Census Maryland 2020 Newsletter

April 24, 2020

The 2020 Census Has NOT Been Suspended

Rumor

The 2020 Census has been suspended or cancelled as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

HERE ARE THE FACTS 

Although some of the activities undertaken by the US Census Bureau have been adjusted or delayed, the self response to the 2020 Census continues. The Census can be completed online, by phone or by mail. Click here to take the Census now.

National Telephone Day, April 25, 2020

National Telephone Day is observed on April 25 each year. Today, more than ever, the importance of having a phone has been underscored with teleworking and social distancing keeping us apart. Around the world, there are 9.82 billion mobile phones. And while some predicted the landline to be obsolete by 2020, there are still about 931 million landlines around the world.

Celebrate National Telephone Day by using your phone to respond to the Census. It is the first time in history that the phone is an option along with online and the paper form. So don't delay, call today: 844-330-2020
(844-468-2020 for Spanish).

View Key Stats for telephones at the U.S. Census Bureau

In This Issue

1. Calvert County Beach Towns Compete for the Highest Census Self-Response Rate in "Make the Twin Beaches Count" Contest
2. Maryland Self-Response Rate at 55.6 Percent
3. How the Census Shapes Public Health in Your Community
4. The Department of Planning Launches Maryland 2020 Census Response Dashboard

5. Maryland's Census Team Completes Virtual Regional Meetings with Local Complete Count Committees

6. New Digital Ads Make the Connection Between Public Health and Safety and the 2020 Census Results

7. Maryland Department of Planning Helps Talbot County Public Schools Get Out the Census Message During Food Distribution

8. Kent County CCC and Social Action Committee Partner for Grab & Go Meal Initiative and Promote the Census

9. MDP Partnership with Utility Companies, Businesses, and Members of the Faith-Based Community for Census Outreach

10. Prince George's County Publishes Map to Display 2020 Census Daily Self-Response Rate in the County

11. Why the U.S. Census is Critical for Planning During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond

12. 4 Things You Have Wrong About the Census
13. More Than Half of U.S. Households Have Responded to the 2020 Census

14. Census Maryland 2020 Social Media

15. Pulse Surveys, Business Formation Statistics Will Be Updated Weekly
16. Check Out the 2020 Census Response Rate Map!
17. Census Bureau Releases Interactive Data Hub in Response to
    COVID-19
18. Can Census Bureau Data Drive Business Growth and Job Creation?

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.

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.

Upcoming Meetings and Events

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

News and Events

Calvert County Beach Towns Compete for the Highest Census Self-Response Rate in "Make the Twin Beaches Count" Contest

The Town of Chesapeake Beach currently has a self-response rate of 62.3 percent while the Town of North Beach is at 53.0 percent. May the best beach win. By completing the Census, we all win.

Complete the Census Now

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Maryland Self-Response Rate at 55.6 Percent

As of April 24, Maryland’s self-response rate to the 2020 Census is 55.6 percent, while the national average is 52.4 percent. Maryland remains 2nd in the region, behind only Virginia at 57.2 percent. Maryland is ahead of Pennsylvania (53.3 percent), Delaware (50.3 percent), the District of Columbia (49.7 percent), and West Virginia (40.7 percent).

View Nation Response Rates at the U.S. Census Bureau

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How the Census Shapes Public Health in Your Community

As our normal routines and daily lives are altered by COVID-19, the importance of an accurate count becomes clearer. For the years to come, 2020 Census data will shape public health decisions in your community like:

• How vaccines are allocated into communities
• Funding for nutrition-based services like school lunches and SNAP
• Emergency medical service

Now more than ever, we want to make sure every Marylander has their voice heard. Stand up for your community and fill out your Census today – it only takes about 10 minutes and your information is safe and secure.

Take the Census Now

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The Department of Planning Launches
Maryland 2020 Census Response Dashboard

The Maryland Department of Planning developed the Maryland 2020 Census Response Dashboard using live data from the U.S Census Bureau that displays the 2020 Census response rates for all Maryland counties and Baltimore City.

View the Maryland 2020 Census Response Dashboard

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Maryland's Census Team Completes Virtual Regional Meetings with Local Complete Count Committees

Planning's Census Team has been holding Regional County Complete Count Committee (CCC) meetings for the past weeks. The last meeting took place this past Monday with the Metro Area Regional area CCCs. More than 45 committee members attended five regional meetings. These virtual check-ins started with a summary of the state's outreach efforts and how it has adapted during the COVID-19 pandemic. The county CCCs were given the opportunity to summarize and highlight their successes, challenges, and concerns. These discussions among counties facilitated sharing solutions to concerns and generating "outside of the box" ideas for reaching hard to count areas. An in-depth report of these meetings will be presented at the Maryland CCC meeting on Tuesday, April 28, 2020.

The CCC representatives appreciated the state taking the time to check-in and providing guidance on outreach challenges they are all currently facing. The opportunity for interaction and the ability to share ideas and best practices with one another brought counties within these regions closer and cultivated a sense of unity.

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New Digital Ads Make the Connection Between Public Health and Safety and the 2020 Census Results

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Maryland Department of Planning Helps Talbot County Public Schools Get Out the Census Message During Food Distribution

Debbie Gardner, Coordinator of Public Relations and Special Programs for Talbot County Public Schools helped the outreach effort by sharing  Census information with students and families receiving meals during this COVID-19 stay-at-home period. Debbie and her team connected with more than 850 families this week, encouraging them to fill out their Census form, providing a flyer produced by Planning with each meal. Other counties on the Eastern Shore have done similar work recently including Somerset, Dorchester, and Kent counties.

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Kent County CCC and Social Action Committee Partner for Grab & Go Meal Initiative and Promote the Census

The Kent County Complete Count Committee has partnered with the Social Action Committee for Racial Justice for the Kent County in its Youth and Senior meal initiative. Now in week six of the meal distribution, Census materials have been given out with Kent County Public School’s “Grab and Go” meals to families. Census Ambassadors are site leaders at several of these sites. Efforts for community outreach have included 300 Census bags packed with Pizza Kits, 650 Census information cards included in every breakfast bag, and 300 Census 2020 cups filled with Census promotional items. Other community outreach has included raffles, video competitions, and a social media campaign. Pictured on the left is Paul Tue, III, Census Ambassador and Social Action Committee Co-Chair.

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MDP Partnership with Utility Companies, Businesses, and Members of the Faith-Based Community for Census Outreach

The Maryland Department of Planning (MDP) has partnered with various utility companies, leaders in the business community, and members of the faith-based community for continued Census Outreach across Maryland. The department has secured the cooperation of BGE, Pepco, Delmarva Power, Choptank Electric, and Southern Maryland Cooperative to share Census information with their customers, vendors, and stakeholders.

MDP has also partnered with the various Chambers of Commerce and Trade Associations across Maryland to assist in sharing Census information with businesses and their customers. Many of which have invested time and effort through community activities and events with County Complete Count Committees. They have also shared MDP Census materials through special mailings, social media, and events where Secretary McCord and other staff members have been invited to speak.

Planning has also engaged the faith-based community through statewide organizations such as the United Baptist Missionary Convention and the Maryland Ministers Conference. These two groups represent over 450 churches across Maryland. Our Baltimore City census partners have also distributed MDP faith specific materials to houses of worship on its mailing list, comprising over 600 organizations. MDP has also partnered with the Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives (GOCI) to send materials to houses of worship throughout the state.

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Prince George's County Publishes Map to Display 2020 Census Daily Self-Response Rate in the County

Prince George's County has published a map that displays daily response rates from county households that have responded to the 2020 Census online, by mail, or by phone. Response rates can be viewed for individual census tracts in Prince George's County. Data is updated daily from information provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.

View the 2020 Census Self-Response for Prince George's County

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Why the U.S. Census is Critical for Planning During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond

When people think of the U.S. Census, they often simply connect it to counting the number of people living in the United States and how those figures will determine the number of representatives serving in various levels of government. While that is certainly one of its primary functions, the reach and impact of Census data goes far beyond the issues of representation to affect countless aspects of American life. U.S. Census numbers are used in a myriad of ways for planning across both the public and private sectors of our society and economy. That’s why it is critical for Maryland to get the most complete Census 2020 count possible -- accounting for every person living in our state.

Read Full Article at Planning Practice Monthly blog

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4 Things You Have Wrong About the Census

Myth #1: There’s a citizenship question.

False. There is no citizenship question on the Census. And, you do not need to be a citizen to be counted. The goal of the Census is to count every person living in the US.

Myth #2: My answers will be shared.

Incorrect. The law requires the Census Bureau to keep information confidential. The Census Bureau is only allowed to produce summary data that provides an overview of the population, but nothing representing specific individuals.

Myth #3: My answers could be used against me.

Never. The law prohibits the Census Bureau from sharing information with law enforcement or immigration enforcement agencies under Title 13. Your answers cannot be used to impact your eligibility for government benefits either.

Myth #4: The Census is like a survey – optional.

Wrong – it’s the law. Counting every person living in the United States is done every ten years following Article 1, Section 2 in the Constitution. Participating in the Census is how we get a true picture of America and we need everyone to respond.

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More Than Half of U.S. Households Have Responded to the 2020 Census

The country has reached an important milestone in the 2020 Census. 52.4 percent of all of the households in the country have responded – that’s nearly 77.5 million responses! It has never been easier to respond to the census on your own, whether online at 2020census.gov, over the phone, or by mail.

Read Full Article at the U.S. Census Bureau

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Census Maryland 2020 Social Media

Social Media Milestone Alert

Over the past month you've helped us reach more than a half a million people on social media! With 49 new followers on twitter and 87 new likes on facebook, you are the force multiplier that helps us get the Census message out there. Invite your friends to follow us on social media and sign up for emails at https://census.maryland.gov.

Follow @MDCensus2020 on Facebook and Twitter

Salisbury-Wicomico 2020 Census: We cracked the halfway mark for #CompleteCountforCensus2020 response rates Wicomico County!

Salisbury-Wicomico 2020 Census: Way to go Wicomico! Our response rate is now at 51%! Check your Census Tract's response rate at this awesome map made by our partners in the GIS Division of the Wicomico County Department of Planning, Zoning, & Community Development.

City of Baltimore, Department of Planning: Make Baltimore Count! Have you filled out your census yet? Filling out your census will bring $18,000 of federal funding to your community over a 10 year period.

Census Has Business Data? An Update on the Economic Census data for Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia

As Maryland nears 55% self-response rate for the #USCensus, several counties on the Eastern Shore recently hit the 50% mark - Caroline, Wicomico & Queen Anne's. Others are gaining ground

PG Census 2020: Join our valued Census partner University of Maryland TODAY on Instagram Live for a special Count Me In Series with UMD health football coach Mike Locksley!

PG Census 2020: Check out what our GIS team is doing: They created an automated map to track daily Census response rates in our County.

Shoutout to our Talbot County CCC members for not only distributing lunches, but finding creative ways to spread awareness about the Census!

U.S. Census Bureau: #DYK: New #Census surveys will provide near real-time information on households and businesses during COVID-19?

The Kent County CCC has partnered with the Social Action Committee for Racial Justice for the Kent County Youth and Senior meal initiative. Census materials have been given out with the Kent County Public School’s “Grab and Go” meals.

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Pulse Surveys, Business Formation Statistics Will Be Updated Weekly

Against a backdrop of unprecedented circumstances resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Census Bureau recognizes the need for accurate, real-time data on the U.S. population and economy. The ability to understand how individuals and businesses are weathering the current crisis is critical given business disruption, stay-at-home orders, school closures, changes in the availability of consumer goods and consumer patterns, and other abrupt and significant changes to American life.

Read Full Article at the U.S. Census Bureau

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Teachers: Check Out the 2020 Census Response Rate Map! Statistics in Schools Program

Encourage your students and the adults in their home to check out our response rate map to stay up to date on how many people in their community are responding to the 2020 Census. This interactive map tracks the percentage of households that have responded to the 2020 Census in each state, county, city, town, congressional district, and tribal area. It also compares this percentage to the national response rate. 

Response rate tracking can motivate families to complete the 2020 Census and encourage their friends and family in other homes to complete it too. The 2020 Census has begun, so now is the perfect time to deliver this message. Here are some ideas you can share with your students and their families for using the response rate map at home. They can:

• Check the map each day for the latest completion rates for their state or community, and create a chart or other graphic to track the increases. Remind students that they can impact the rate by showing an adult in their home the take-home flyer and asking them to complete the census.
• Track how their community’s response rate compares to the rate of other communities in the state, or compare their state to other states.
• Use social media to encourage friends and family to complete the 2020 Census. They can motivate others by sharing the response rate map, declaring that their home has already completed the census, and using images created by the Census Bureau for sharing on social media. If your students are too young to have their own social media accounts, be sure to specify that this should be done by an adult.

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Census Bureau Releases Interactive Data Hub in Response to COVID-19

The U.S. Census Bureau released a new resource page on census.gov to help federal agencies, businesses and communities make decisions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Similar to the Census Bureau’s resource pages created during natural disasters, this resource page includes information on population demographics, economic indicators and businesses. It features a new interactive data hub that centralizes data previously released from the American Community Survey and the County Business Patterns program to facilitate users’ access to data useful in pandemic-related decision-making. The data hub, released as a beta version, will be updated periodically as the situation changes and as feedback is received from users.

Read Full Article at the U.S. Census Bureau

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Can Census Bureau Data Drive Business Growth and Job Creation?

Yes, Data Can Make or Break a Business. An entrepreneur in California is weighing whether to open a new restaurant. A national chain headquartered in Illinois is making regional hiring plans. And a big-box store in Colorado is deciding how to stock its shelves. All three businesses have one thing in common: They can use U.S. Census Bureau statistics to help guide their decision.

Read Full Article at the U.S. Census Bureau

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