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Check out the new demographics page!
You will find data tables and charts for the Austin MSA regarding population growth, racial and ethnic composition, age, income and a map of where low-income populations in the five-county MSA are located.
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Apply to be a member of the CAN Community Council
The CAN Community Council is a self-appointed board of community members who reflect the diversity of interests, concerns, issues and populations of the Central Texas community. Each year, the Community Council accepts applications from people who want to serve a three-year term on this board. The Community Council meets most months for televised, evening meetings that feature presentations and discussions about important community issues. The role of the Community Council is to provide a link between the community at large and the policy makers and elected officials who serve on the CAN Board of Directors.
On-line applications are accepted year-round. Applications received by September 15th will be considered for election to the Community Council for a term beginning in January 2014.
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Video now available en Espanol
Growth and other demographic changes pose great challenges and opportunities for Central Texas. A video produced by CAN with the help of many Central Texas leaders and KLRU has now been translated into Spanish.
 | | Centro de Texas: Creando la Futura que Queremos |
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Healthcare Reform - Are you ready?
The National Association of Planning Councils hosted a webinar today on the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. Click here to download the presentation and learn more.
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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. at United Way for Greater Austin, 2000 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Reservations are not required.
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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Follow us!
 Get updates on news, meetings, research and more at CAN_Austin.
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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 |
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Voter ID Required at the Polls
Fact Sheet available on new requirements effective November
A June 25 decision by the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) will free Texas and 8 other states to change their election laws without advance federal approval. A SCOTUS majority decided that Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act, originally passed in 1965 and updated in 1975, was unconstitutional. The section determined which states must receive clearance from the Justice Department or a federal court in Washington before they made changes to voting procedures. Read more here.
According to the Texas Civic Engagement Table (TCET), this SCOTUS decision cleared all remaining barriers to Texas implementing the mandatory photo ID law passed in 2011. The law will impact the ability of more than 600,000 Texans to cast their ballot - starting this November. Citizens without a handful of accepted forms of ID will be barred from voting; as may registered voters whose names have changed since they obtained their driver's license or ID, or whose name on their ID does not match their name as listed in the voter rolls.
TCET, along with Empower the Vote Texas, is preparing to work with Table members and allies across the state to coordinate public education on the law and are disseminating this fact sheet.
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Strategic Plan for Healthcare
Central Health invites public comment on new three-year plan
Central Health is a local governmental entity dedicated to ensuring the provision of healthcare services for individuals in Travis County whose incomes are at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Income Guideline and who lack the coverage necessary to access needed healthcare services. Central Health is a separate political subdivision of the state of Texas and was created in May 2004 by a vote of Travis County residents. Central Health uses a strategic planning process to inform and guide its priorities and annual budget development.
Central Health is developing a new three-year Strategic Plan to inform and guide its priorities and annual budget development. The public is invited to provide input on the draft plan from now through August 6th. Follow these links to the draft Central Health Strategic Plan and Central Health Survey.
Central Health staff will host a public meeting to present the draft plan, answer questions and receive public comment on Tuesday, August 6th from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The public meeting will be held at Central Health Offices located at 1111 East Cesar Chavez Street. Simultaneous Spanish interpretation will be provided.
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Childcare Compensation
New study reveals low pay, poor retention
The study found that childcare workers in the five county Austin metro area earned an average of $9.36 per hour, just slightly higher than the state-wide average. Austin childcare workers were younger and more likely to be single than childcare workers in other Texas areas studied. Austin childcare professionals reported low levels of interest in continuing in child care, and the highest rate of wanting to go back to school or gain a credential.
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State Advisory Committees
HHSC seeks volunteers to serve
accepting applications for membership through August 2nd. There are 13 committees statewide, and applicants may be appointed to a three-year term.
HHSC is accepting applications for members for four new advisory committees established by Senate Bill 7, which seeks to improve the coordination of Medicaid long-term care services and supports with acute care services. Applications are due Aug. 14. The committees are: State Medicaid Managed Care Advisory Committee, Intellectual and Developmental Disability System Redesign Advisory Committee, STAR Kids Advisory Committee, STAR+PLUS Quality Council. HHSC is seeking members for a new Behavioral Health Integration Advisory Committee created by Senate Bill 58. The committee will address planning and development needs to integrate Medicaid behavioral health services, including targeted case management, mental health rehabilitative services and physical health services. Applications to serve on the committee are due Aug. 14.
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Local Youth Collaborative
Receives $100,000 planning grant
Workforce Solutions Capital Area and members of a community-wide consortium were recently awarded a $100,000 Opportunity Youth Incentive Fund grant by the Aspen Institute. The 12-month planning grant will support the further development of the Austin Opportunity Youth Collaborative whose goal is to reconnect disadvantaged youth with effective education and employment pathways.
The Austin community was one of 36 communities across the nation invited to compete for inclusion in the Opportunity Youth Incentive Fund, the first initiative to be launched by the recently formed Aspen Forum for Community Solutions. The fund seeks to demonstrate the positive impact of cross-sector
collaboratives on the option and life outcomes of young adults (aged 16-24) who are insufficiently attached to the education and workforce systems and seek new pathways to credentials and careers.
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Building Bridges
Town Hall meeting with ACC President Dr. Richard Rhodes
ACC President Dr. Richard Rhodes will be the keynote speaker for the next Building Bridges Town Hall meeting on Saturday, August 3rd. The meeting and discussion will be held from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Millennium Youth Entertainment Complex at 1156 Hargrave Street.
Building Bridges holds town hall meetings and discussions on the first Saturday of every month. The goal of Building Bridges is to create a partnership between community members and law enforcement to make Austin a safer community.
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Share Your Vision
Free training on streetscape software
Participate in free training on how to create realistic renderings of future streetscapes with Photoshop and SketchUp. Images of public improvements and new buildings are a powerful communication tool for planners. Learn techniques from the pros of Fregonese and Associates to create a photorealistic rendering. No prior experience is required.
CAPCOG will offer two free sessions next month, one on the UT Campus and one at ACC Northridge.
- Wednesday, August 7th at UT Austin - Sutton 1.102-2
- Thursday, August 8th at ACC Northridge, Building 3000, Room 3207
Training will take place, for both sessions, from 9 a.m. to noon, followed by an optional afternoon session from 1 to 3 p.m. when consultants from the Fregonese team will be available to work one-on-one with participants to provide assistance in using the skills learned in the morning.
A limited number of seats are available. More information and RSVP to akogutz@capcog.org.
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Healthcare in Texas
Legislative session debriefing
The Center for Public Policy Priorities, Cover Texas Now and other stakeholders, will host an event Tuesday, August 13, from 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. to discuss access to health care in Texas in light of federal health care reform and action taken during the 83rd Texas Legislative Session. The event is free but registration is required by August 9th.
The event will include a review of the major legislation related to health care access from the session and discuss interim session strategies related to outreach and enrollment in new health care coverage options starting in October; how to work with folks who fall in the coverage gap; and supporting Affordable Care Act implementation that works for Texas families.
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Health Equity Summit
Bridging the disparities gap
The Center for the Elimination of Disproportionality and Disparities will host its 2013 Health Equity Summit in downtown Austin on August 29th and 30th. Early registration ends August 7th.
The Health Summit brings together multidisciplinary stakeholders from across the nation to address a wide range of issues about racial and ethnic disparities. Leading national experts will discuss how disproportionality and disparities in the treatment of children, families, communities and populations of color are embedded in policies and practices and how these disparities are rooted in historical conditions.
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Summer Food for Children
Web site finds locations by zip code
 Many low-income children rely on the free and reduced breakfasts and lunches they received at school during the school year to supplement their nutrition. Summer food programs are also available but it is estimated that only 10% of the children who qualify for summer food assistance are fed.
The www.squaremeals.org website includes a listing of summer food programs with an interactive map. Type in a zip code and sites, locations and times appear.
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Must be Present to Win
Missing School Matters
School attendance is essential to academic success, but too often students, parents and schools do not realize how quickly absences (excused as well as unexcused) can add up to academic trouble.
In Central Texas, students miss a combined 2.4 million class days per year! The impact hits low-income students particularly hard. And for the Central Texas Region an increase in student attendance by just three days would result in $34 million in added revenue to schools.
E3 Alliance, together with AARO invites employers, associations and community groups to help spread the word that Missing School Matters at a kickoff at IBC Bank for the National Attendance Awareness Month on Wednesday, September 4th from 9 - 10:30 a.m. at IBC Bank. Learn more about the event.
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Vision Summit on Reentry
Efforts to help people leaving jail or prison be successful in their community
The Travis County Sheriff's Office will host a "Vision Summit: Looking Toward the Future of Reentry" in Austin on September 10th - 13th. Criminal justice reform has ignited conversations and efforts across the country to help people leaving jails and prisons be successful upon release. Successful reintegration into the community can reduce recidivism and make communities safer. The Vision Summit will highlight effective programs and offer workshops that empower attendees to replicate successful programs in their own communities. Learn more and register at www.tcsheriff.org.
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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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