Census 2010
CPPP believes in the power and value of data for advancing positive change for Texas and, to that end, has become an official 2010 Census partner. The goal of the Census Bureau's partnership program is to combine the strengths of local governments, community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, schools, media, businesses and others, to ensure a complete and accurate 2010 Census. CPPP will work with the Census Bureau to help increase participation by hard-to-reach households, such as those with young children, the elderly, or non-English speakers. Accurate Census data ensures Texas gets its fair share of federal funds, helps local decision-makers plan for the future, and assures we get adequate representation an appropriate voice in Congress based on our population size and demographics. To learn more or how your organization can become a partner, please contact Frances Deviney, CPPP’s Senior Research Associate, or visit the Census 2010 Website.
On This Page:
- Still haven't filled out your census form? Don't worry ... there's still time!
- Census counts in colonias and other hard-to-count areas
- Census Bureau's 3/25 Report on Census Returns
- CPPP Calls on Texas to Count Children First
- KVRX Census PSAs now available in English and Spanish
- Children Count Too: Dora the Explorer Teams Up With the Census Bureau!
- Webinar: Counting Every Child So Every Child Counts
- Policy Point: Census Jobs in Texas
- Report: Why Are Young Children So Often Missed in the Census?
- Frontera Asset Building Network support for Census outreach along border.
- CPPP Op-ed on importance of Census
- Messaging materials for hard-to-count populations, from the Ford Foundation.
- Find hard-to-count populations in your neighborhood, county, or state!
- The Census Project
- "Why should I fill out my Census form?"
- Become a 2010 Census Partner
- Other useful sites
Latest News
Still haven't filled out your census form? Don't worry ... there's still time!
CPPP and partner organization the Frontera Asset Building Network sent out a Census note today calling on nonprofit advocates to remind their clients to complete and mail back their census forms. Even though April 1 has passed, it is not too late! The message includes tips and information about what concerned organizations can do to help make the 2010 Census a success. To read the full message, click here.
Census counts in colonias and other hard-to-count areas
Many homes in Texas’ colonias never received mailed census forms, leading to confusion about how they are supposed to participate. From March 22 through May 29, the Census Bureau will engage in what’s called the Update/Enumerate process in areas that do not have addresses with easily detectable house numbers and street names. CPPP’s Texas KIDS COUNT Project is partnering with Children’s Defense Fund-Rio Grande Valley and the Frontera Asset Building Network to spread the word about how these communities can participate. We are reaching out to families in hard-to-count areas by sending over 100,000 flyers home through the local elementary schools that serve Texas’ border colonias. Please feel free to use the flyer for you own outreach efforts. Only by working together can make sure we get a full and accurate count!
Census Bureau's 3/25 Report on Census Returns
With less than a week to the April 1st Deadline, only 12 percent of Texas households have mailed back their form, compared to 20 percent across the country. Counties in the Valley fare the worst, with less than a 4 percent return rate, compared to Carson County, in the Texas panhandle, with a 36 percent return rate. Click here to download all local level data from the March 25 Census Bureau report on census returns. To read the full CPPP e-mail update about lagging Census returns and what you can do to help, click here.
CPPP Calls on Texas to Count Children First
In McAllen, Texas this past Tuesday, CPPP Senior Policy Analyst Dr. Frances Deviney conducted a census training session to help ensure that valley residents count thier children in the upcoming 2010 Census.
Children are the age group most often missed in the Census. It is critically important to count ALL children to make sure BILLIONS of dollars can come to the Rio Grande Valley every year based on Census data for child-focused programs such as Title 1 Education Grants; Early Head Start and Head Start, Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Medicaid, and so much more. When Valley kids are not counted, that money goes to another part of the country.
Click here to read more about the event.
KVRX Census PSAs now available in English and Spanish
CPPP's own Carrie Dickerson recorded these PSAs about the importance of the 2010 Census for Austin's KVRX 91.7 FM. Both English and Spanish versions are available to be downloaded, reposted, and rebroadcast.
English
Spanish
Click below to download
Children Count Too: Dora the Explorer Teams Up With the Census Bureau!
Children have been undercounted in every census since the first one in 1790. Local communities rely on census information in planning for schools, child care, health and other critical services. Babies need to be counted today, so they can benefit tomorrow from community services. Featuring Dora the Explorer, the popular children's cartoon character, the Census Bureau has teamed up with Nickelodeon to create a toolkit with resources to help you spread the word among your members and customers. We need your help to ensure that parents and child care providers count their babies and young children on their 2010 Census forms.
In a few short weeks, forms will be arriving in mailboxes across the country. During the week of March 8-12, the Census Bureau will launch a public awareness campaign, Children Count Too, to remind parents about the importance of counting their babies and young children on the forms.
Here are ways you can help:
- Send an email blast to your membership and customers about the importance of counting young children in the 2010 Census.
- Distribute the Dora the Explorer-2010 Census fact sheet (available in English and Spanish) to your members and link to it on your website.
- Post the Dora the Explorer-2010 Census web button (available in English and Spanish, in two sizes) on your website to demonstrate your support of the Children Count Too initiative.
- Start discussions about the importance of counting children in the 2010 Census using your social media networks, such as Facebook, Twitter and blogs.
Click here to download the children's fact sheet and web buttons.
Webinar: Counting Every Child So Every Child Counts
It is time! Once every ten years, every man, woman, and child in America is counted. Families with young children are the most at risk of being undercounted in the Census because these families either don’t understand the importance of the Census or fear what can happen if they do complete it. This can result in the state getting less funding and resources for vital service programs in the communities such as yours. CPPP hosted a webinar on the importance of the Census and what you can do to help.
Watch the webinar.Census Jobs in Texas
The U.S. Census Bureau is hiring thousands of workers in Texas to help conduct the 2010 Census. More than 84,000 jobs will be created throughout the state during peak operations. This policy point tells you more. An accurate Census count has direct implications for every Texan. Many government funding decisions for services such as schools, housing, job training, roads, health care, and social services rely on Census data. Many communities are historically undercounted. Census workers can help ensure an accurate count for the 2010 Census.
Read the full article.Why Are Young Children Missed So Often in the Census?
A recent study by the Annie E. Casey Foundation finds children under age 10 to be missed more than any other population group in the decennial census. Census counts are used for more than 140 programs that distribute more than $400 billion to states and localities.
Frontera Asset Building Network (FABN) Providing Small Grants and Support for 2010 Census Outreach Along the Border
The Frontera Asset Building Network (FABN) has a limited number of small grants to award for census outreach to ensure a complete, accurate and just count in the 2010 Census. FABN is interested in working with nonprofit organizations that can substantially strengthen outreach for the census in communities along the Southwest Border. Eligible groups should work directly with residents, families, and workers and as trusted voices in their communities. Grants are being accepted on a rolling basis until December 1, 2009. For more information visit www.fabnetwork.org/grants.
CPPP Op-Ed: "Accurate 2010 Census data leads to better decisions on how to serve Texas"
New Census Bureau data show that for the 10th year in a row Texas has the highest rate of uninsured children in the country, with 1 in 6 kids uninsured. Nearly 1 in 4 Texas kids lived in poverty in 2008 (e.g., $17,600 for a family of three).
As troubling as these numbers are, these data likely under-represents the extent of the problem for two important reasons.
This op-ed was featured in the Houston Chronicle, Houston Community Newspapers, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Waxahachie Daily Light, Alpine Avalanche, Galveston Daily News, San Marcos Record, Amarillo Globe News, and the Alvarado Post.
Resources
Messaging materials for hard-to-count populations, from the Ford Foundation
This document provides language you can use to create an effective message for the community you serve. We encourage you to use the language provided to ensure that everyone in your organization is presenting a consistent message in all communications. This content is available for you to copy-and-paste in your written communications.
Communicating the Message Effectively [.pdf]Find hard-to-count populations in your neighborhood, county, or state!
This interactive and easy-to-use mapping site allows you to type in your local address, county, or state to find out where the Hard-to-Count populations are located in your neck of the woods.
www.censushardtocountmaps.orgThe Census Project
The Census Project web site works to educate stakeholders about the importance of the census and is monitoring its actual implementation to ensure it is fair and accurate.
www.thecensusproject.orgWhy should I fill out my Census form?
10 Questions: 10 Minutes [.pdf] ( En Español )
In just 10 short minutes in March 2010, you can help define your community and who we are as a nation. It’s easy, important, and safe.
It's easy.
With only 10 questions, the 2010 Census questionnaire takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. Households are asked to provide key demographic information, including: whether a housing unit is rented or owned; the address of the residence; and the names, genders, ages and races of other living in the household.
Example 2010 Census Form [.pdf] ( En Español ).
It’s important: What’s at Stake [.pdf]
Your answers on the census will impact federal funding for vital public programs in your community, your voting power, and community economic development.
- Federal funds: By filling out your census form, you can ensure that your community received it’s fair share of federal funds for the next 10-12 years. These federal funds are used for critical community infrastructures, including schools, Head Start, transit programs, health centers, Medicaid and maternal and child health programs, and housing. In 2008 alone, federal program officers used Census data to allocate nearly $30 Billion in federal funds to Texas.
- Voting Rights: Based on our population count, Texas stands to gain three or four seats in Congress if we have a complete and accurate count of our growth in the census. These numbers are also used to draw voting districts for state legislative and school board districts.
- Economic Development: Lastly, businesses large and small use census numbers to plan for new markets, select sites for operations, make investments, and determine goods and services offered.
It’s safe.
By law, the Census Bureau cannot share an individual’s responses with anyone, including other federal agencies and law enforcement entities.
To learn more, see this description [.pdf] from CivilRights.org or visit the Privacy & Confidentiality section of the 2010 Census website.
Become a 2010 Census Partner
The goal of the Census Bureau’s partnership program is to combine the strengths of state, local, and tribal governments, community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, schools, media, businesses and others to ensure an accurate 2010 Census. These governmental and private sector businesses and organizations know their local conditions and circumstances better than the Census Bureau and have the connections in the local community to encourage and mobilize participation in the census.
For more information:
- Why should we be a 2010 Census Partner? [.pdf]
- 2010 Census Partner Selection Process and Guidelines [.pdf]
- Partner Support Program [.pdf]
- 2010 Census Partner Website
Other useful sites
Other useful websites with wonderful resources that act as portals to a world of other free and downloadable Census materials!