The 2020 Census Is Ready for America to Respond Invitations to Respond Arrive at Households March 12-20 Read Press Release at U.S. Census Bureau

U.S. Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham on Operational Updates Beginning March 18, in support of guidance on what we can all do to help slow the spread of coronavirus, 2020 Census field operations will be suspended for two weeks until April 1, 2020. Read Full Release at U.S. Census Bureau

Census Maryland 2020 Newsletter

March 20, 2020

In This Issue

1. Maryland Department of Planning Issues Statement on Census 2020 and COVID-19
2. Secretary Rob McCord Participates in the Governor's Office of Community Initiatives Joint Commission Strategic Online Planning Session
3. The U.S. Census Launched Amid a Pandemic. How Will That Change Efforts to Count All Marylanders?
4. Media Resources Available at Census Website From Maryland's Census 2020 Advertising Campaign
5. Maryland Census 2020 Billboards and Bus Wraps Have Been Spotted in Maryland
6. Calvert County Releases Census 2020 Public Service Announcement
7. Respond When You Receive Your Invitation
8. Get Out The Count Video Challenge for 2020 Census
9. Census Maryland 2020 Social Media
10. How You Can Safely Promote 2020 Census Response
11. Census Bureau Statement on Modifying 2020 Census Operations to Make Sure College Students are Counted
12. We All Benefit When We Respond to the Census
13. Coronavirus Complicates Census Count
14. Census: Myths & Realities -  Demystifying The 2020 Census
15. Census Scams Likely to Target Elderly

Note: If the bookmark links to the articles above do not work, check that your pop-up blocker is turned off. Otherwise, scroll down in the newsletter to see the articles.

For any questions about the Maryland Census, call (410) 767-4500 or go to Census.Maryland.gov.

Follow Maryland Census 2020 on Twitter and Facebook – Follow @MdCensus2020 and like @MdCensus2020 – to stay in touch with Maryland's Census 2020 complete count efforts. Join the conversation by using hashtag #2020MDCensus on Facebook and on Twitter.

2020 Census Jobs: It's Not Too Late to Apply! It's not too late to apply for a temporary part-time position with the 2020 Census. Apply to earn extra income and help your community. The positions offer competitive pay, flexible hours, paid training, and weekly paychecks. Apply at https://2020census.gov/en/jobs.

Upcoming Meetings and Events

For further details, go to the Maryland Census 2020 Events page

News and Events

Maryland Department of Planning Issues Statement on Census 2020 and COVID-19

TAKE 10 FOR A HEALTHY COMMUNITY.

We take our duty to get the word out about Census 2020 very seriously. The responses from this year’s decennial Census will impact numerous critical services to the citizens of Maryland - including how many vaccines may be apportioned to each county, city or municipality of the state. These services also include healthcare, roads, infrastructure projects, emergency services, and other matters important to our everyday lives. This is in addition to the $16 billion in census derived funding that will be available to Maryland..

Read the Full Census.Maryland.gov

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Secretary Rob McCord Participates in the Governor's Office of Community Initiatives Joint Commission Strategic Online Planning Session

Amid Marylanders' efforts to practice social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, Secretary Rob McCord presented to the Joint Commission Strategic Planning Session during a virtual meeting of the body. His Census 2020 message was embodied in “If you have a phone/computer, you have a Census! Fight the Virus by filling out Your Census!" 

Read Secretary McCord's Remarks

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The U.S. Census Launched Amid a Pandemic. How Will That Change Efforts to Count All Marylanders?

If things had gone according to plan, outreach workers with CASA of Maryland would be going door to door now, encouraging Latino households in the Baltimore region to participate in the U.S. census. But as the coronavirus spread throughout the region and officials told Marylanders to stay home, the immigrant rights group shifted to virtual outreach late last week. "Now they’re calling and texting because they can’t knock on doors,” said Elizabeth Alex, CASA’s chief of organizing and leadership.

Read Full Article at The Baltimore Sun

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Media Resources Available at Census Website From Maryland's Census 2020 Advertising Campaign

Maryland's advertising campaign to motivate residents to complete their Census 2020 form went live last week. TV and radio commercials are now running on major media outlets in Maryland through a partnership with Maryland Public Television (MPT). The 2020 Census can be completed by phone, mail, or, for the first time in its history, online at my2020Census.gov. You can now share these messages in your social media, websites, newsletters, and in your offices. We have placed the print, digital, and video pieces from the campaign, as well as the Governor's PSAs, online at the Maryland Census 2020 Media Resources webpages.

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Maryland Census 2020 Billboards and Bus Wraps Have Been Spotted in Maryland

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Calvert County Releases Census 2020 Public Service Announcement

On the Calvert County Government YouTube Channel

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Respond When You Receive Your Invitation

The 2020 Census is underway and is ready for America to respond. The first invitations are arriving in the mail at an estimated 140 million households between last Thursday, March 12 and this Friday, March 20. Plan to include everyone you expect to live in your home on April 1. You can respond online in one of 13 languages and find assistance in many more.

For More Information on How To Respond, Visit 2020Census.gov

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Get Out The Count Video Challenge for 2020 Census

The Census Open Innovation Labs at the U.S. Census Bureau has launched a first-of-its-kind Video Prize Challenge to help get the word out about the 2020 Census with a total of $50,000 in prize awards. The goal of the competition is to accelerate the creation of shareable content that speaks to hard-to-count communities, through engaging and informative short-form videos. This open call for content is designed to help educate and motivate individuals to communicate why it’s critical to complete the 2020 Census — from getting the funding their community needs, to representation in congress.

Submissions are open until April 11th at 2:59am EST, winners will be  announced early to mid May.

Three prizes will be awarded: a $30,000 grand prize, $10,000 runner up, and $10,000 student prize.

GOTC Video Prize Challenge details and guidelines on challenge.gov

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Census Maryland 2020 Social Media

Follow @MDCensus2020 on Facebook and Twitter

U.S. Census Bureau: We are carefully monitoring the coronavirus situation and following the guidance of federal, state and local health authorities

Shape your future. Fill out your census at 2020census.gov

Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs: Take the Census Now! It has never been easier to respond on your own, whether online, over the phone or by mail—all without having to meet a census taker. These are 21st century tools for a 21st century Census and you should take advantage of them as soon as you receive the invitation.

Cheverly 2020 Census "We Count": How easy is filling out the census? Councilmember Bryner did it with her almost-seven-year-old’s nonstop commentary while also social distancing, teleworking, and homeschooling!

U.S. Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham on Operational Updates

Maryland Governor's Office of Community Initiatives: Complete the #2020Census online or by phone NOW, AT HOME. How? Visit 2020census.gov.

ICYMI: Governor Larry Hogan has a PSA about the importance of filling out the Census.

The 2020 Census is underway and is ready for America to respond. The first invitations are arriving in the mail at an estimated 140 million households between last Thursday, March 12 and this Friday, March 20.

The Census Bureau is inviting all American Indian and Alaska Natives to participate in the 2020 Census, no matter where you live.

ICYMI: Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford has a PSA about the importance of the Census and why Marylanders should complete their Census.

Our Complete Count Committees are still focused on the Census no matter the circumstances.

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How You Can Safely Promote 2020 Census Response

The Census Bureau continues to carefully monitor the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation and follow the guidance of federal, state, and local health authorities. We are adjusting some operations with two key principles in mind: 1) protecting the health and safety of our staff and the public, and 2) fulfilling our statutory requirement to deliver the 2020 Census counts to the President on schedule. Our key message right now is: It has never been easier to respond to the census on your own—whether online at 2020census.gov, over the phone, or by mail—all without having to meet a census taker.

Read Full Article at U.S. Census Bureau

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Census Bureau Statement on Modifying 2020 Census Operations to Make Sure College Students are Counted

Census Bureau also announces updates to special operations, assistance program and early nonresponse followup. As of March 15, over 5 million had responded online to the 2020 Census. Currently, the planned completion date for data collection for the 2020 Census is July 31, 2020, but that date can and will be adjusted if necessary as the situation dictates in order to achieve a complete and accurate count. We are adjusting operations to make sure college students are counted. We are working with group quarters administrators to ensure we count their residents.

Read Full Article at U.S. Census Bureau

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We All Benefit When We Respond to the Census

Your response to the 2020 Census can help shape your future and the future of your community. Counting everyone helps communities receive funding needed for health care, education, emergency services, and more. Over the next decade, lawmakers, business owners, and many others will use 2020 Census data to make critical decisions in our communities.

Download the 2020 Census Community Benefits Toolkit 

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Coronavirus Complicates Census Count

In the same week that Maryland Gov. Lawrence J. Hogan Jr. (R) ordered bars, restaurants, movie theaters and gyms to be shut in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans got an invitation in the mail. It asked them to respond to the 2020 Census, which, as mandated in the Constitution, determines congressional and legislative districts and how federal funds are allocated for hospitals, emergency services, public benefits and social services. More than $675 billion are at stake for states and local governments and its distribution will be based on data collected in the decennial survey. For the first time the Census can be completed online, but also by phone or by returning the mailed paper form. More than 11 million households have already responded, according to a U.S. Census Bureau statement Wednesday.

Read Full Article at Maryland Matters

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Census: Myths & Realities - 
Demystifying The 2020 Census

With the 2020 Census approaching soon, The Census Bureau Trust and Safety Team seeks to get ahead of the myths and misinformation that is polluting the air around the process.

MYTH: The census isn’t important.

It is! The census at its nucleus is about money and power. Every year billions of dollars go from the Federal Government back to state and local communities for schools, roads, health care clinics, and other impactful enhancements to improve districts. Political representation at federal, state, and local levels is also based on census population counts.

Read Full Article at The Prince George's Suite Magazine & Media

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Census Scams Likely to Target Elderly

With the start of 2020 Census count, scammers and con artists are going to toss their “pitches” at older Americans. The Census is too important to allow them to succeed. That is why AARP, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Maryland Attorney General’s Office are working hard to protect vulnerable seniors and all Marylanders.

Read Commentary at The Baltimore Sun.

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