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Incarceration - No Place for Kids |
A report released this week by the Annie E. Casey Foundation finds that locking up juvenile offenders does little to reduce crime. The report "No Place For Kids: the Case for Reducing Juvenile Incarceration" compares Texas and California to make its point. From 1995 to 2005, Texas increased its juvenile incarceration rate by 45% while California decreased its youth incarceration rate by 75%. In spite of these opposite approaches, both states had almost identical declining rates of felony crime arrests for youth aged 10 to 17.
Investigations of the Texas Youth Commission in the wake of a sex-abuse scandal in 2007 led to the agency being placed in receivership. Since that time, Texas has reversed course on juvenile incarceration. The Texas Youth Commission's daily confined population has fallen from 4,800 at the end of August 2006 to 2,250 in August 2009 and 1,800 by August 2010. Even though fewer juvenile offenders are being incarcerated in Texas, juvenile felony arrests have continued to decline. |
Austin Has Second Best GDP Growth in U.S. |
The Austin Chamber's monthly Economic Indicators Report notes that Austin was, economically, one of the best performing large U.S. metro areas in 2010.
| Economic Indicators Report GACC |
83% of the nation's large metropolitan statistical areas saw improvements in their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from 2009 to 2010. Austin's GDP growth rate of 7% out-paced all other metros but San Jose and exceeded the national average of 2.5% GDP growth. |
Half of Texas Physicians May Drop Medicare |
A survey of physicians by the Texas Medical Association reports that one-half of Texas physicians are considering opting out of Medicare if proposed 10% - 29.5% cuts in the Medicare fee schedules take place. 32% of the physicians surveyed by TMA already limit the acceptance of new Medicare patients, but another 50% report they will opt out all together if the new cuts take effect in January 2012. The TMA reports that seniors, military families and Texans with disabilities will be at serious risk of losing their doctor. |
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Nominations Open
for Butler Award |
Do you know of a collaboration that has been effective at bringing people and groups together to address community needs? Consider nominating the collaboration for the 2011 Spirit of Collaboration Butler Award. The deadline for nominations is October 28th. |
Local Impact of State Budget Cuts | Members of the Texas Legislative delegation will join the CAN Board of Directors to discuss the local impacts of State budget cuts at the next CAN Board meeting on Friday, October 14th. The 1 p.m. meetings will be televised and streamed on-line at Cable Channel 6. |
Community Council: Focus on Sustainability | Imagine Austin and the UT Office of Sustainability will share perspectives on what it means to create a sustainable community at the next CAN Community Council meeting. The meeting on Monday, October 17th will take place in the City Council chambers at 6 p.m. and will be televised on Cable Channel 6. |
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Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan |
The City of Austin has released a draft Comprehensive Plan that outlines how our community will grow over the next thirty years. The Imagine Austin Plan was developed over the past two years with the input of thousands of Austinites. Once adopted by Austin City Council, the Plan will guide policies and regulations as well as investments of tax dollars. Read the draft plan and share what you think the top priorities for the City should be over the next several decades by visiting the www.ImagineAustin.net.
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Austin Wins Community Transformation Grant to Improve Health |
Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department (ATCHHSD) was awarded a 5 year grant ($1,026,158 for the first year) for policy changes to increase physical activity, improve nutrition, reduce tobacco use and improve clinical prevention services.
This grant is a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Community Transformation Grants to support public health efforts to reduce chronic diseases, promote healthier lifestyles, reduce health disparities, and control health care spending.
Dr. Phil Huang, Medical Director for ATCHHSD notes that chronic diseases account for 70% of all deaths and 75% of all medical costs, yet they are also the most preventable. Learn more. |
Austin ISD Strategic Plan Update |
The AISD Strategic Plan for 2010-2015 was approved by the Board of Trustees in December 2009. The second annual review of the Strategic Plan is currently underway, and the district seeks your input.
The Strategic Plan includes Goals, Strategies, and Key Action Steps, as well as several performance measures to assess the District's progress. The Strategic Plan guides other planning of the district, including the Budget and District Improvement Plan (DIP). The Strategic Plan is available on the Power of Us website. An annual Scorecard reports on the District's success at meeting the targets set to achieve the Strategic Plan goals. |
Free Flu Shots |
The Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department is offering free flu shots for uninsured and under-insured Travis County residents six months of age and older and all Medicare recipients (please bring card).
While some of the flu vaccine clinics do not require an appointment, other clinics are set up on an appointment-only basis for the public's convenience. Click here for locations and appointment information. |
Breakfast of Champions |
The Central Texas Afterschool Network will host the 9th Annual Breakfast of Champions event, "Champions for Change," on Tuesday, October 18th from 8:30-10:00 a.m. at Mercury Hall. Breakfast of Champions celebrates people and organizations making impacts in the afterschool community through guest speakers, presentations, and an awards ceremony. This year's event will also feature new findings from a youth services mapping study funded by the KDK-Harman Foundation. For more information and to register, visit http://www.ctanweb.org/committees/boc.php. |
Free Citizenship Counseling and Information |
People who are interested in learning how to become a U.S. citizen are invited to participate in a free citizenship event on Saturday, October 22nd at the ACC Riverside Campus. Participants will learn about the requirements for U.S. citizenship and potential obstacles. The event will include a swearing-in ceremony for new citizens. Learn more and download fliers for the event at the Immigrant Services Network of Austin website. |
Reach Out and Read - an Important Rx for Child Health |
Reach Out and Read medical providers and early childhood professionals from across Texas will gather for a Reach Out and Read Texas Summit on Friday, October 28th in the Historic Austin City Limits Studios at KLRU. Reach Out and Read is a national, pediatric literacy program that seeks to make early literacy a standard part of pediatric primary healthcare in Texas. Over 200,000 books were given to children and their parents in health clinics and hospitals last year.
The day-long conference will feature the CEO of Reach Out and Read, the President and CEO of Sesame Workshop, and medical and educational researchers. Presentations will focus on improving program quality and school readiness. Learn more.
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Homeless Resource Fair |
Ending Community Homelessness Coalition (ECHO) will host the 3rd Annual Homeless Resource Fair on Saturday November 5th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Pan Am Center Recreation Center, 2100 East 3rd St. Each year, this event links hundreds of homeless individuals and families with community resources. It provides attendees with medical services (wellness screenings, HIV testing and counseling, flu shots, vision screening, massages, etc.), referrals to social service agencies, haircuts, food, and much more.
You can help by:
- donating items such as socks, reading glasses, winter hats and gloves;
- loaning tables for the day;
- letting clients know about the fair;
- signing up to have a booth at the event; or
- volunteering.
Learn more at http://www.austinecho.org/HRF. |
100 Homes Campaign - Housing the Most Vulnerable |
Ending Community Homelessness Coalition (ECHO) is launching a 100 Homes Campaign to identify and house the most medically fragile and vulnerable people living on the streets of Austin. ECHO is seeking volunteers to help survey and interview people who are homeless during Austin Registry Week, beginning November 7th. The information collected will be used to create a by-name registry that will serve to prioritize those homeless individuals who have been living on the streets the longest and quickly move them into permanent housing. Austin is one of 34 communities participating in the national 100,000 Homes Campaign by Common Ground that seeks to house 100,000 of the most vulnerable people over the next three years. |
Community Resources 101 - Connecting 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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Community Action Network (CAN) is a partnership of agencies and organizations in Austin and Travis County working together to create a community of equity and opportunity. CAN's role in the community is to ... - 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/Success By 6, 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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