The Multi-Billion Dollar Questions
Health care, the economy, major events, our day-to-day lives—Covid-19 has spared nothing on its path of disruption. Even the census had to adjust its 230-year-old process to prioritize the health and safety of census takers (workers) and respondents.
The census isn’t your average survey—it informs billions of dollars of federal funds to Connecticut, determines the state’s representation in Congress, and occurs only once every 10 years. Ensuring a complete count for the 2020 Census is essential for programs and services including education, health care, and public transportation, especially amid a global pandemic and economic downfall.
Although 2020 marks the first year that we can complete the census online, concerns about a complete count remain. Household priorities have justifiably shifted to navigating Covid-19 and not everyone has reliable Internet access. Since crucial 2020 Census operations depend on face-to-face visits, the Census Bureau is implementing activities and practices to count everyone while also taking into consideration community well being.
Regardless of changes, one thing remains certain: We can’t afford to forget the census. By sharing this information about census updates and letting people know what to expect, you can be a census data steward, improve census data quality, and ensure your community is counted.
If you’re a direct service provider, you can also print out and share these flyers in Spanish and English with households that have limited to no internet access.
Learn more below about the new 2020 Census activities that will make a positive impact in your community!
Remember: All census takers will have an official badge with a U.S. Department of Commerce watermark on it and an expiration date. To protect the personal information of yourself and loved ones from census scams, please see this article.
Pick Up the Phone: If you already completed your census form, you might receive a follow-up call from the Census Bureau. The purpose of the call is to help validate the accuracy of the information listed on your household’s form. If you do not answer the call, a Census Bureau Call Center agent will provide a 12-digit ID for reference to call back. The follow-up calls began on April 22 and are proposed to continue through October 31.
Say Hello to Census Takers (At a Distance): Although the pandemic halted many in-person operations for Census 2020, the bureau will begin conducting in-person interviews for households that have not responded to the census. The first phase of interviews will begin the week of July 20 for Hartford, East Hartford, West Hartford, and eastern Connecticut, about two weeks earlier than the scheduled start date of August 11 for the remainder of the state. Census takers will receive social distancing training and follow local guidelines for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) use.
Time for a Follow-Up Visit: If you completed your questionnaire with a census taker, a second census taker may stop by to ensure the proper procedures and protocols were followed by the worker who initially visited your household. These interviews will take place from August 12-October 31.
Once You’re Done: After completing the 2020 Census, census takers will visit select households for the Post-Enumeration Survey. This survey will help provide updated information about each household by identifying who is currently living in the unit and if residents have alternate addresses. This activity is scheduled for September 23-December 22.
Responses to the census will influence the next decade. In just a few minutes, you can help your community thrive by increasing access to resources. If you feel uncomfortable talking to a census taker in person, you can reduce the number of visits by completing your census online.
As Connecticut’s Census State Data Center and official resource for census data, CTData is committed to the count! To learn more about and find resources for the 2020 Census, head to our website. You can also receive census updates by signing up for our newsletter or following us on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.