=12.0ptPlease see the below letter from Judge Brown:
Dear Commissioners,=12.0ptI wanted to share information with you about an exciting opportunity for Travis County to participate in the FUSE Corps Executive Fellowship program. The County was approached about this opportunity because the City of Austin already has several fellows and FUSE Corps works to place cohorts together so that fellows can support each other. In the city of Austin, fellows are currently working on projects related to gentrification, transit and homelessness.=12.0pt
=12.0ptWhat is FUSE?=12.0ptFUSE is a national nonprofit that partners with local governments to help build capacity in urban communities. FUSE works with cities and counties on a range of issues, including economic and workforce development, healthcare, public safety, and equity to name a few. FUSE works closely with governmental partners to design yearlong strategic projects, recruit experienced leaders to take on those challenges, and provide ongoing support to help fellows achieve their full potential for community impact. FUSE fellows typically have 10-15 years of executive leadership experience and ultimately are selected by the host governmental entity to work on the proposed project. Since 2012, FUSE has placed more than 160 executive fellows in over 100 government agencies throughout the country and more than 50 percent of alumni continue to work in roles in civic leadership after their fellowships.=12.0pt
=12.0ptWhat projects is Travis County exploring for support by a FUSE Fellow?
- =12.0ptBroadband Infrastructure, Department of Information Technology Services: Travis County is making strides to close the gaps faced by its most digitally excluded residents, and intends to ensure broadband is provided as an essential utility throughout the county post-pandemic. We saw firsthand that the inequitable access to broadband during COVID-19 and the winter storm fell most heavily on working families and communities of color, particularly those in more rural areas of our county. Travis County is committed to ensuring people across the county have equitable access to the internet when they need it. To support this work, the Travis County Information Technology Services Department will partner with a FUSE Executive Fellow for one year to launch a comprehensive county-wide digital inclusion strategy, conducting a Digital Equity Survey and building public-private partnerships to connect residents with broadband services. The FUSE Fellow will help identify multiple funding streams, including federal and state resources, that can be leverage to support this work.
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- =12.0ptCOVID-19 Outreach and Communication, Departments of Health and Human Services and Emergency Management:=12.0pt The FUSE Fellow will support the Health and Human Services Department to implement a cohesive county-wide communications and operations strategy for vaccine administration long-term. The Executive Fellow will merge the current strategies of public and private providers, align resources, and amplify best practices, preparing the county for the rollout of an eventual booster vaccine campaign. At the end of the fellowship year, the Executive Fellow will have played an integral role in supporting a smooth and equitable distribution and administration of a life-saving vaccine for all residents.
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- =12.0ptDiversion Center, Departments of Health and Human Services and Justice and Safety and Travis County Judge’s Office:=12.0pt Last week the Court directed county staff to study the potential and costs of creating a mental health diversion program pilot at the Sobering Center in collaboration with the City of Austin and key mental health stakeholders. As folks here are aware, I have been working with Comm. Howard, Judge Needles, and many others on what that might look like. In our conversations with county staff before that item was approved by the Court, County staff expressed concern about the capacity to undertake such a significant effort without additional support. The FUSE Fellow can help develop a thorough and holistic sustainability plan for the proposed Center. This will include connecting directly with the community to ensure their needs are prioritized in service delivery and forming a roadmap to establish the fiscal longevity of the Center. The FUSE fellow will coordinate with our community partners, including Integral Care, the Sobering Center, CommUnity Care and other interested stakeholders to develop a proposal for the pilot program, manage a working group, and develop a longer term sustainability plan for the effort. Through the Travis Center, the County will ensure people with substance-use disorders and mental health disorders will receive the support they need while we build a safer, healthier county. Travis Center, a fully functioning mental health diversion center that provides community-based preventive services to help people avoid interaction with the criminal legal system. To support this work,
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=12.0ptWhat is the cost to Travis County?=12.0ptFUSE Corp provides the full salary and benefits for all fellows for a full year. In addition to salary and benefits, they provide executive coaching and connect current fellows with other current and previous fellows who have done similar work across the county. The County will be required to provide laptops, physical space if necessary, and any necessary technical support for the FUSE fellow to be successful. A full contract is being worked by the County Attorney’s office and will come to Commissioners Court for approval. =12.0pt
=12.0ptHow can we find out more?
- =12.0ptVisit the website:
www.fusecorps.org/about/
- =12.0ptFull briefing to court in July along with approval of the projects and fellows
- =12.0ptHave Subcommittees briefed on the proposed project and meet their fellow in July/August
- =12.0ptRegular check-ins with the relevant subcommittees throughout the project for discussion and direction
