CAN logo picture masthead 

CANews
November 7, 2013
In This Issue
Affordable Housing Bond Passes
More Funding for Mental Health
Help for Flood Victims
Del Valle Substance Abuse Prevention
Texas Civic Life Conference
Financial Fitness Seminar
Free Legal Clinic
Hunger and Homeless Awareness
Birth Outcomes Summit
Preserving Affordable Housing
Healthy Mom and Baby Resource Fair
Case Management Workplace Ethics
Be a Community Tax Center Volunteer
community dashboard logo 
  
Newly released Census data shows the percentage of households in Travis County that are housing cost-burdened decreased for the second year in a row in 2012, but is still higher than pre-recession levels and is also higher than the state and the nation.
 
CAN Policy Forum This Friday!
Over 200 people have registered to attend the CAN Policy Forum this Friday, November 8th.  But it's not too late to add your name to the list.  Register today.
Keynote speakers are Brookings Fellow Elizabeth Kneebone, co-author of "The Suburbanization of Poverty" and economist John Hockenyos. Panels of local experts will discuss the strategies and policies that can help the Austin area promote sustainable growth and a more equitable future.
CAN Community Council Welcomes New Members
  
The CAN Community Council will welcome eleven new members at its November 18th meeting.  In addition to a new member orientation, the Council will review the Draft CAN 2014 Work Plan and will discuss the Community Council's role in the plan.  The new member orientation meeting will be held from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. in the Boards and Commissions Room of Austin City Hall.  The meeting will be televised and recorded for later viewing on Austin Channel 6. 
New Toolkit for Cultural Competence, Inclusion and Diversity
With the help of a work group of representatives from several CAN partner organizations and community stakeholders, CAN has developed a new on-line tool kit of resources and information to help for-profit and non-profit organizations promote diversity, inclusion and cultural competence. 
This new resource was shared at at the CAN Board of Directors on September 13.  A video of this important conversation can be viewed on-line at Austin Channel 6 under the Boards and Commissions Tab.
More than 1,000 Twitter followers!
twitter button 
Join the 1,000 Twitter followers getting 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

  
Austin Housing Bond Passes
$65 million for affordable housing
 

Austin's $65 million bond measure for affordable housing passed by 60.4 percent.  Official results from the Travis County Clerk's Office showed that 39,878 of 66,000 votes cast were in support of the bond. 

 

This map featured in the Austin American Statesman shows how precincts voted. 

More funding for mental health
NAMI State Legislation Report  
 

Two major events have influenced states' funding for mental health care:  the tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut in December 2012 when 20 schoolchildren were killed and the implementation of the Affordable Care Act which requires health plans to include mental health benefits.  The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has prepared a State Legislation Report that offers a state by state analysis of changes in mental health funding and services.  

 

The report finds that mental health funding increased in 37 states and Texas made the greatest progress.  According to the report "Arguably the most notable development was that Texas increased mental health spending by $259 million over two years, the largest increase in its history." 

Help for Austin's Flood Victims
One-stop shop for flood victims
 

The City of Austin is asking residents in flooded areas and in need of assistance to go to the Dove Springs Recreation Center at 5801 Ainez Drive, Austin 78744 or call 3-1-1. The Dove Springs Recreation Center offers a "one-stop shop" for flood victims that provides flood information and resources. The center will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.  This Public Information Fact Sheet provides more information.

 

Refer to this KUT article to find out how you can assist victims.

 

Grant will fund substance abuse services in Del Valle ISD
Focus on high school students and their families

The Texas State Department of Health Services has awarded Austin Travis County Integral Care with a $285,340 grant for substance abuse prevention and family preservation services in the Del Valle ISD.   The grant will serve youth in sixth through eleventh grades and their families in the "Strengthening Families Program," an evidence-based 14-week curriculum.  

 

Do you talk to your neighbors?
Texas Conference on Civic Life

Three out of five Texans don't speak to their neighbors.  Why Bother? will host an interactive civic engagement experience in order to explore this and a range of other civic health issues at the Texas Conference on Civic Life.  The "Civic Pop-Up Space" will have three stations:  a booth to help people prioritize the issues in their neighborhood, an activity to help people express what they love about their community, and a listening booth by KLRU and KUT.  

 

Explore what our neighborhoods mean to each of us individually and collectively at the Texas Conference on Civic Life this Saturday, November 9th from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Below Center for New Media at the University of Texas at Austin.  The pop-up space is free and open to the public. Click here to learn more and to register.  

 

Financial Fitness Seminar 
Knowledge, Wisdom, Money, Life

 

State Representative Eddie Rodriguez will be the guest speaker at the Third Annual Financial Fitness Seminar this Saturday, November 9th. The National Association of Black Accountants and the African American Youth Harvest Foundation are sponsoring the day long event at Huston- Tillotson University, 900 Chicon Street, in the Agard-Lovinggood Lecture Hall.  The event is free to the public and features financial workshops, a continental breakfast, lunch and door prizes. This year's theme is "Knowledge - Wisdom - Money - Life."  Register here.

 

Free Legal Clinic
Austin Black Lawyers Association provides free consultations

 

The Austin Black Lawyers Association is hosting a free legal clinic this Saturday, November 9th from 8 a.m. to noon. Licensed attorneys will provide consultations on landlord/tenant issues, wills and estates, tax questions, bankruptcy, consumer and family law.  Walk-ins are welcome.  The clinic will be held at the Capital City African American Chamber of Commerce, 912 E. 11th Street, Suite A.  For more information, visit www.austinblacklawyers.org.

 
Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week
November 17 - 24
  

hunger and homelessness weekEach November volunteers 

coordinate a week of events to raise awareness about hunger and homelessness in our community.  This year's calendar of events includes opportunities for service and learning for all ages.  The week begins with a sunrise memorial service to remember by name each of the homeless people who died in Austin over the past year.  Mobile Loaves and Fishes will host a community event on Thursday to showcase the Community First Village. The week closes with the Austin Empty Bowl Project luncheon.  Click the logo above to learn more about Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week.

Birth Outcomes Summit
Root causes and interventions  

 

In too many instances, children are born prematurely, underweight, and with problems that complicate a healthy start in life and create significant costs to children, parents, and society. 

 

Children's Optimal Health will hold a Birth Outcomes Summit on Tuesday, November 12th from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Dell Children's Medical Center.  Speakers and panelists will provide a unique foundation for attendees to develop action ideas and plans to implement prevention and intervention strategies for improving birth outcomes in Central Texas.

Preserving Affordable Housing  
Austin seeks input on policies  

 

As Austin grows and the demand for housing increases, older apartments and homes are often replaced by newer, more expensive properties, resulting in a loss of affordable housing in the inner city.  What kinds of policies and programs can help Austin hold on to some of its affordable housing?  This question and others about the preservation of affordable housing in Austin will be addressed at a meeting next Wednesday, November 13th from 9 - 10:30 a.m. at the NHCD Offices, 1000 East 11th Street, Room 400. RSVP to [email protected]

Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby 
Community Resource Fair

 

In recognition of Prematurity Awareness Month, the City of Austin, Travis County, the March of Dimes and the African American Quality of Life Initiative are hosting a free Community Resource Fair for moms, moms to be, and others concerned about preventing and treating premature births.  The Resource Fair will include information, door prizes and free child care.  Join the fun on Saturday, November 16th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Rosewood Zaragosa Neighborhood Center, 2800 Webberville Road.
Workplace Ethics and Values
Training for Case Managers

 

This month's meeting of the Social Services Case Management Network will feature Tracy Deagan LPC-S, LCSW-S, a professional psychotherapist, clinical director, program director, trainer, and social worker with 25 years of experience.

 

The workshop will take place on Friday, November 15 from 9 am to noon at the Goodwill Community Center at 1015 Norwood Park Blvd in  Austin.  Participants will learn about tools to resolve ethical dilemmas and appropriate documentation practices related to abuse and neglect.

Be a Community Tax Center Volunteer
Training starts soon
cupcake
Click on the cupcake and attend a Cupcake Social to learn more about volunteering.
 
The Community Tax Centers are now recruiting volunteers to provide free tax preparation services to more than 18,500 low-income people in the Austin community.  More than 700 volunteer tax preparers, client liaisons and Spanish-English translators are needed for the 2014 tax season.  No experience is necessary.  
 
Volunteers will receive training in December or January and will commit to 30-40 hours of volunteer time between January 15 and April 15, 2014. The tax centers have daytime, evening and weekend volunteer shifts available. Schedules are flexible.  Click here to learn more or to attend a Cupcake Social for prospective volunteers on Tuesday, November 19th.
 
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.