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Public Health

Public Health Commission looks at curbing heat illnesses, promoting drug counselor training

The Austin-Travis County Public Health Commission is fine-tuning recommendations on two initiatives aimed at expanding harm reduction services and protecting outdoor workers from heat-related illnesses. During the latest meeting, commissioners reviewed draft recommendations on both issues but took no votes,…

Public Health • By Chad Swiatecki • Apr 8, 2025

Council gets early look at public health cuts caused by federal funding losses

Austin Public Health leaders are working to manage an ongoing budget crisis caused by federal funding cuts that have destabilized programs across the city. City Council’s Public Health Committee heard last week that APH has already lost approximately $15 million…

Public Health • By Chad Swiatecki • Apr 7, 2025

Audit throws shade at city's efforts to mitigate extreme heat

A new report from the Office of the City Auditor concludes that, while the city has made notable progress in preparing for extreme heat, challenges in coordination, funding and measurable planning continue to undermine long-term resilience. The audit, released this…

Public Health • By Chad Swiatecki • Apr 1, 2025

City intensifies efforts to encourage vaccination amid state’s worst measles outbreak in decades

Last Thursday, Austin city leaders marked the 30th anniversary of a program that provides free vaccines to children as Texas faces its worst measles outbreak in over three decades.  Measles is a highly contagious airborne disease that can spread through…

Public Health • By Madeline de Figueiredo • Mar 31, 2025

Central Health opens long-awaited Del Valle Health Center

Last week, Central Health announced at a Travis County Commissioners Court meeting that it has finally opened its Del Valle Health Center, the long-awaited collaboration with CommUnityCare that will expand access to health care for low-income Eastern Travis County residents.…

Public Health • By Lina Fisher • Mar 20, 2025

City IDs progress, funding needs to carry out area food plan

A pair of recent city memos shows progress and the need for additional funding sources to implement the first comprehensive food plan for the Austin area. The two memos were released last week, outlining nine goals and 61 strategies aimed…

Public Health • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 18, 2025

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Council adds funding to bolster Integral Care’s mental health efforts

Responding to the need for more mental health workers to staff Integral Care’s Expanded Mobile Crisis Outreach Team, City Council on Thursday voted to allocate additional funding to the program. The action will inject more than $1.4 million into the…

Public Health • By Amy Smith • Mar 7, 2025

Travis County outlines the next year of opioid overdose prevention strategy

Even as the Trump administration attempts to gut every kind of federal grant bolstering local services, from transportation to public health and beyond, Travis County is still managing to continue its long-term investments in opioid recovery services and harm reduction.…

Public Health • By Lina Fisher • Mar 3, 2025

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Amid ongoing measles concerns, Austin ISD’s vaccination rate is below target for its youngest students

As a measles outbreak in West Texas continues to raise concerns throughout the state, Austin ISD’s vaccination rate for incoming kindergarteners remains well below pre-pandemic levels. Public health experts say around 95 percent of the population needs to be vaccinated…

Public Health • By Olivia Aldridge, KUT • Mar 3, 2025

Federal cuts slash more than $2M from Foundation Communities' health navigator program

The Foundation Communities nonprofit is facing a substantial financial setback after the Trump administration announced a 90 percent reduction in funding for health insurance navigator grants. The cuts, revealed last Friday, eliminate nearly all funding for 56 programs nationwide that…

Public Health • By Chad Swiatecki • Feb 19, 2025

APD won’t enforce SB 14 as Paxton and Trump further attack gender-affirming health care

Last week, two federal judges issued temporary restraining orders on an executive order by the Trump administration that would have blocked federal funding for gender-affirming care for minors. That means that – for now – any health care provider or…

Public Health • By Lina Fisher • Feb 18, 2025

After shutting off mental health care for Austin musicians, SIMS Foundation restarts services

The SIMS Foundation, which has provided low-cost and free mental health care to Austin musicians for decades, is connecting clients to services again after a three-month pause. SIMS Foundation CEO Derrick Lesnau said the organization reached its fundraising goal of a…

Public Health • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Feb 13, 2025

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