CANews
April 3, 2013
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In This Issue
Workforce Potential Project
Texas - 49th in Adult Literacy
Chamber Releases Education Progress Reports
Community Health Improvement Plan
Central Health White Paper on Cancer
AISD $892 Million Bond Election
MSA Graded on Progress Toward Complete Communities
Provide Input on NHCD Assessment
Travis County Community Impact Report
Behavioral Health Dialogue
Public Safety Town Hall Meeting
Manor Obesity Summit
April 12th CAN Board Meeting
 
On Friday, April 12th at 1 p.m., the CAN Board of Directors will discuss efforts to improve voter turnout and key findings on the 2013 CAN Community Dashboard Report.  Also the Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce will introduce their new executive director and discuss opportunities for collaboration.
   
The meeting will be held in the Boards and Commissions Room of Austin City Hall and will be televised on Austin Cable 6.
 
To access past agendas, minutes, and presentations, click here.
Civic Engagement & Neighborhood Plans

The CAN Community Council meeting on Monday, April 15th will feature a discussion about "Conversation Corps," a new initiative to engage residents in conversations about improving their neighborhoods and community.  Planners with the City of Austin will also share an update on efforts to create South Austin neighborhood plans that are in sync with the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan. 
   
The meeting will be held in the Boards and Commissions Room of Austin City Hall from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and will be televised on Austin Cable 6.
 
To learn more about the CAN Community Council and to access past agendas, minutes, and presentations, click here.
 
Coming Soon - 2013 CAN Community Dashboard Report
The fourth annual CAN Community Dashboard Report will be released soon.
community dashboard logo  
2-1-1 Connects  People to Services
The United Way Navigation Center offers free training on how to utilize the 2-1-1 system to link people in need with available community resources.
Training sessions last about an hour and a half and will be held on the following Fridays at 2 p.m. United Way for Greater Austin, 2000 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Reservations are not required.
May 24 
July 26 
September 27

United Way 2-1-1 will also provide special training sessions for social service agencies and community groups at their locations. For more information, call 2-1-1 and select option 1 or email Amy Price at
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Get updates on news, meetings, research and more at CAN_Austin.
 
You can also access research on caction.org.
CAN Partners

Austin Chamber of Commerce

 

Austin Community College

 

Austin ISD

 

Austin Travis County Integral Care

 

Capital Metro

 

Central Health

 

Capital City African American 

Chamber of Commerce

 

City of Austin

 

City of Pflugerville

 

Community Justice Council

 

Del Valle ISD

 

Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce

 

Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

 

Huston-Tillotson University

 

interfaith Action Central Texas

 

Manor ISD

 

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

 

Workforce Solutions - Capital Area

  
Workforce Potential Project
Increasing the skills of low-wage workers
 

The Workforce Potential Project seeks to help 30,000 low-wage workers complete certificate or degree programs to allow them to compete for jobs that pay a minimum of $18 an hour. The initiative is premised on a study by the Ray Marshall Center for the Study of Human Resources on behalf of Austin Area Research Organization. The project targets lower-wage workers who have some education beyond high school, but no post-secondary certificate or degree. The study identifies 17 high paying occupations in health and life sciences, information technology, trades and administrative jobs.  In partnership with Capital IDEA, training participants will receive support to help them be successful in the classroom.

Texas 49th in Basic Literacy
More than half of Texas adults lack basic literacy skills
Expanding opportunity to more Texans requires that the state's diverse workforce is equipped for high-demand jobs that pay a family-supporting wage.  According to a new report from the Center for Public Policy Priorities, 51% of adult Texans were at basic or below basic literacy skill levels, ranking the state 49th in the nation.  Bridges to Better Jobs: How Texas Can Equip Texas Adults for Good Careers  reports that even though 4.3 million Texans qualify for adult basic education services, federally funded service providers served less than 100,000 students in 2010-2011.  The report recommends ways the state can improve and expand adult basic education and literacy programs in Texas. 
Education Progress Reports
Austin Chamber releases reports for eleven area school districts
 
Chamber EducationProgressReportsRegional chambers of commerce and eleven area school districts in Central Texas celebrated the release today of the Eighth Annual Austin Chamber Education Progress Reports.  The Progress Reports use a common set of metrics that track high school graduation, college and career readiness, post-secondary enrollment, and other student performance indicators.  The reports are created in partnership with each of the school districts and with their local chambers of commerce.  The goal is to facilitate conversations between school district and business leaders about resource allocations and potential tax-rate elections.  
Community Health Improvement Plan Unveiled
Strategies to improve health in Austin and Travis County
In celebration of National Public Health Week, the Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department will share its new Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP).  The plan was developed over the past year in partnership with Travis County, Central Health, St. David's Foundation, Seton Healthcare Family, Capital Metro, Austin Travis County Integral Care, and the UT School of Public Health.

The CHIP focuses on practical strategies and action our community can take to address four health priority areas:
  • Chronic Disease - focus on Obesity;
  • Built Environment - focus on Access to Healthy Foods;
  • Built Environment - focus on Transportation; and 
  • Access to Primary Care and Mental Health /Behavioral Health Services - focus on improving access to primary care, improving access to mental health, and helping consumers navigate both systems.

The CHIP will be shared with the public on Thursday, April 4th from 3 - 4 p.m. in the Austin City Council Chambers.  The Plan will also be available on the Health and Human Services website

Cancer Leading Cause of Death
Central Health white paper cites need for greater access to care
Cancer has overtaken heart disease as the leading cause of death in the five-county Austin Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) according to a new white paper released by Central Health.  The report includes a set of consensus statements agreed upon by Austin-area cancer care experts.  The experts agreed that comprehensive cancer care and treatment must be available to all people in the five-county area, regardless of insurance status.  The experts noted that uninsured people are dying at disproportionate rates, and that there is concern in the community that people without insurance have "no where to go" for cancer care.   
AISD Asks Voters to Approve $892 Million in Bonds   
May 11th Special Election   
AiISD_logo Austin voters will be asked to consider approving $892 million in bonds during a special election called for May 11, 2013. If approved, the bonds will result in a tax rate increase of $0.035 per $100,000 valuation, which would equal about an $86 a year increase for the average valued home. The bond package was developed with the input of a Citizens' Bond Advisory Committee, which worked for over nine months to identify critical needs. 

The bond package will be broken into four propositions:

  • $140.6 million for health, environment, equipment and technology.
  • $233.9 million for safety, security and relief from overcrowded schools.
  • $349.2 million for academic and building infrastructure renovations and repairs.
  • $168.6 million for academic initiatives, fine arts and athletics.
Are We There Yet?
Austin-Round Rock MSA graded on progress toward vision of complete communities

Reconnecting America graded  366 metro areas in the U.S.  based on how they measure up to a vision of complete communities. The Living grades show how regions are doing on creating housing choices that are equitable and accessible to people with a variety of needs. The Working grades show how regions are doing on creating jobs in the places where people of all incomes can access them and improve their opportuni­ties. The Moving grades show how regions are doing on creating safe and accessible transportation choices. The Thriving grades show how regions are doing on creating opportunities for safe, fun, and healthy lifestyles through access to parks, healthy food, etc.     

 

The Austin-Round Rock MSA received an A for Working, a B for Thriving and C's for both Living and Moving.   Dallas and Houston both had "report cards" with nothing but C's and D's in all four categories. 

Provide Input on How to Spend Resources to Improve Lives of Austin Residents
Deadline is April 26th

Each year, the City of Austin receives federal funds to help address housing, community development, economic development and public service needs. In order to receive these funds an Action Plan must be prepared in accordance with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) regulations. This document will serve as the guide to utilizing our community's limited resources to ensure we address Austin's most urgent needs.

 

The City's Neighborhood Housing and Community Development Department (NHCD) will host two public hearings as the City prepares the Community Needs Assessment of the Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Action Plan. These public hearings are an opportunity for community members to provide feedback on what the greatest needs are within the community.

 

The location of both public hearings will be at Austin City Hall (301 W. 2nd St.) on the following dates:

  • Thursday, April 4, 2013 - 6:30 pm Community Development Commission Public Hearing on the Draft Community Needs Assessment
  • Thursday April 11, 2013 - 4:00 pm City Council Public Hearing on the Draft Community Needs Assessment

For more information visit the Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Action Plan website here. If you cannot make it to either of the public hearings, you can provide comments from Wednesday March 20th through Friday April 26th online via [email protected] or by mail.

Travis County
Community Impact Report
  
The Travis County Health and Human Services & Veterans Service Department has released its annual Community Impact Report detailing the impact of more than $11 million of funds invested in social service contracts.  The report highlights community conditions in each of the areas of funded services.  It also details investment, programmatic, client demographic and performance information for each of the programs that received funding. 
Behavioral Health Dialogue
What more can be done to address needs and connect efforts?
  
The Behavioral Health Planning Partnership will meet on April 18th from 9:30 to 11 am at 1700 S. Lamar Blvd., Suite 102.  The meeting will feature a moderated panel that will discuss current efforts underway and what more can be done to better address the behavioral health needs of our community and strengthen ties between formal and informal networks.  The panel will feature leaders from the following coalitions:
- Austin/Central Texas Suicide Prevention Coalition,
- Behavioral Health Planning Partnership,
- Children & Youth Mental Health Planning Partnership,
- Psychiatric Services Stakeholder Committee, and
- Austin Recovery-Oriented System of Care Initiative.
  
For more information contact [email protected] or (512) 440-4080 or .
Building Bridges Brick by Brick
Public Safety Town Hall Meeting

The Travis County Sheriff Department's Building Bridges Brick by Brick initiative convenes community conversations on the first Saturday of every month to address issues of racism and community justice.  This Saturday, April 6 will feature a Public Safety Town Hall meeting from 1:30 to 4 p.m. at Simpson United Methodist Church, 1709 East 12th Street.  

Youth, community members, law enforcement, faith leaders, and education leaders will participate in a conversation on what we can all do to eliminate crime and violence in Austin and Travis County.    
 
Manor Obesity Summit
Moving Towards a Healthier Manor

Manor ISD invites the community to participate in a free Manor Obesity Summit on Friday, May 3rd from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm.  Participants will have an opportunity to learn about Children's Optimal Health's childhood obesity mapping initiative, hear from obesity expert Dr. Stephen Pont, and help create a community mission of "Moving Towards a Healthier Manor!"    
  
The summit will take place at the Manor ISD Central Administration Building at 10335 U.S. Highway 290 E, Manor, TX 78653.  To register online and reserve your space, click here.  Breakfast and lunch will be provided.  For more information, please contact:  Becky Lott, Director of Student and Family Support Services at [email protected]
 
CAN is a partnership of governmental, non-profit, private and faith-based organizations which leverage mutual resources to collectively improve social, health, educational and economic opportunities in our community.
 
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