REGULAR MEETING OF THE AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1st, 2026, AT 2:30 P.M. CITY HALL, BOARD & COMMISSION ROOM, ROOM 1101 301 W. 2nd STREET AUSTIN, TEXAS Some members of the Austin Travis County Public Health Commission may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch- atxn-live Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by remotely, contact Daniela Romero, daniela.romero@austintexas.gov or Juanita Jackson at Juanita.jackson@austintexas.gov. telephone. To to speak register CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS OR COMMISSIONERS: Natalie Poindexter, Chair Enrique Lin Shiao, Vice Chair Jawad Ali Chris Crookham Cara Dahlhausen Jacob Whitty Martha Lujan William Rice EX-OFFICIO BOARD MEMBERS/COMMISSIONERS: Adrienne Sturrup, Director, Austin Public Health Dr. Desmar Walkes, Austin/Travis County Public Health Authority Ana Almaguel, Division Director, Travis County Health & Human Services Perla Cavazos, Deputy Administrator, Central Health AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first 5 speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three- minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Public Health Commission Regular Meeting on March 4th, 2026. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Presentation by Communities In Schools of Central Texas. Presentation by Sharon Vigil, CEO. Receive updates from commissioners on assigned action items. Discuss draft recommendation “Sexual Health Funding” created by Commissioner Jacob Whitty. Discuss draft recommendation “Bridging Public Health Funding” created by Commissioner Chris Crookham. Discuss draft recommendation “Heat-Related Illness Prevention for Outdoor Workers”. Discuss commissioner terms. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 8. Conduct officer elections for the Chair and Vice Chair. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. For assistance, please contact the Liaison or TTY users’ route through 711. A person may request language access accommodations no later than 48 hours before the scheduled meeting. Please contact Daniela Romero at Austin Public Health, at daniela.romero@austintexas.gov, or Juanita Jackson at Juanita.jackson@austintexas.gov to request service or for additional information. For more information on …
RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Austin Travis County Public Health Commission Recommendation Number: [YYYYMMDD-XXX] (XXX is the agenda item number): Sexual Health Funding Preservation Date of Approval: Recommendation: This recommendation seeks to stabilize long-term funding sources to address sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in the Austin/Travis County area through prevention, testing, linkage to care, treatment, retention, and supportive services. This recommendation directly addresses priorities outlined by Austin/Travis County as a Fast-Track City to end urban HIV epidemics, including goals to reach 95% of people living with HIV knowing their status, 95% are on treatment, and 95% maintain viral suppression by 2030. Description of Recommendation to Council: WHEREAS gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, and HIV infections are reportable conditions to Austin Public Health (APH), WHEREAS APH provides core public health services not covered by other STI/HIV service providers, WHEREAS there is an overburdened demand for STI/HIV testing and treatment in Austin/Travis County for local service providers, WHEREAS trends for congenital syphilis cases have increased across Texas, leading to preventable infant illness and death, WHEREAS gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis co-infections are more common in people living with HIV and those at highest risk of acquiring HIV, WHEREAS STI/HIV incidence rates are consistently higher in Black and Hispanic people compared with White people, WHEREAS STI/HIV incidence rates are higher in men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women compared with their heterosexual and cisgender counterparts, WHEREAS HIV and syphilis rates have stabilized or declined in MSM and transgender subgroups but increased among cisgender women, WHEREAS investing in STI/HIV prevention efforts is more cost-effective than treatment, WHEREAS APH’s funding for STI/HIV programs is largely grant-reliant, and Disease Intervention Specialists (DIS)/Public Health Follow-up (PHFU) and HIV Surveillance are completely reliant on grant funding, WHEREAS federal budget negotiations demonstrate a shift in funding priorities and potential loss of STI/HIV funding, WHEREAS federal directives have threatened or already removed targeted approaches that serve people most disproportionately impacted by HIV, WHEREAS STI/HIV community partners are experiencing financial setbacks due to loss of funding and changing federal initiatives, WHEREAS vulnerable populations are at-risk for worse health outcomes with loss of funding, WHEREAS loss of grant funding for DIS/PHFU and HIV Surveillance would affect partner investigations, handling outbreaks, and community health data, WHEREAS any reduction to STI/HIV funding would negatively impact the Austin/Travis County community. Rationale: NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Austin Travis County Public Health …
CIS Central Texas Services and Outcomes for Austin/Del Valle Students The Need for CIS Services • 1 in 3 children in Central Texas lives below 200% of the poverty line. • 1 in 4 children in Central Texas is food insecure. • 1 in 5 students has experienced sexual abuse or assault nationally. • 1 in 4 children nationally has experienced physical abuse by a caregiver. • 1 / 4 Americans had an alcoholic parent • 1 / 8 Americans witnessed their mother in an abusive relationship 3 How Trauma Impacts Students • Trauma changes how the brain processes information – survival mode over learning mode. • Students may struggle with memory, focus, and attention in class. • Trauma triggers can lead to fight, flight, or freeze responses, often seen as misbehavior. • Emotions live in the body – students may experience headaches, stomachaches, or restlessness. • Safety and connection are prerequisites for learning; without them, academic success is limited. • Consistent, supportive relationships are key to helping students regulate and re-engage. 4 Integrated Student Support (ISS) Model Menu of Case Management Services Enrichment: Mental & Behavioral Health: • Behavior Intervention, Skill Building Activities, Conflict Resolution, Crisis Intervention • Mentoring • Professional Mental Health Services • Safety Intervention Student /Teacher Conferences • Field Trips Summer Camps and activities • • Creative Arts/ Recreation activities • Before and after school activities • School Climate activities Case Management/ Academics & Attendance: Goal Setting & Monitoring: • Individual goal setting for academic, attendance, and behavior needs • Goal-related intervention planning with student; monitoring check-ins • Case consultation, staffing, service coordination • Tutoring and Homework Assistance Student / Teacher Conferences • • Attendance Interventions • Language Acquisition Support (Emergent Bilingual) Parent/ Family Engagement: • Home visits • Parent Conferences • Family referrals to community resources • Care Coordination & ASPIRE multi-generational learning programs Health & Human Services: • Basic Needs Assistance: (food, clothing, household, rental assistance, utilities) • Transportation assistance • Independent Living Skills Development • Agency Referrals Behavior Improvement by Targeted Need Area 7 Who We Serve in Austin 72 Schools 55 Austin ISD 13 Del Valle ISD 4 Harmony Public Schools 8 2024-25 Austin ISD Services 28,245 students received school-wide supports 5,114 students received intensive case management $433,569 direct assistance to students & families 94% of student body receive school- wide supports 81 community partnerships provided service 9 Total …
WHEREAS The foundation of health in Austin and Travis County is shaped by longstanding structural conditions. Historical patterns of racial segregation, economic exclusion, and neighborhood disinvestment continue to influence present- day access to education, income, and opportunity. These inequities are especially pronounced in East Austin, where residents face compounded disadvantages, and WHEREAS the City of Austin 1928 Master Plan designated then East Avenue as the dividing racial line between East and West Austin, and WHEREAS Interestate 35 later replaced East Avenue, serving as a reinforced physical barrier between East and West Austin, and WHEREAS Interstate 35 tra(cid:431)ic and congestion have exacerbated health disparities of those living in East Austin, leading to less access to quality care and healthy foods, increased rates of chronic diseases such as diabetes and infectious disease, poor maternal health outcomes, and increased socioeconomic inequities, and WHEREAS Interstate 35 creates chronic stressors such as tra(cid:431)ic noise, heat, and pollution, leading to poor mental health and stress of those living nearby, and WHEREAS City Council has touted Cap and Stitch as a once in a generation opportunity to repair the physical divide created by Interstate 35 and assist in repairing over 100 years of segregation, and WHEREAS City Council has welcomed the creation of new public spaces for civic participation and unlocking long-term economic and community benefits, and WHEREAS Neighborhoods east of Interstate 35 tend to have a lower life expectancy compared to neighborhoods west of Interstate 35, ranging as low as 69 years old in east Austin and as high as 88 years old in west Austin, reflecting long-standing inequities in the social and economic conditions that shape health outcomes, and WHEREAS Data show that residents in historically underserved areas, particularly in East Austin, continue to experience shorter lifespans due to higher rates of chronic disease, fewer health care options, and limited access to other key resources, pointing to the urgent need for place-based investments and equity-focused public health strategies to close the life expectancy gap and improve outcomes for all residents, and WHEREAS The conditions of the neighborhoods where people live have a direct and lasting impact on health outcomes. Insecure housing, poor walkability, exposure to tra(cid:431)ic dangers, and gaps in infrastructure don’t just limit mobility, they compound stress, restrict access to services, and contribute to chronic disease, injury, and mental health challenges. These disparities reflect systemic patterns of underinvestment and exclusion, particularly in east Austin, …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Austin Travis County Public Health Commission Recommendation Number: 20250604-005: Heat-Related Illness Prevention for Outdoor Workers Brief Description of the Topic: The Austin-Travis County Public Health Commission recommends that the city of Austin establish a program to incentivize employers to provide 10-minute water breaks every three hours during high-temperature months (May-September) without affecting employee wages. This recommendation responds to historical extreme heat conditions in Austin and the associated morbidity and mortality. Employers who participate in the program would self-certify their compliance, agree to on-site inspections, and receive discounted city services such as waste disposal and utilities. BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: WHEREAS the CDC has identified outdoor workers and laborers as a high-risk population vulnerable to extreme heat exposure and heat-related illnesses. WHEREAS Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), requires all employers of outdoor laborers to provide access to shade and water, implement heat acclimatization protocols for new and returning workers, and conduct training on heat-related illness prevention. Texas does not impose additional heat-related protective regulations beyond these federal requirements. WHEREAS The Texas Regulatory Consistency Act, House Bill 2127 restricts the authority of cities and counties to enact local ordinances, such as mandating water breaks for outdoor workers. WHEREAS Between May 1, 2024, and September 30, 2024, there were 18 days with a max temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit and 73 days with highs over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. WHEREAS Between May 1, 2024, and September 30, 2024, there were a total of 15 heat related deaths in the Austin metro area. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Austin Travis County Public Health Commission recommends that the City of Austin: 1. Establish a program to incentivize employers of outdoor workers to provide 10-minute water breaks every three hours during high-temperature months (May-September), without affecting employee wages. 2. Employers who participate will: a. Self-certify that they provide 10-minute water breaks every three hours. b. Agree to on-site inspections or monitoring to ensure adherence to their self- certification c. Receive discounted city services and permitting. These services include, but are not limited to: 1. Residential construction and remodeling permits 2. Commercial building and trade services permits 3. Waste collection services 4. Site plan permits Date of Approval: _____________________________ Record of the vote: Attest: _____________________________________________ (Staff or board member can sign)
AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION Wednesday, March 4th, 2026 AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, March 4th, 2026 The Austin Travis County Public Health Commission convened in a regular meeting on Wednesday, March 4th, 2026, at 301 West 2nd Street in Austin, Texas. Chair Natalie Poindexter called the Austin Travis County Public Health Commission Meeting to order at 2:39 pm. Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance: Natalie Poindexter, Chair Chris Crookham Jacob Whitty Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Enrique Lin Shiao, Vice Chair Jawad Ali William Rice Martha Lujan Cara Dahlhausen Board Members/Commissioners Absent: NONE Ex-Officio and Staff in Attendance: Adrienne Sturrup, Direcor, Austin Public Health Dr. Desmar Walkes, Austin/Travis County Public Health Authority Daniela Romero, Staff, Austin Public Health Ex-Officio and Staff in Attendance Remotely: Ana Almaguel Megan Cermak Juanita Jackson Ex-Officio and Staff Absent: Perla Cavazos PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Austin Travis County Public Health Commission regular meeting on March 4th, 2026. The minutes for the regular meeting of February 4th, 2026, were approved on Commissioner Jacob Whitty’s motion, Commissioner William Rice second on a 6-0 vote. (Off-dais: Commissioner Enrique Lin Shiao and Commissioner Martha Lujan) DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. 3. Presentation by the Refugee Collective. Presentation by Meg Erskine, Co-Founder and CEO. Review and discuss goals set for FY 2026. The Commission reviewed the five primary goals established for the next six months of the 2026 fiscal year. The Chair emphasized defining these goals within the specific scope and capabilities of Public Health. Commissioners will be assigned to each goal by the chair and will be discussed in next months agenda. Goal 1: Food Plan and Support: Focus on the Food Plan Advisory Board and associated committee work. Goal 2: Community Partnerships: Exploring data-sharing and asset mapping with partners like the University of Texas (UT) to support ongoing commission work. Goal 3: Refugee Equity and Health: Addressing the health needs of the refugee community; noted the attendance of the Refugee Collective at the current meeting. Goal 4: Public Health Education and Awareness: Increasing information dissemination to connected communities and amplifying the work of Ex-Officios. Commissioner Crookham will discuss topic with sustainability committee and report back with updates. Goal 5: Economic Impacts of Public Health: Analyzing the preventative value of public health and the economic consequences when it is not prioritized in policy conversations. After discussing, this …
