Rethinking Social Services: Five Priorities

The five areas council chose to prioritize in future social service funding were culled from the Health and Human Services section of the 1979 Austin Tomorrow Comprehensive Plan. The text below appears in the city's solicitation for new social service contracts addressing one or more of the five areas listed, ranked in order of importance. The request for proposals was issued Monday, Oct. 11.

Safety net/infrastructure services: "Ensure that no person is without basic necessities such as food, clothing, health, shelter, and mental health care, or constitutionally-guaranteed legal rights."

Transition out of poverty: "Ensure educational, employment and other special opportunities for disadvantaged persons to further self-reliance."

Problem prevention: "Deter the growth of problem conditions at the individual and community level through education, preventative physical and mental health programs, crime prevention and other preventative programs."

Universal support services: "Provide family and societal support services in response to new problems created by urbanization and technological advances. These include education, child care, counseling and assistance for the aging, youth, homeless and unemployed, rehabilitation services and other support rehabilitation services."

Enrichment: "Encourage personal development and community enrichment through cultural and educational programs."