Public Health
Residential substance abuse treatment program for women to open next fall
At its Tuesday meeting, the Travis County Commissioners Court approved a $469,559 contract for a residential substance use treatment program for women, using the state’s opioid abatement funds. The contract is the first time an inpatient residential resource has been…
Public Health • By Lina Fisher • Oct 3, 2024
Central Health audit raises more questions than answers
On Tuesday, Sept. 10, the Travis County Commissioners Court received a troubling and confusing report on an audit it authorized in 2022 of the county’s health care district, Central Health. Audit consultant Mazars found that Central Health has committed no…
Public Health • By Lina Fisher • Sep 12, 2024
Homeless Strategy Office turns its focus to prevention and diversion
With a $2.1 million boost from the federal American Rescue Plan Act and City Council’s recent approval of a contract for navigation services, the Homeless Strategy Office is now better equipped to address housing barriers, HSO leader David Gray told…
Public Health • By Amy Smith • Sep 6, 2024
Austin plans to move forward with abortion travel fund, officials say
The city of Austin will be allowed to move forward with plans to implement its Reproductive Justice Fund, despite a lawsuit challenging its legality, city officials said. The Reproductive Justice Fund is a provision in the city’s 2024-25 budget that is…
Public Health • By Luz Moreno-Lozano, KUT • Sep 3, 2024
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Austin and Travis County's first Food Plan nears its finish line
Texas has the second-highest rate of food insecurity in the country, and Austin’s numbers aren’t much better: 158,270 Travis County residents, or 16 percent, are food insecure. Not being able to pay for food is a symptom of larger failures…
Public Health • By Lina Fisher • Aug 26, 2024
Austin faces lawsuit for providing financial support to people seeking out-of-state abortions
The city of Austin is being sued for a provision in the budget providing money to people seeking out-of-state abortions. City Council last week approved $400,000 to fund travel – including airfare, gas, hotel stays and food – for people…
Public Health • By Luz Moreno-Lozano, KUT • Aug 22, 2024
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Central Health board considers improvements to reaching target communities
Members of the Central Health Board of Managers turned their attention Wednesday to how well the organization is doing at finding those who need health care and other services in a number of areas throughout East Austin. The discussion came…
Public Health • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 16, 2024
Environmental Commission recommends Council’s adoption of food plan
The Austin Environmental Commission on Wednesday approved a recommendation to City Council to adopt the proposed Austin/Travis County Food Plan and ensure its complete funding over the next four years. The recommended resolution, sponsored by Mariana Krueger and approved unanimously,…
Public Health • By Amy Smith • Aug 9, 2024
A health clinic for low-income residents was supposed to open in Del Valle last year. Where is it?
Nearly four years ago, the Del Valle community was promised a health center that would offer dentistry, primary care, mental health services and a pharmacy. This clinic, a collaboration between Central Health and CommUnityCare, would expand access to health care and serve…
Public Health • By Michelle Tamayo, KUT • Aug 8, 2024
'Demand has just gone up and up': Food banks struggle to keep up post-pandemic
Drivers line up down the street to grab groceries from a small, white house in the Dunbar neighborhood of San Marcos. For some time, the renovated house worked fine for the Hays County Food Bank, but as more and more…
Public Health • By Maya Fawaz, KUT • Jul 8, 2024
Central Health talks new facilities, services in advance of 2025 budget
Travis County’s public hospital district that funds medical care for low-income residents plans to accelerate its introduction of new clinical services in its next budget year. Care for psychiatry, endocrinology and rheumatology are among the new offerings on tap in…
Public Health • By Chad Swiatecki • Jul 3, 2024
New climate report shows last summer's record-high temps might not be a fluke
The results are in from researchers at the University of Texas’ Climate CoLab, and those who hoped last summer’s record-breaking temperatures to be a deviation from the norm might want to adjust their expectations. The new Climate Projections report, which…
