m. at the UT LBJ School of Public Affairs. The symposium is presented by HousingWorks and by the Opportunity Forum at the University of Texas. HousingWorks will also host a Saturday morning symposium for neighborhood leaders with the speakers.  Learn more about both events at www.housingworksaustin.org.

Learn to Use 2-1-1 to Connect People to Resources

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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.