FAQ’S

The Convene is a community-led initiative focused on improving how Travis County addresses substance use. It brings together people with lived experience, service providers, advocates, and other community members to co-design better systems for substance use.

The goal of Convene is to build a more responsive and inclusive system for substance use services. We also aim to improve the quality and efficacy of services and support for those impacted by substance use. The project will produce an action plan on providing services and support to those impacted by substance use.

A community ambassador is a trusted community member with a shared mission to better incorporate community voices in substance use planning in Travis County.

Any community member who is interested and cares about substance use in Travis County and wants to help share resources, gather stories, and connect others to this work.

Community Ambassadors elevate the voices of the community and help shape policies and services impacting the community. Community Ambassadors also share resources and information with the community, gather feedback and stories, and help recruit people for community conversations.

A community conversation is an inclusive and casual conversation centered on listening, learning, and co-creating ideas. Within Convene, these conversations address improving support and services related to substance use in Travis County.

The Convene Advisory Group is made up of 13 individuals with various ties to substance use in Travis County. The group includes clinicians, people with lived experiences, people working in substance use support services, and people working in areas adjacent to substance use.

The Steering Committee is open to all interested stakeholders and will inform development of substance use Continuum, substance use Plan, and updates. The group will meet twice annually in 2026 – 2031.

We will gather feedback for this project through community ambassadors, online feedback forms, and community conversations.

Anyone can apply to be on the steering community. All are welcome and encouraged to provide feedback through the website or by emailing contact@convenetraviscounty.org.

Convene, in this context, means to bring together all of the voices of those impacted by substance use in Travis County, especially the stories of those who are historically unheard.