2010 Census: The Count Begins

2010 Census:The Count Begins

March 18, 2010

Terri Ann Lowenthal

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Bridgette Rongitsch

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Julian Johannesen

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OVERVIEW

• Census Operations: Timeline at a Glance

• Promotion & Messaging• The 2010 Census Form• Tools for Your Nonprofit• 8 Simple Things for Your Nonprofit

It’s Here!

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2010 CENSUS TIMELINE

NOW!!! - March 2010• Media Campaign• Forms in the Mail!• Questionnaire Assistance Centers & Be

Counted sites open• “Take 10” Response Rate Feedback starts• Homeless Count

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April 2010 • Group Quarters count• Replacement forms sent• Enumeration of transitory locations• Enumeration of remote areas (Update/Enumerate)

2010 CENSUS TIMELINE

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May - August 2010 • Non-Response Canvass (5/1 – 7/10)• Coverage follow-up (e.g. large households)• Check of vacant addresses (Vacant-Delete check)

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2010 CENSUS TIMELINE

DATA PUBLICATION SCHEDULE

• By December 31, 2010: Census Bureau sends state population totals (including members of the armed forces & federal civilian employees stationed overseas) to the President, along with the apportionment of the U.S. House of Representatives

• By April 1, 2011: Census Bureau sends block level data to State officials for redistricting under Public Law 94-171

• Spring 2011 and beyond: Census Bureau begins releasing 2010 Census Summary Files, with data for all governmental jurisdictions

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Messaging

BARRIERS• Not aware of its uses and

importance

• Concerns about use of data and privacy

• Understanding the form

• Time

• Language/literacy

• Unsure benefits will materialize

MESSAGING STRATEGIES

• Emphasize inclusiveness of census (and in-language outreach) to multicultural audiences

• Highlight 10 minutes, 10 questions

(e.g. the census is quick and easy)

MESSAGING STRATEGIES

• Demystify the census process

– Show sample census form– Discuss process & timing of

questionnaire delivery and door-to-door visits

• Demystify how census responses are used– Show sample census data table

MESSAGING STRATEGIESIn April …

• It’s not too late to mail back your form!• No one will knock on your door if you mail it

back! It’s safe; that’s it; you’re done!• If you misplaced your form:

– Wait to receive a replacement form in early April.– Use a Be Counted form.– After April 11, call-in your responses.

The Form

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2010 CENSUS QUESTIONNAIRE:OVERVIEW

• 10 questions; 6 topics.• Language information:

– English language forms mailed/delivered to most homes

– Bilingual English-Spanish forms mailed/delivered to 13.5 million targeted homes nationwide

– Forms available upon request in Spanish, Chinese (simplified), Korean, Russian, and Vietnamese

– Assistance guides available in 59 languages– Replacement forms mailed (in April) to low

response census tracts, in English only

Tools For Your Nonprofit

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Questionnaire Assistance Centers (QACs)

• Often located at nonprofit organizations, trained Census enumerators assist people in filling out the form.

• QAC locations posted at http://2010.census.gov/2010census/

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Be Counted Forms • 40K sites nationwide

• Use if someone believes they did not receive a form in the mail, or if their household already filled out the form without counting them.

• Extra forms, assistance guides, and a submission box

• Sites posted at http://2010.census.gov/2010census/ and www.nonprofitscount.org/specificlink

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CENSUS = RESOURCESFOR COMMUNITIES

• $450 billion in federal program funds distributed annually to states and localities

• Average per capita census-driven federal resources: $1,470 per year (FY2008)

– Range: $4,656 in DC (high) to $742 in NV (low)

• 215 federal domestic assistance programs use census data to guide distribution of funds

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CENSUS = RESOURCESFOR COMMUNITIES

For funding breakdowns by state, for 200 largest counties, and 100 largest metro areas, see Brookings Institution report, “Counting for Dollars: The Role of the Decennial Census in the Geographic Distribution of Federal Funds”http://www.brookings.edu/metro/census_dollars

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Nonprofits: The Census is About You!

8. Simple Things

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1. promotion, promotion, promotion

It’s Easy and it’s Free! • Use your census promotional materials –

make them visible in your agency’s lobby to brand your organization as supportive of the census.

• If you don’t have census “swag” yet, call your local census office and get some right away!

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2. Start with Your Inner Circle

• Plan to talk about census participation at an upcoming staff meeting.

• Create a simple payroll stuffer reminding your staff to mail back their census form.

• Plan a celebratory event just for your organization’s staff, board and volunteers to recognize everyone’s participation.

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3. Train Your Frontline Staff Nonprofits Count! can Help!

• Familiarity with the form• How to find a QAC or Be Counted Site• Confidentiality• Importance

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4. Reminders • Post a sign in your agency’s lobby

and/or train frontline staff to remind your community members and clients– did you receive your census form in the

mail? – have you or someone in your household

filled it out and mailed it back?– do you need help?

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5. Add to Your Communications

• Emails • Newsletter

Articles • Your Website

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6. Help People With Their Forms/ Find a QAC or BCS

• Post a sign in your agency’s lobby letting people know that they can get help with their census form.– Look up the nearest Questionnaire

Assistance Center or Be Counted Site– Have staff trained and ready to explain

how to fill out the form if necessary.

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7. Invite Your Constituents to an Existing Community Event

• Check with your local complete count committee to find out about events in your area

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8. Host a Community Event NOW is the Time!

• Invite community members to your agency for an event celebrating the census.

• Invite a local partnership specialist • Invite community members to speak

about the census and its importance

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PROMOTION ANDMESSAGING

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THINGS TO DO• Refer people to official Questionnaire Assistance Centers whenever

possible.

• Answer questions about the census in a private area.– Make sure your staff members fully understand the materials &

concepts.

• Translate instructions and questions for people with limited English proficiency.

• Explain questions and response choices.

• If necessary, help people fill out their forms.– Use a private area– Ensure you are speaking with head of household– Seal envelope and help respondent mail the form right away

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THINGS NOT TO DO• Do not pretend to be an official Questionnaire Assistance Center or

use the official census logo if you are offering assistance.

• Do not help people fill in forms or “volunteer” to help QAC staff if your organization is hosting an official QAC.

• Do not encourage use of Be Counted forms unless people are sure they did not receive one at their residence or that they were left off the form another household member mailed back.

• Do not gather completed forms for mailing at a later time; ask respondents to place forms in mail receptacles that are emptied daily by the Postal Service.

• Do not follow census takers around neighborhoods or into buildings to “encourage” people to cooperate; canvassing should be done well before census takers visit.

Now You’re Ready!

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Contact information:

Terri Ann LowenthalFunders Census InitiativeTerriAnn2K@aol.com203-353-4364www.thecensusproject.org

Contact Information:

Bridgette Rongitsch www.nonprofitscount.org 651-757-3085bridgette@nonprofitvote.org

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