|
|
|
CAN Board focuses on diversity, inclusion, and cultural competency
Visit the CAN Board web page for presentations and more information. You can also watch a recording of the meeting on ATXN.
|
|
Reentry population focus of April 21st CAN Community Council Meeting
Representatives of the Austin Travis County Reentry Roundtable including two ex-offenders, will present to the CAN Community this Monday.
The meeting on April 21st will be held from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. in the Boards and Commissions Room of Austin City Hall and will be televised and recorded on ATXN.
|
Immigrants Focus of March CAN Community Council Meeting
Representatives of the Immigrant Services Network of Austin, U.S. Customs and Immigration Services, and the Austin Immigrant Rights Coalition participated in a panel discussion about the issues and barriers facing immigrants in our community.
Copies of the presentations shared and a meeting summary can be found on Community Council page of the CAN website.
|
2014 CAN Safety Net Series of Forums:
(NOTE: some changes to dates & addresses)
As follow-up to the report, CAN will host a series of forums to more deeply examine key barriers and gaps and to discuss ways to improve the safety net:
May 7th, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.,
IBC Bank, 8998 Research Blvd.
Housing and utility assistance, housing rights, financial counseling, and assistance with poor credit and criminal histories.
June 4th, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.,
IBC Bank, 8998 Research Blvd.
Basic education and literacy; job search assistance and training;
child care and other work supports; and assistance for small businesses.
August 6th, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., IBC Bank, 8998 Research Blvd. Accessing healthcare, health insurance, mental health and substance abuse services, prevention, long-term care, and dental care. Sept. 3rd, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., IBC Bank, 8998 Research Blvd. Availability of, and legal obligation to provide, interpreter and translation services; enhancing cultural and linguistic proficiency; and building a diverse workforce and leadership. For more information contact: vsarria@austinisd.org.
|
|
"Together We CAN!" is a collaborative project of CAN and Leadership Austin. The website shares practical ideas for action we can all take where we live, learn, work and serve to make our community a better place. You can also share how YOU make a difference.
|
Let us come to you!
Do you have an organization, board or community group that would appreciate an overview of community conditions?
CAN staff are available to make presentations. We have recently presented to Hispanic Austin Leadership, Impact Austin, East Austin Rotary, the Central Health Board of Directors and church groups.
|
More than 1,000 Twitter followers!
 Join the 1,000 Twitter followers getting updates on news, meetings, research and more at CAN_Austin.
|
CAN has a new web address:
CAN has a new url to match our new name. Check out the CAN website for research and reports. You will also find the 2014 Work Plan and the agendas, minutes and presentations from the CAN Board of Directors and Community Council meetings.
|
|
CAN Partners
Austin Chamber of Commerce
Austin Community College
Austin ISD
Austin/Travis County Integral Care
Capital Metro
Central Health
City of Austin
City of Pflugerville
Community Justice Council
Del Valle ISD
Goodwill Industries of Central Texas
Greater Austin Asian Chamber
Greater Austin Black Chamber
Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber
Huston-Tillotson University
interfaith Action of 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
|
|
|
Texas State of Mind
mental health policy institute formed
The new Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute was launched today at the Texas State of Mind Leadership Conference. The Institute was launched with a $10 million commitment from the Meadows Foundation. The Institute will provide high quality, nonpartisan and objective policy research and development to improve mental health services in Texas. The Institute will focus on three primary areas for mental health policy improvement: children, veterans and the criminal justice system. The Institute's ultimate vision is for all Texans to have access to the best totally integrated health care system in the country.
|
|
Psychiatric Emergency Department
new facility set to open by end of April
Dr. Kyle Janek, Texas Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner, will be the featured speaker at the dedication ceremony for the new Seton Psychiatric Emergency Department on April 29th. Behavioral health patients who need emergency care will be treated first in the emergency rooms at UMC Brackenridge and other hospitals. They will be transferred to the new psychiatric department for evaluation after they are stabilized. The Seton Psychiatric Emergency Department is expected to serve 2,500 in its first year of operation and 10,500 by 2016.
|
|
Children's Health Insurance
Texas has highest rate of uninsured children who are not poor
The State Health Access Data Assistance Center has released For Kid's Sake: State-Level Trends in Children's Health Insurance. The report compares children's health insurance trends from 2008 through 2012. Texas was in the top five states with the highest percentages of uninsured children. Texas topped the list with the highest percentages of children who are not poor but who are uninsured.
The report found that 15.9% of Texas children who are between 139% and 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines were uninsured - the highest rate in the nation. The uninsured rate for children living above 400% of the Federal Poverty Guideline was 5.1%, also highest in the nation. Click here for a Texas Fact Sheet summary.
|
|
Income Segregation
Austin is among the most income segregated metros in the U.S.
In 1970, two-thirds of Americans lived in middle income neighborhoods, but today only 42% do. An increasing share of Americans are living in areas of concentrated wealth or concentrated poverty. Richard Florida, Co-Founder and Editor of The Atlantic Cities, has done an analysis of income segregation in more than 350 American metro areas.
San Antonio topped the list as the #1 most income-segregated large metro in America, Houston was fourth, Dallas was 8th and Austin was 10th. Florida notes, "The emergence of a new urban geography of concentrated wealth and advantage juxtaposed to endemic poverty and concentrated disadvantage poses troubling implications for the economic mobility of people and the economic health of cities."
|
|
Measuring Sprawl
and its impact on families, health and community
According to a recent study by Smart Growth America, the Austin metro area falls right about in the middle of the pack in rankings of sprawl, coming in 114th of 221 cities. Measuring Sprawl 2014 compares development patterns of metropolitan areas across the nation and ranks them from the highest to the least sprawling.
The report also looks at how sprawl impacts people in communities by comparing data on economic mobility, life expectancy, household costs, health, safety and transportation options. The report finds that people living in compact, connected metro areas have greater economic mobility, spend less on transportation, live longer and are healthier.
|
|
Do you live or work in Austin?
City of Austin wants to understand why you choose to live where you do
Austin residents and those who commute to Austin for school or work are invited to participate in a Housing Choice Survey. The City of Austin wants to be sure that respondents of the survey match the demographics of the city as a whole and needs your help to promote the survey to groups such as the elderly, persons with disabilities, persons experiencing homelessness, and non-native English speakers.
Responses are confidential and will inform future decisions that impact household affordability and fair housing in Austin. The survey is available in English and Spanish. Survey respondents can opt to be entered in a drawing for a $100 gift card. The Housing Choice Survey will remain open through April 30th.
|
|
Travis County Community Impact
highlight of community conditions
 Travis County invested more than $15 million in social service contracts in 2013. The newly released 2013 Community Impact Report offers highlights of community conditions most pertinent to the services purchased within each issue area. The report also details investment, programmatic, client demographic and performance information on the County's contracted social service programs. Links to each section of the report can be found on the Travis County website.
|
|
Community College Success
men of color have poor outcomes despite higher engagement
Black and Latino males report having higher aspirations to earn a community college certificate than their White peers, but only 5% attending community colleges earn certificates or degrees within three years, compared to 32% of White males. The University of Texas at Austin Center for Community College Student Engagement has released a new report, "Aspirations to Achievement: Men of Color and Community Colleges." The report analyzes national data and attributes disparities to three factors: substantially different levels of college readiness, the effects of stereotypes on academic performance, and structural racism.
|
|
Unnatural Causes
Is inequality making us sick?
The Texas State Office of Minority Health is hosting several discussion sessions during minority health month at 4900 North Lamar, Austin, TX 78751 (Brown Heatly Building) from noon to 1 pm on these Thursdays:
April 17th - Becoming American: Hispanic/Latino Immigrants and Health (Room 4105)
April 24th - Place Matters - Where You Live Predicts Your Health (Room 5320)
For more information contact CEDD@hhsc.state.tx.us.
|
|
Financial Empowerment
boot camp for human service practitioners to help clients
Financial Empowerment Boot Camp on April 22nd, 9 am to 4 pm at Workforce Solutions (6505 Airport Blvd.) will prepare human service practitioners to help their clients address financial issues. Participants will:
o Increase understanding of finance values & habits,
o Shape a conversation around financial decisions,
o Build skills to work with clients on financial issues,
o Assess client financial stability needs, and
o Understand how and when to connect clients to existing resources at the local and national level.
Interested individuals should fill out the following pre-survey to register. The workshop will be offered free of charge and count towards continuing education credits for Social Work.
|
|
Design Voice
big ideas for living in a growing Austin
As Austin continues on a trajectory of dramatic growth, huge changes are occurring in how we live and work. How will our community preserve the unique qualities of the Austin we love?Design Voice is featuring a panel discussion with four local thought leaders to share their insights and visions for Austin. The event will be held on Thursday, April 24th from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Penn Field, Building C Atrium.
View the list of speakers here. RSVP to aiadesignvoice@gmail.com.
|
|
Palm Square Resource Fair
health and human services for individuals and families
Visit with area government agencies and non-profit organizations to learn about services available in Travis County. The Resource Fair will include health screenings, financial assistance, a job fair and employment referrals, children's services, nutritional information and more. The event will be held on Friday, May 2nd from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Doris Miller Auditorium, 2300 Rosewood Avenue.
The Resource Fair is sponsored by Travis County Health and Human Services & Veterans Service, City of Austin Health and Human Services, African American Quality of Life Initiative and Austin Parks and Recreation.
|
|
Regional Healthcare Coverage
health insurance marketplace wrap-up
The next Regional Healthcare Coverage Coalition meeting will be on May 6, 2014 from 10:00 am- 11:30 am at Dell Children's Medical Center - Pat Hayes Center, 4900 Mueller Blvd.,
Austin, TX 78723. The agenda will include:
- Marketplace wrap-up and Special Enrollment Periods
- Texas Left Me Out Campaign
- New HHSC Application and eligibility criteria
Click here to register.
|
|
Funders Forum
realities, relationships and relays
Grant professionals, development directors and non-profit professionals are invited to a discussion with local foundations and corporate funders. "Funding Realities, Relationships and Relays" will be held on Friday May 9th from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Girl Scouts of Central Texas, 12012 Park Thirty-five Circle. The event will feature "armchair dialogues" between a major funder and long-time grantee and a "relationship relay" that offers networking opportunities between grantwriters and grantmakers.
Click here for reservations and more information.
|
|
|
| |
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
