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October 17, 2012 

Innocent Until Proven Guilty, but Still in Jail

In Travis County, 56% of the county's jail population are pre-trial defendants. Housing these defendants, who have not yet been proven guilty of a crime, costs the county about $136,000 every day. Geraldine Nagy and the County's Adult Probation and Pretrial Services Department are working to change that. The Department has proposed a new risk assessment system that will identify low-risk defendants who would be good candidates for personal release. The low-risk defendants would be expected to appear at court dates and not have any further arrests. The system, if implemented, would reduce the number of people who sit in jail because they cannot afford bail or a commercial bond.

 

Read this Austin Chronicle article about the new Pre-Trial release program. 

 

Economist - Full Implementation of Affordable Care Act Makes Economic Sense for Texas

If Texas chooses not to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, the State will forgo almost $90 billion in federal health care funds over the first 10 years, according to an analysis by The Perryman Group. Economist Ray Perryman found that the economic benefits of improving access to care by expanding Medicaid far more than outweigh the costs. 

 

Texas has the highest rate of uninsured and underinsured people in the nation, leading to lower than optimal health care spending, excessive uncompensated care, excessive morbidity and mortality, and lost productivity. The Perryman Group found that expanding Medicaid under the ACA would lead to substantial economic activity, federal funds inflow, reduction in costs for uncompensated care and insurance, and enhanced productivity from a healthier population.

Early Voting Begins October 22nd

VoteTravis County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir and League of Women Voters President Stewart Snyder attended the CAN Community Council this past Monday to offer an overview of the November 6th election.  DeBeauvoir called the ballot "the most complicated ballot I've every done" because it combines Presidential and other party races with 22 other local jurisdictions.   

 

Early voting begins Monday, October 22nd, at all the regular early voting sites and also at a new Mega Early Voting site at the old Highland Mall.  To help voters wade through the long ballot, the League of Women Voters has created a new vote411.org website that allows you to enter your address and create your own personalized voter's guide.

 

The other major difference this election year is a new Vote Centers concept.  Voters are no longer required to report to their specific precinct on election day.  As is true for early voting, voters can report to any voting site in Travis County and cast a ballot for their specific precinct. 

 

The Texas Voter I.D. law, approved by the State Legislature, was struck down by the U.S. Justice Department and will NOT be in effect. Voters may vote with a voter registration card.  If they do not have a registration card with them, voters may show one picture ID, such as a driver's license or passport, or two forms of other ID. For more information on acceptable forms of identification, visit the Travis County Clerk voting website.

 

Travis County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir said her office is making a special effort to educate voters about this year's especially long ballot and will make presentations to groups that request it. Call (512) 854-9188 for more information.

Austin Chamber Mobility Report

congestionThe Austin Chamber released its inaugural Mobility Report at the 3rd annual State of Transportation on October 10.  According to the Chamber, Central Texas business leaders see traffic congestion as the greatest impediment to the region's future prosperity.  Of specific concern is the peak congestion period that occurs during evening rush hour.   The report provides an overview of regional efforts to improve our transportation infrastructure, progress made in the last year, and a dashboard of key mobility data.  
In This Issue
Medicaid Expansion Makes Good Economic Sense
Early Voting October 22nd
Chamber Mobility Report
Grant to Re-invision Rosewood Courts
Benefit Bank of Texas Webinars
Take the Active Austin 10-Week Challenge
AISD Candidate Forum
East Night Summit & Celebration
Small Business @ Work
Community Tax Centers Seek Volunteers
Family Festival Fights Homelessness
2-1-1 Training

CAN Community Dashboard

CAN Policy Palooza

CAN Welcomes Three New Partners!
CAN Events Calendar
Connect to Research
Follow CAN's Tweets

 

Join our Mailing List! 

HACA Wins Grant to Re-envision Rosewood

Rosewood CourtsThe Housing Authority of the City of Austin has received a $300,000 Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.  The two-year grant will help transform East Austin's Rosewood Neighborhood into a viable and sustainable mixed-income neighborhood that is connected to schools, jobs, training, healthcare and services. 
 
HACA will work with the local community to transform and revitalize this property, originally built in 1939, into an energy-efficient,  mixed-income housing property.   

The Benefit Bank of Texas - Connecting People to Resources

According to the Benefit Bank of Texas, more than 3 million Texans qualify for, but are not receiving, food assistance.  The Benefit Bank of Texas is working to train a network of volunteers and professional counselors at organizations, businesses, churches, health care and social service providers and community centers who can use an on-line tool to connect families to a range of benefits.  The goal is to reach out to people where they live, learn, work, and pray to help them find food for their families, health care, prescription assistance, tax credits, Pell Grants and other student and worker supports. 

 

The Benefit Bank of Texas is holding weekly webinars every Monday from 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm. Click here to register and learn more.  

Get Active!  Take the Active Austin 10-Week Challenge

The Active Austin 10-Week Challenge is a free program to encourage and support people to start a walking group, bike club, swim club, skate club or dance club.  People can take the challenge as a family, a neighborhood, a group, a work site or an individual.  The Austin Travis County Health and Human Services Department will kick off the 10-Week Challenge with a brief orientation on Saturday, October 20th at 10:30 a.m. at the Ruiz Branch Library.  The program includes an incentive plan, group leader orientation and a tracking system. 

Austin ISD Candidate Forum

The Austin League of Women Voters and the City Council PTA will moderate a Question and Answer Candidates Forum for the AISD Board of Trustees.  The purpose of the forum is to inform voters about public education in Austin, to provide an opportunity to compare the candidates and their positions, and to stimulate and increase voter interest and participation in the election.

 

The forum will be held on Sunday, October 21st from 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. at the First Unitarian Universalist Church, located at 4700 Grover Avenue.  Invitees include...

  • District 2: Sam Guzman and Rev. Jayme Mathias
  • District 3: Christine Brister and Ann Teich
  • District 5: Amber Elenz and Charlie Jackson
  • At Large: Regina Hinojosa and Mary Ellen Pietruszynski

East Night Summit & Celebration - A Focus on Creative Arts

PeopleFundPeopleFund will celebrate its 18th year of serving small business owners, entrepreneurs, and nonprofit leaders with a focus on  the significant role of the creative arts industries in Austin.  The October 25th event will feature an Economic and Creative Summit in the afternoon and an evening showcase and celebration.  Learn more about the event at http://peoplefund.org/east-night-summit-celebration/.

Small Business @ Work:  Women in Healthcare

Women and female veterans are invited to a free, full-day summit on the challenges and opportunities for aspiring and existing women owned businesses in the healthcare industry.  BiGAUSTIN, Citibank and the Seton Healthcare Family are hosting the conference on Thursday, November 1st from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Seton.  For more information and to register for the event, visit http://bigaustin.org/.

Volunteer with the Community Tax Centers

Foundation Communities is seeking volunteers to help more than 17,000 low-income people in our community with free tax preparation services. 700 volunteer tax preparers, client liaisons and Spanish-English speaking translators are needed to help at various tax sites around Austin.   

 

Volunteers helped put $28 million back into the pockets of our community last tax season.  Those interested in learning more are invited to attend a Volunteer Kick-Off Luncheon on Friday, November 2ndClick here to register or to learn how to volunteer.  

 

Engaging Families in the Fight Against Homelessness

The ECHO Family Festival on Saturday, November 10th will let children and parents learn about some of the social issues in Austin in a fun, positive and supportive environment for all.There will be interactive service stations where the crafts and hygiene kits will benefit local nonprofits and the homeless clients whom they serve on a daily basis. While working at these stations, children can learn more about the impact their small act will have on someone else and how their quality of life will be continually improved. Parents will be able to learn about some of these nonprofit organizations and how to continue the conversation with their children, even after the festival fun has ended.

 

A festival is not complete without entertainment and food! Face painting and balloon art is just a sampling of the fun to be had while continuing to learn and engage. Popcorn, nachos, hot dogs, pickles, lemonade and more are sure to satisfy the rumbling in your tummy during this interactive event!

 

Striking a Balance: Free Conference for Family Caregivers

handsCaregiver University is a local partnership to provide support, resources and information to people who provide care to aging or disabled family members.  Striking a Balance is a free conference to let people know about local caregiver resources, acquire skills to better manage their caregiving situation, and connect with other caregivers and local experts on aging.  The November 3rd conference includes workshops on topics related to caregiving.  The event will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Norris Conference Center, 2525 West Anderson Lane.  Click here to learn more and to register.

Hiring Red, White and YOU!  Job Fair for Veterans

A job fair to connect Texas veterans with Texas employers will be held on Thursday, November 15th at the Austin Convention Center.  Workforce Solutions-Capital Area, the City of Austin, the Austin Convention Center and the Texas Workforce Commission are collaborating to bring the event to Austin.  Veterans and employers who wish to participate can learn more on the Workforce Solutions website.

2-1-1 Training

Help2-1-1 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 [email protected]. 

 
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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, Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce, Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Huston-Tillotson University, 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