CDC CSBG Neighborhood Services Unit Report — original pdf

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Austin Public Health Report on PY26 Community Action Plan MISSION: To prevent disease, promote health, and protect the well-being of our community. TOP 5 NEEDS: Housing; Basic Needs; Employment; Health; Income Community Services Block Grant 2026 Contract Programmatic/Financial Report July 14th, 2026 The Community Services Block Grant funds the delivery of services to low-income Texas residents in all 254 counties. These funds support a variety of direct services in addition to helping maintain the core administrative elements of community action agencies. For the City of Austin, the grant provides funding for the delivery of basic needs, case management, preventive health and employment support services through the City’s seven (7) Neighborhood Centers. Mission: The Neighborhood Services Unit aims to improve the lives and health of people experiencing poverty by providing public health and social services and connecting residents of Austin and Travis County to community resources. ◼ Basic Needs (food, clothing, information and referral, notary services, transportation, car safety education and car seats, tax preparation, fans, Thanksgiving food baskets and other seasonal activities); ◼ Preventive Health (screenings for blood pressure, blood sugar including a1C, and cholesterol; pregnancy testing; health promotion presentations, coordination and participation in health fairs, immunizations, coordination of wellness activities, linkages to medical home providers and diabetes case management); ◼ Case Management (individual/family support counseling, advocacy, self-sufficiency case management, crisis intervention, linkages with employers, educational opportunities and training, and working with individuals on quality-of-life issues); ◼ Employment Support (intake, assessment and goal setting, job readiness training, job placement assistance, and job retention services) Expenditures Categories Personnel Fringe Benefits Other Total 2026 Contract Budget $ $ $ $855,640 Cumulative Expenditures through 5/30/26 $270,866.98 $157,429.35 $ $428,296.33 Percent of Total 50% 1 Neighborhood Services Unit Success Stories A patient, who was a minor, and her mother presented to an Austin Public Health’s Neighborhood Center requesting a pregnancy test. The result was positive, triggering immediate medical, legal, educational, and language-access interventions. Mandatory reporting procedures were followed and Austin Public Health coordinated a multi-agency meeting with Child Protective Services (CPS), Austin Police Department, the patient’s family, and interpreters (to ensure safety and understanding). Initial prenatal coordination included scheduling the first OB appointment, providing prenatal vitamins, completing a CHIP intake, and supplying educational materials. However, repeated missed appointments revealed deeper barriers: the family’s primary language was an Indigenous Maya language rather than Spanish and the patient’s mother was unable to read or write. These discoveries prompted expanded collaboration with the school social worker, Any Baby Can, CPS, and additional community partners. Through ongoing case management and culturally responsive support, the patient engaged in prenatal care. An ultrasound confirmed the pregnancy and she remained in Any Baby Can’s program. She delivered a healthy infant and court orders were put in place to ensure safety. A postpartum home visit revealed significant socioeconomic hardship. APH and partners provided immediate basic needs support, including a crib, baby supplies, and access to food resources. Continued follow-up ensured successful breastfeeding and medical care. Five months later, both mother and baby were thriving. The patient’s aunt relocated to provide support and the patient has returned to school full-time, making strong academic progress, and aiming to become the first in her family to complete high school. This case illustrates the impact of comprehensive public health nursing, cross-system collaboration, and culturally responsive care. By addressing language barriers, safety risks, health literacy, and social determinants of health, APH helped stabilize a high-risk situation and support positive outcomes for two generations. * Names and certain identifying details have been altered. 2