Census Maryland 2020 Newsletter

May 1, 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.

Gardening Product Sales Bloom in Springtime

As part of its America Counts: Stories Behind the Numbers series, the U.S. Census Bureau has published this article which highlights the statistics that fuel the springtime passion of many Americans.

Spring is here, awakening the inner gardener in many of us. As a result, the gardening industry remains a lucrative market that spans multiple continents, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s USA Trade Online, which provides data on U.S. imports and exports.

In 2019, the United States exported $990.2 million in fertilizers, $669.3 million in lawnmowers and $20.2 million in chemical herbicides.

Read Full Article at the U.S. Census Bureau

In This Issue

1. Maryland’s Complete Count Committee Virtually Meets to Discuss Census Efforts by Secretary Rob McCord
2. Maryland Self-Response Rate at 58.9 Percent
3. Maryland Census 2020 Website Has New Image to Honor Workers on the Front Line
4. How the Census Shapes Public Health in Your Community
5. Salisbury-Wicomico Complete Count Committee Holding Virtual Art Contest to Promote Importance of the Census
6. Baltimore Launches Online Dashboard with Live 2020 Census Updates, Adapts to Spreading Awareness
7. Community Voices (Eisenberg): Current Crisis Illustrates Need for Accurate Census Count in Carroll County

8. Everyone Counts. Respond to the 2020 Census Now.

9. Don’t Forget to Respond: 2020 Census Reminder Postcards Arriving

10. Census Maryland 2020 Social Media

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

Maryland’s Complete Count Committee Virtually Meets to Discuss Census Efforts

By Secretary Rob McCord

I was honored to welcome Maryland’s Complete Count Committee (CCC) to a virtual statewide meeting this past Tuesday. More than 50 people joined the call including representatives from each of Maryland’s counties and Baltimore City. First and foremost, I thanked everyone for their efforts to place Maryland ahead of the national Self-Response Rate of 56.6% with the nation at 53.4% (as of April 28). Circumstances have changed, and our strategies have changed along with the strategies of those working hard to make sure all Marylanders are counted. Many jurisdictions and organizations have put on hold activities that involve gatherings, but I was pleased to hear how our state and local CCCs have adjusted their methods of outreach that are aimed at getting the most complete count possible.

I shared with the group that “Ideas, not circumstances shape human beings.” The idea that everyone counts has not changed. The circumstances under which we conduct the count have. The circumstances under which we communicate our message have. Despite the current challenges though, we will press on with the idea that everybody counts. This count will inform our lives together for the next ten years and includes the number of vaccines and hospital beds as well as public health planning and emergency services. I applaud the members of the Maryland CCC and the local jurisdictions. Hearing of their efforts, challenges and success stories allows us to chart a course for bringing about a complete count for Maryland. To assist in this effort, we’ll be providing them with a report of the regional CCC meetings that were conducted over the last few weeks detailing successes and ideas from all around the State. We are all in this together and will do everything we can to make sure everyone is counted.

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Maryland Self-Response Rate at 58.9 Percent

As of May 1, Maryland’s self-response rate to the 2020 Census is 58.9 percent, while the national average is 55.6 percent. Maryland remains 2nd in the region, behind only Virginia at 60.0 percent. Maryland is ahead of Pennsylvania (57.5 percent), Delaware (53.1 percent), the District of Columbia (51.7 percent), and West Virginia (43.4 percent).

Carroll (70.8 percent), Howard (69.2 percent), and Harford (67.1 percent) counties are leading the state.  19 Maryland counties have achieved response rates over 50 percent.

View Maryland County and Municipality Response Rates at the MDP's Census 2020 Response Rate At-A-Glance Dashboard

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Maryland Census 2020 Website Has New Image to Honor Workers on the Front Line

Governor Larry Hogan has proclaimed Saturday, May 2, as Healthcare Heroes Day to recognize the dedication and bravery of our doctors, nurses, EMTs, and first responders. MDP is honoring the people who have been on the front lines keeping us safe, healthy, and supplied with necessities by displaying a new header image on Census.Maryland.gov and our social media pages.

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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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Salisbury-Wicomico Complete Count Committee Holding Virtual Art Contest to Promote Importance of the Census

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Baltimore Launches Online Dashboard with Live 2020 Census Updates, Adapts to Spreading Awareness

The Baltimore City Department of Planning developed a new online dashboard to track the response rate to the 2020 Census across the city’s 199 Census tracts, Mayor Bernard C. “Jack” Young announced Wednesday.

Officials are aiming for a citywide response rate of 73 percent, Young said. If that goal is achieved, the city would top its response rates from the past two decades, with 63 percent of Baltimore households completing the Census in 2000 and 68 percent completing it in 2010.

Read Full Article at Baltimore Fishbowl

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Community Voices (Eisenberg): Current Crisis Illustrates Need for Accurate Census Count in Carroll County

An Op-Ed by Lynda Eisenberg, Director of the Carroll County Department of Planning and Lead Coordinator of Carroll County’s 2020 Census Efforts

When Carroll County began ramping up its census efforts in the fall of 2019, I never dreamed of the pandemic we are currently enduring. As lead of Carroll County’s 2020 census efforts, I have given many talks over the past several months to inform and educate the population on the importance of the 2020 Census. One of the main analogies I liked to use in speaking to these groups was, “If there was a flu outbreak and we needed to know how many vaccines to distribute an accurate count was vital to this effort?” These words, unfortunately, never rang truer.

Read Full Letter at the Carroll County Times

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Everyone Counts. Respond to the 2020 Census Now.

“We are living in unprecedented times, but the 2020 Census remains constant in our democracy. Together, we will meet our constitutional duty and count all persons in all communities across our vast and diverse nation.” ~ U.S. Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham, April 18, 2020

If you have already responded to the 2020 Census, thank you! If you have not yet responded for your household, we encourage you to respond today. Answer a simple questionnaire about yourself and everyone who was living with you on April 1, 2020.

It has never been easier to respond to the census. You can respond online at 2020census.gov — without ever having to leave home or meet a census taker.

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Don’t Forget to Respond: 2020 Census Reminder Postcards Arriving

The U.S. Census Bureau is beginning to send reminder notice postcards to households that have not yet responded to the 2020 Census. About 55.6% of households across the country have already responded since invitations began arriving in mailboxes on March 12. Those households that have not yet responded to the census will receive an in person visit by a census taker to collect their information later this summer.

Read Full Article at the U.S. Census Bureau

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Census Maryland 2020 Social Media

Follow @MDCensus2020 on Facebook and Twitter

Thanks to MyBGE for partnering with us to get the Census message out there to all Marylanders!

Shape your future, fill out the Census today at 2020census.gov. For more information, text “MD Census” to 468-311.

Sign up for general information, maturity reminders and preview questions. This is a great deal.

City of Baltimore, Department of Planning Page: Want a chance to win a $75 Grocery Gift Card? Snap a picture of you and your census form, screenshot your 2020 census completion screen or create a census theme meme. Tag @baltplan on Ig or @baltimoreplanning on Facebook and 3 friends. Finally make sure you use #bmorecensuschallenge

Catch your future, fill the Census today at 2020 census. gov. For more information, send "MD Census" by text message to 468-311.

PG Census 2020 Page: Complete your Census now at My2020Census.gov

Princess Anne Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc Page: On behalf of the National Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc Census Sub Committee- Tuesdays are Delta Census Days! Where we share the reason the Census is important and / or how we can complete the Census during our Stay at Home time.

Salisbury-Wicomico 2020 Census Page: Are you going to join our Virtual Town Hall Tomorrow night from 6-7pm?

Salisbury-Wicomico 2020 Census Page: Wicomico County - we continue to progress in our response rate for #2020Census - as of yesterday at 54.5%! This steady increase in part due to the awareness of the Census and the reminders that individuals and organizations share about this critical survey.

Shoutout to Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) for including why the Census is important in their March edition of the Cooperative Review!

The whole family counts when you fill out your Census at 2020census.gov; For more info in English, text “MD Census” to 468-311 or sign up here; For more info in Spanish, text “MD Censo” to 468-311 or sign up here

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