Annie E Casey Foundation releases Two Reports

The Annie E. Casey Foundation recently released two new reports on the theory of social networks approaches and practice. They are the first and second in a series of five reports. A must read for any organization working to strengthen communities and neighborhoods, the first is titled, Tapping the Power of Social Networks: Understanding the Role of Social Networks in Strengthening Families and Transforming Communities, 2006. Written by Casey Senior Associate Audrey Jordan, this report presents the base from which the Foundation has built its work on social networks. It compiles relevant definitions, key findings from the literature and their challenges, and Casey’s point of view on the potential niche for strengthening positive social networks in the context of the Foundation’s Making Connections initiative.

The second report is titled The Ties that Bind: The Practice of Social Networks,2006. Written by Terri J. Bailey, Senior Research Officer at the Piton Foundation, this report documents the Foundation's effort to learn from families, communities and organizations around the country about their experiences with social network strategies and approaches. Using the voices and experiences of the families and organizations visited, the report summarizes findings from these visit and helps lay the ground work for the development of a social network point of view for the Foundations' practice and measurement work in the Making Connection sites.

Pollution Report Now Out

Mayor Bill White and a team of experts unveiled a new report coordinated by the University of Texas Health Science Center yesterday. According to the report, concentrations of a dozen air pollutants in the Houston area pose significant risks to public health, and nowhere is the risk greater than in east Harris County, along the Ship Channel, a task force of public health and toxicological experts convened by Mayor Bill White concluded Monday.

An air quality monitoring station is adjacent to the Clinton Park-Tri-Community Center in Clinton Park, one of the Houston Hope neighborhoods. The device and other data shows that Houston's East Side and particularly neighborhoods like Clinton Park are at risk. For a PDF copy of the complete report go to http://images.chron.com/content/news/photos/06/06/12/utreport.pdf .

Kleinberg's 2006 Survey published

The Houston Chronicle today released a story about the 2006 Houston Survey completed by Dr. Steve Kleinberg and his team from Rice University. Dr. Kleinberg will present more detailed findings of his survey today at a luncheon meeting with the Greater Houston Partnership. According to the survey, which was completed in February and March, the biggest problems facing Houston are Crime (31%), Traffic (26%) and the Economy (13%).

What does all this mean for Houston? These will be the questions that many of ask over the next few weeks as months as community leaders, city and county officials, and key opinion leaders consider the implications of the survey.

KIDS COUNT

The Annie Casey KidsCount online reports provide valuable information on children. Information is segmented by legislative districts.

KIDS COUNT now offers several interactive online databases that allow visitors to create free, customized data reports on-the-fly. The report choices vary by system, but include the ability to generate custom profiles, line graphs, maps, and rankings, and download raw data.
Profiles give you detailed information about a single geographic area. Graphs allow you to view indicators graphed over time. Maps provide color-coded maps of the geographic area. Rankings allow you to view all of the comparable geographic regions, ranked by an indicator. Raw Data allows you to download the raw data for off-line use.

LARA RFQ for Nonprofits

The City of Houston is now accepting responses to the LARA RFQ for Nonprofit Organizations by appointment. To make an appointment to submit your organization's response, please call 713.837.7804. The City is urging all interested nonprofits to submit their responses as soon as possible. The RFQ is located at http://www.houstontx.gov/planning/NbhdInfo/nbhd1.htm

LARA Meeting Scheduled

LAND ASSEMBLAGE REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Board of Directors Meeting
2:00 p.m., April 21, 2006
City Hall Annex Council Chambers, Public Level
900 Bagby, Houston, Texas 77002



I. Call to Order

II. Designation by Chairman of a recording secretary

III. Review and approval of Minutes from the March 16, 2006 Board meeting

IV. Old Business

a. a. Treasurer’s report

b. b. Auction update by Linebarger Goggan

V. Committee Reports

VI. New Business

c. a. Consideration and possible action regarding approval of RFP, as revised

d. b. Consideration and possible action regarding the approval of a revised RFQ selection process to select CDCs to participate in developing LARA lots for affordable housing

(Action can be taken on any of the above Agenda items)

VII. Chairman’s Report

VIII. Public Comments

IX. Executive Session under Section 555.072 of the Texas Open Meetings Act

X. Adjournment

The LARA board may go into executive session, if necessary, pursuant to chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code, for one or more of the following reasons: (1) consultation with its Attorney to seek or receive legal advice or consultation regarding pending or contemplated litigation; (2) discussion about the value or transfer of real property; (3) discussion about a prospective gift or donation; (4) consideration of specific personnel matters; (5) discussion about security personnel or devices; or (6) discussion of certain economic development matters. The board may announce that it will go into executive session on any item listed on this agenda if the subject matter is permitted for a closed session by provisions of chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code.


For special needs assistance, please contact Patricia McFarland @ 713.437.6417 prior to the scheduled meeting.

We have the tools

The recent article from the Christian Science Monitor speaks of extreme poverty in countries across the world. "We have the tools to end global poverty" the article says. "Empowering individuals is the key."

The article states that "Putting an end to poverty goes far beyond building physical infrastructure and elevating per capita income in the developing world. While these advances are critical, it is equally necessary to help individuals gain control over key decisions in their lives. Humanitarian workers have learned that the surest way to put a dent in extreme poverty is to invest in women and girls. As their lives improve, they enhance the prospects of their families and entire communities."

This is also a truth for Houston as we work together to improve and bring hope to some of Houston's long neglected neighborhoods. Resident empowerment to take control of their lives and their futures will be key factor in the success of this initiative. It is about education and health care, community safety and economic development as well individual empowerment to begin to see, hope for and invest themselves in a new future. Many good things are already going on to empower these neighborhoods and their residents. But, we must work together to bring more scale and opportunities for imporovement.

Too long, community groups and leaders have worked on the problems and needs of these neighborhoods independently in their own worlds. We must work together! We must share and expand resources if we are going to accomplish the resident empowerment and build the capacity for neighborhood improvement with the results we all are hoping for.

If we get the results we are hoping for, we will begin to see improvements in overall neighborhood income and educational levels as more and more residents take charge of their future.

Let me know what you think....post a comment.

RFP Available for Comment

The City of Houston is seeking comments on a draft request for proposals for turning vacant lots into affordable housing in several Houston Hope neighborhoods. The City is foreclosing on delinquent properties and will build housing allowing truly affordable home ownership. The first RFP will include about 175 lots suitable for 195 or more housing units. Down payment assistance shall be used to bring monthly payments down to a level where many working families now renting can instead build equity in their homes.

Be a responsible citizen. Review the documents and make your comments.

Brown Bag to Discuss CHIP Program

CHIP is CHANGING

Recently, the re-enrollment process for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) has changed, causing thousands of children to lose their CHIP health coverage. According to a recent article in the Houston Chronicle, only 17% of applicants successfully complete the new re-enrollment process, resulting in 28,000 children statewide losing coverage since December 2005. In February alone, 70% of children up for renewal lost coverage statewide.

The reinstatement of an enrollment fee for CHIP is the first of several planned changes to occur in the program throughout 2006.

In conjunction with the Children’s Defense Fund come hear the latest updates on CHIP and how you can help the people you serve keep their CHIP coverage.


Friday, March 10, 2006
11:30 a.m.—1:00 p.m.
Texas Children’s Health Plan
2450 Holcombe, Suite 34L
Houston, TX 77021

Lunch will be provided. Parking is $7.

To get an accurate lunch count, please RSVP by Wednesday, March 8, 2006 by calling Sue at 832-828-1300 or via e-mail at sxsauber@texaschildrenshospital.org

If you cannot attend, a conference line will be available, call-in information will be sent to you via e-mail, upon your RSVP.

Chronicle Features Article about Houston Hope

In the Monday, March 6, 2006 issue of the Houston Chronicle, was an article written by Mike Snyder about the collaborative Houston Hope initiative. Project Houston Hope is the City of Houston's vision to create affordable housing opportunities in Houston Hope neighborhoods. Houston Hope is the collaborative private sector effort to create and implement human services plans in the neighborhoods. The plan for the Clinton Park neighborhood is almost complete and will soon be published on the Houston Hope website.