What can you do that’s easy, important and safe?
Participate in the 2010 Census!
This once-a-decade, sweeping count of everyone who lives in this country tells us about ourselves, helps the federal government allocate more than $400 billion annually and determines how we are represented in Congress, state by state.
Those same numbers also help state and local governments and decision makers choose where to build new roads, add hospitals, handle housing needs, provide more schools and take actions that affect our daily lives. And they can help businesses decide where to open new stores, build new neighborhoods and provide other facilities based on demographic and economic data generated by the census.
Who Counts?
You do! The census is a count of everyone who resides in the United States — people of all races and ethnic groups, both citizens and noncitizens.
When?
Census Day is April 1, 2010 — no fooling! When you receive your questionnaire by U.S. mail in March 2010, your answers to the simple 10 questions on the form should be based on your household as it exists on April 1, 2010. (The U.S. Census Bureau says that more detailed socioeconomic information will be collected annually from a small percentage of the population through the American Community Survey.) Many households will receive a replacement questionnaire in early April, and census workers also will visit households that do not return questionnaires.
Why?
The U.S. Constitution requires the federal government to take a national census once every 10 years.
What’s the Bottom Line?
- It’s easy. This questionnaire is the shortest form in U.S. Census history and takes only 10 minutes to complete 10 short questions for the head of household who fills out the form. (That person also will answer a shorter list of questions about each additional person residing in that household.)
- It’s important. The census provides a “snapshot” of the nation which helps define who we are. It also generates data that determine: the number of U.S. Representatives that each state elects, distribution of federal funds, new facilities and housing in communities across the country, development funding in areas such as community block grants, economic development, and corporate and retail business development.
- It’s safe. Answers are protected by law. They are strictly confidential, and census employees are sworn to protect the information collected. Data collected are used for statistical purposes only.
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Why Is DCCCD Involved?
The Dallas County Community College District has signed on as a community partner with the U.S. Census Bureau to help with census efforts. DCCCD’s multiple locations and long-term relationships with our community members can open doors, literally, to area residents who may need help or follow-up assistance related to census forms and questions. And, of course, we want employees and students to answer their own questionnaires, too.
The district, under the leadership of Dr. Wright Lassiter, DCCCD’s chancellor, has formed a Complete Count Committee that is working on efforts to obtain a complete census count in Dallas County in cooperation with the city of Dallas, the Dallas office of the U.S. Census Bureau and other community partners and businesses. (Lassiter also is serving on the Complete Count Committee for Dallas with Mayor Tom Leppert and other members.) Carla Ranger is directing DCCCD’s Complete Count Committee and districtwide efforts to assist with the 2010 Census.
Student-based Complete Count Committees will be formed at each of DCCCD’s seven college campuses, and community and student outreach efforts will be implemented at the district’s community education satellite campuses that have been identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as located in “hard-to-count” areas. Those satellite campuses are located in Garland, Pleasant Grove, west Dallas and south Irving.
“The community campuses will play a key role in the census process because of their location in underserved and underrepresented areas of Dallas County,” says Lassiter. “They will be asked to serve as education hubs for the census process and will provide a venue for information sessions for residents in those areas.”
Additionally, DCCCD faculty are working on human development courses that deal specifically with the 2010 Census, as well as content for government classes and other related course areas. As a census bureau partner, DCCCD also will: distribute 2010 Census promotional materials to targeted audiences and at sponsored community events; donate time to make presentations (and bilingual volunteers are urgently needed, says Lassiter); provide advertising space in DCCCD publications; and sponsor or donate food and/or beverages for community events or informational meetings.
“The ultimate goal is to increase the census questionnaire mail response rate for the city of Dallas from 62 percent in 2000 to 75 percent in 2010,” says the chancellor. “Through the collective efforts of DCCCD, the city of Dallas and other organizations, the 2010 Census will be a success and will ensure that everyone who resides in Dallas is counted, counted once and counted in the right place.”
What About Jobs?
If you are 18 years old, you also can apply for either an office job or for the position of enumerator — someone who actually goes door to door to count households for the census. DCCCD will offer test-taking training sessions later in the fall for people who are interested in a census job; the test is a federal requirement.
The district also will work with the Dallas office of the U.S. Census Bureau to provide sites where people can take the test for those positions. (Enumerators also must be able to provide their own transportation for that job, in addition to the age and test requirements.)
The U.S. Census Bureau has posted a sample test (PDF - 209KB) that you can review.
More information about temporary employment for the 2010 Census also is available on the Census bureau’s Web site, or call 866-861-2010.
Where Can I Learn More?
For general information, visit the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2010 Census Web site at http://www.census.gov/2010census, or call 866-861-2010.
For temporary census job information, visit: http://2010.census.gov/2010censusjobs/.
For information about DCCCD’s involvement, contact Carla Ranger at cranger@dcccd.edu.