In Washington, D.C., supporters of repealing the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare, are putting pressure on a few Republican senators who may or may not go along with that legislation. The Senate has until Sept. 30 to pass the legislation or they will have to start all over. And in Austin, two organizations are […]
Health and Human Services Department
This city department promotes community health through programs like WIC, maternal and child health, birth and death certificates, restaurant inspections, and grants administration.
Posted inCity Hall
Audit: Health inspectors found napping on job
Investigators from the Office of the City Auditor found that three restaurant inspectors were wasting city resources by exercising, shopping, napping and misstating the times they actually spent inspecting restaurants. According to the audit, in January, the auditor’s office received an allegation that several employees of the section of Austin Public Health that inspects restaurants […]
Posted inCity Council
Budget stresses show in child care discussion
Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo faced strong resistance at Tuesday’s work session to her resolution directing the city manager to find funding to continue a child care services program for homeless families. Tovo and her cosponsors, City Council members Delia Garza, Leslie Pool and Pio Renteria, noted in their draft resolution that the city provided […]
Posted inTravis County
Travis County leaders hope to spread social service dollars across region
As rising housing prices force low-income people to flee the urban core in search of cheaper living, Travis County leaders worry about the county’s ability to provide services to the area’s neediest residents in an era of steep federal and state budget cuts. While a report presented to the Travis County Commissioners Court Tuesday noted […]
Posted inBudget
Council makes small increases to social services
City Council approved a flurry of changes to the city budget Tuesday afternoon in an attempt to boost funding for social services. Mayor Steve Adler moved to target some of the $2.1 million in funding that Council had approved Monday for quality of life initiatives aimed at African-American, Asian-American and Latino populations toward three specific […]
Posted inBudget
Council members want more social services spending in budget
A number of City Council members voiced surprise and disappointment at the 2017 budget proposed by city staff, saying it fell woefully short of the commitment to health and human services called for in previous Council resolutions. Council Member Delia Garza was particularly flummoxed by the $99.2 million Health and Human Services budget submitted by […]
Posted inAustin
Council OKs downtown restrooms
Downtown visitors and residents will no longer have to rely on street smarts or commerce to find relief in that area of town. On Thursday, City Council approved a resolution that will usher in the city’s first public restrooms, though they will be temporary for the time being. The resolution, which will lead to two […]
Posted inCity Council
Council debates social service spending
Divisions within City Council over spending on social services were put into sharp relief Thursday as the Health and Human Services Department asked city leaders to approve a 6 percent boost in funding for nonprofit agencies with which the city contracts for a variety of services. The immediate effect of the funding boost, which Council […]
Posted inAustin
Animal Services punts spay and neuter proposal
The Animal Advisory Commission voted down a proposal last week that would have allowed animal shelter staff to spay or neuter an animal the first time it is impounded. Instead, the commissioners will wait for the results of a six-month study that will be conducted by Austin Animal Services. Discussion of the agenda item, which […]
Posted inPublic Health
No big changes to mosquito protocol, says city
Despite two confirmed cases of the mosquito-borne virus Zika in Travis County, the city of Austin says it will not make any big changes to its mosquito-control strategy as the warm season begins – a time ripe for insect breeding. “We have not had any reason to believe that there’s any infected mosquitoes in the […]
Posted inPublic Health, Public Safety
Forum updates on community health initiatives
City and county health officials and health services organizations provided an update last Wednesday night on a five-year comprehensive community health planning initiative that will end in June. About 86 residents attended the community forum at the George Washington Carver Museum to learn about the Community Health Assessment/Community Health Improvement Plan, or CHA/CHIP, which outlines […]
Posted inPublic Health
Committee pushes for regular HHS budget increase
City Council’s Health and Human Services Committee is asking City Manager Marc Ott to consider an annual increase of at least 3 percent for the Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department’s budget. The move comes after Council increased the department’s fiscal year 2015-2016 budget by more than $6.5 million in September. At the Jan. […]