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The unemployment rates for all jurisdictions in our region has steadily declined since 2010. Locally, there was a slight increase in the unemployment rate for July, but Workforce Solutions attributes this to seasonal adjustments. The employment trend remains generally positive with labor force and employment levels at all-time highs for the region.
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Focus on Workforce and Economic Development
Upcoming meetings of both the CAN Board and the CAN Community Council focus on workforce and economic development issues this month.
The CAN Board of Directors meeting this Friday, August 9th at 1 p.m. will feature presentations from AARO, the Austin Chamber and Workforce Solutions on the creation of jobs with liveable wages and skills development for low-income populations.
On Monday, August 19th at 5:30 p.m., the CAN Community Council will learn about dual generation programs that focus on high quality education for both children and their parents.
Both the Board and the Community Council meet in the Boards and Commissions Room of Austin City Hall. Their meetings are also televised and recorded for later viewing on Austin Channel 6.
Agendas, minutes and presentations are available here.
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Apply to be a member of the CAN Community Council
Each year the CAN Community Council holds an open application process for new members. 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 15, 2013 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.
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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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Accelerating Connections to Employment
Fast track program helps low-skilled workers
Workforce Solutions Capital Area is a part of a multi-state consortium that was recently awarded an $11.8 million Department of Labor grant for a fast track workforce training research study called Accelerating Connections to Employment (ACE). The ACE consortium is developing a measurable way to help low-skilled individuals build basic and occupational skills and enter into sustainable employment.
Locally, Workforce Solutions Capital Area has partnered with Austin Community College to offer Austin-area individuals an opportunity to participate in this unique program. Selected ACE participants, who are not required to have high school diplomas or GEDs, will be provided an accelerated bridge to completion. Rather than require a lengthy and expensive sequence of English as a Second Language (ESL) or Adult Basic Education (ABE) courses prior to enrollment in Occupational Training, the ACE program allows students/trainees to gain both basic and occupational skills in one classroom setting over an 8 week period. The two certificate training programs offered are Certified Nursing Aide + Acute Care Skills and Administrative Assistant.
ACE is currently enrolling participants in the Travis County/Austin-area. More information about the ACE program is available here.
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Plan for Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities
Integral Care seeks public input
Integral Care invites the public to review its draft 5-year plan and to provide feedback and input. The draft 2014-18 strategic plan was created with input from focus groups and public forums. Integral care provides behavioral health and developmental disability services to more than 23,000 people at 45 locations each year. The draft plan includes a new vision statement, three short-term goals and two long-term goals that will drive Integral Care's work over the next five years. Review the plan and share your input.
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New Census Tool Maps Languages Spoken in America
English, Spanish and Chinese top languages spoken
The U.S. Census Bureau has released an interactive, online map pinpointing the wide array of languages spoken in homes across the nation. The map depicts rates of English proficiency and the growing number of speakers of other languages.
The 2011 Language Mapper depicts how many people speak each of 15 languages and where those people live. The new mapper tool also shows concentrations of those who report speaking English "very well," a measure of English proficiency. The tool uses data collected through the American Community Survey from 2007 to 2011. |
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Regional Healthcare Coverage Collaboration
Find out about health reform implementation in Central Texas
The Health Insurance Marketplace begins open enrollment on October 1st. Families, individuals and small businesses will be able to do a side-by-side comparison of private insurance options on the Marketplace. Legal residents earning from 100% to 400% of the federal poverty level can receive a tax credit to help offset the cost of health insurance for them and their families.
The Regional Healthcare Coverage Collaboration invites service providers and stakeholders to their meeting on September 16 from 9 - 11:30 a.m. to learn about services and options available in Central Texas. The meeting will be held at the Clinical Education Center at Brackenridge Hospital, 1400 North I-35, Room 1.115. Register online.
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Help Enroll America October 1
Notify individuals and family members of new healthcare options
In less than 60 days, federal and state governments will launch a six-month open enrollment period to offer affordable health care insurance to eligible individuals through the health insurance marketplace, implementing the Affordable Care Act coverage provisions. Many organizations are helping communities enroll in health care coverage which will take effect January 1, 2014. There's still time for your organization to help notify individuals and family members of their new healthcare options. To apply to be a certified application counselor organization, click here.
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Austin Single Member Districts
Where do you think the ten district boundaries should be?
The Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission seeks public input on Austin's 10 City Council geographic districts before it begins to draw maps for these districts.
A series of meetings will begin this month and continue into November. The ICRC will conduct three meetings in each Travis County Commissioner precinct. Each of the meetings will focus on the geographic area within the city limits of that precinct. Austin residents living in the precinct are especially encouraged to participate. Click here to find the meeting locations and times most convenient for you.
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Downtown Bike Stations
Help decide where they should go
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Citi Bikes in New York City (edwardhblake/Flickr)
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Austin plans to open ten Bike Share stations later this year with approximately 100 bicycles available for public use for a fee. Additional stations will follow in Spring 2014. Eventually, there will be a total of about 400 bikes, 600 docks, and 40 bike stations.
The City of Austin wants help in launching the program. Individuals are asked to suggest where they would like a station to be placed and to vote for already suggested locations. Participants are also asked to select a color preference for the bikes. Feedback will be collected through August and may be submitted at www.votebikeshareaustin.com.
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Free SNAP Training
Help clients receive on-going food assistance
Dr. Miguel Ferguson, Associate Professor in the UT-School of Social Work, is available to provide free one-hour presentations to local non-profits interested in learning more about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The presentations will cover the history, scope, importance, and functioning of SNAP in Texas and nationally and how SNAP can be reformed to better serve low-income Texans. Professor Ferguson can be reached at 512-232-5914 or miguelf@austin.utexas.edu.
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State Seeks Comment on Social Services Grant Funding
Legislative session debriefing
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100 Ideas for a More Affordable Austin
Liveable City Summit
Liveable City will host a community summit on affordability in Austin. There are many daily costs that impact our lives: housing, transportation, taxes, food, healthcare, and utilities, to name a few. The Summit will focus on how decisions of our local governments impact the affordability of our community.
The Summit will take place on Saturday, September 7th from 1 - 4 p.m. at St. David's Episcopal Church, 301 East 8th. Check with http://www.liveablecity.org/ for more information as it becomes available.
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CLEAN AIR Force Survey
Provide opinions on air quality
The CLEAN AIR Force of Central Texas, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit representing the air quality interests of Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis and Williamson, is conducting a short survey on air quality in the region. They would like as much citizen input as possible to help guide future air quality policy in Central Texas. Simply click here, give your opinion, and enter to win a 20" Homelite Cordless Electric Lawnmower valued at $299. For more information contact Sarah Holland at sarah@cleanairforce.org.
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Central Texas Recovery Forum
For San Marcos, Austin, Waco areas
Attend a FREE Recovery Oriented Systems of Care (ROSC) Forum hosted by the ROSC groups from San Marcos, Austin, and Waco areas. The forum provides an opportunity to become an engaged stakeholder in your community and be a vital part of developing this much needed initiative for change.
The Central Texas Recovery Forum will be held on Friday, August 23, 2013, at the Bell County Expo Center, from 9 am to 4 pm. Breakfast and lunch will be included. A free charter bus will be available from Austin. Click here to RSVP and get more information.
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Veterans Mental Health Summit
Connecting efforts to enhance mental health of veterans and their families
 Community partners are invited to an open dialogue and exploration of ways the VA can work in tandem with local service providers and stakeholders to improve the quality of mental health and well-being of veterans and their families.
Law enforcement, first-responders, local government officials, business organizations, religious bodies, and representatives of any organizations that work with veterans are welcomed and encouraged to attend.
The Mental Health Summit will be held Wednesday, August 28, at 1901 Veterans Memorial Drive in Temple, Texas from 8:30 a.m. to noon in the Building 171 Conference Center. For more information, contact Joan.Clayton2@va.gov.
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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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