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Texas Kids Fare Poorly According to National KIDS COUNT Data Book | |
 Texas ranks 44th among the states in overall child health and well-being, according to data released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation in its 2012 KIDS COUNT Data Book. The data book, which has been updated and revamped from previous versions, now also examines how children are doing in four key domains-economic well-being, education, health, and family and community.
A closer look at the Texas profile shows that our state has a higher percentage of children living in poverty than the nation as a whole, more fourth graders who are not proficient at reading, and 61 teen births per 1,000 teens compared to the national rate of 39 per 1,000 teens.
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Community Health Assessment |
 Local health partners have completed an Austin/Travis County Community Health Assessment (CHA) and are now preparing to develop a Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department, Travis County Health and Human Services and Veteran's Services, Central Health, St. David's Foundation, Seton Healthcare Family, and the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health Austin Regional Campus developed the assessment with a review of health data (see next story) and with the input of hundreds of residents and stakeholders from throughout Travis County.
The partners are now creating workgroups that will develop action plans for the following three major health priorities identified by the CHA.
- Chronic Disease (focus on obesity)
- Built Environment (focus on transportation and healthy food access)
- Access to Primary Care and Mental/Behavioral Health (focus on navigating the healthcare system)
To learn more, visit http://www.austintexas.gov/healthforum. |
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Critical Health Indicators Report |
Tobacco remains the leading cause of preventable death in Travis County, according to the Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department's recently released Critical Health Indicators Report. This inaugural report provides a snapshot of our community's health status, health behavior, and public health system performance. The report includes a section on health disparities in our community, noting that these disparities are related to race, ethnicity, access to care, income, education and other risk factors.
The age-adjusted mortality rate in Travis County has declined over the past several years and has declined the most for the Black population.
More information about this report can be found on the Health and Human Services website. |
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Eliminating Disparities Health Summit | |
The Center for Elimination of Disproportionality and Disparities will host a state-wide health summit August 15th - 17th in Austin. The summit will address a range of critically important issues with leading national experts. Attendees will examine and build on best practices in health, mental health, child welfare, education, and juvenile justice to effectively address disproportionality and disparities. For more information and registration, visit www.ceddhealthsummit.com. |
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| Applications Open for CAN Community Council Members | |
Are you interested in learning about the issues facing our community and making recommendations to policy makers on how to address those issues? Consider applying to serve on the CAN Community Council. Applications for three-year terms that begin January 2013 will be accepted through September 28th. Apply on-line.
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| 1115 Waivers -Transforming the Local Health Care System | |
The August 10th meeting of the CAN Board of Directors will focus on the 1115 Health Waivers and proposals for transforming the healthcare delivery system in our community.
Attend the meeting at 1 p.m. at City Hall or watch the meeting on Cable Channel 6. |
| Connect to Research | |
Visit the CAN website for links to new research and reports. You can also catch up on the latest CAN twitter feeds.
www.caction.org |
| Follow CAN's Tweets | |
Get short, timely updates on meetings, research and more on CAN_Austin. |
| CAN Events Calendar | |
Keep up with community events and post your own events on the CAN Community Events Calendar.
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Central Health Hearing on 2013 Budget Today | |
The Central Health Board of Managers is scheduled to discuss and approve Central Health's budget and corresponding tax rate for the 2013 Fiscal Year during the Wednesday, August 1st board meeting. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. at 1111 East Cesar Chavez Street.
The agenda includes an invitation for public comment prior to the board's discussion and vote. The proposed FY 2013 budget is at the effective rate, meaning the new tax rate will remain at the current level. Because there is no change in the rate, no public hearing is required by law, but Central Health is choosing to offer the public an opportunity to provide public comment on the budget and tax rate. |
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Council Hearing on 2012 Bond Election | |
 The Austin City Council will hold a public hearing this Thursday, August 2nd to receive citizen input on items to be included in a possible November bond election. Council will hold a work session on the bond election on August 7th and will hold a special-called City Council meeting to consider setting a bond election for November 6, 2012 and to approve the ballot language for the bond propositions.
More information can be found on the City's Bond Development website along with an opportunity to email Council members at http://www.austintexas.gov/mail/all-council-members. |
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Meet Colony Park Public Engagement Candidates | |
The Colony Park Sustainable Community Initiative is a HUD Sustainable Communities Challenge grant-funded project to create a master plan for 208 acres of City-owned land. Through a Public Participation Process the project will plan for better job opportunities, housing choices, transportation connections, and public spaces.
The City of Austin is hiring a Public Engagement Liaison to help guide the Public Participation Process. Residents who live near the project area are invited to meet the finalists for the position and help select who is hired. Residents can meet and greet the candidates, hear their presentations and ask questions this Thursday, August 2nd from 4 - 8 p.m. at the Overton Elementary School Cafeteria. Refreshments will be provided. RSVP to ColonyPark@austintexas.gov or call (512) 974-3155. Visit www.austintexas.gov/colonypark to learn more. |
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National Voter Registration Day September 25th |
 In 2008, 6 million Americans didn't vote because they missed a registration deadline or didn't know how to register. On September 25, 2012, volunteers, civic groups, and organizations from all over the country will "hit the streets" for National Voter Registration Day.
The Texas Civic Engagement Table (TCET) will partner with Fair Elections Legal Network, the League of Young Voters, the League of Women Voters, Voto Latino, Head Count, Project Vote, Nonprofit Vote, the Voter Participation Center, and other national, state and local organizations to help register Texans to vote, educate voters about their rights, publicize the voter protection hotlines, and assist with other voter turnout efforts. To learn more about local efforts, contact Gillian Parrillo with the Texas Civic Engagement Table at gillianpar@gmail.com. |
| 2-1-1 Training | |
 2-1-1 Texas offers free monthly trainings on when to use 2-1-1 Texas and how to search the 2-1-1 Texas database to find information about available community resources. The targeted audience for these trainings is social services professionals and volunteers. Registration for the training sessions, offered the last Friday of each month, is not required.
Training sessions are held on the last Friday of every month at 2 p.m. at United Way for Greater Austin, 2000 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. and last about an hour and a half. For more information, call 2-1-1 and select option 1 or email Amy Price at amy.price@unitedwaycapitalarea.org.
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 Working to promote equity and opportunity. Community Action Network (CAN) is a partnership of government, non-profit, private and faith-based organizations who work together to enhance the social, health, educational and economic well-being of Austin/Travis County. As a convener, connector and informer, CAN... - enhances awareness of community issues,
- connects efforts and strengthens partnerships across issue areas, and
- provides a collaborative forum for developing strategies that promote equity and opportunity for all.
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 for Greater Austin, University of Texas at Austin, and Workforce Solutions - Capital Area. www.caction.org |
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