 The Census and Healthcare
Having good data is the cornerstone of good decision making in public health. Without an accurate population count, the resources, infrastructure, and care practices that Montana depends on could be at risk. The Census helps determine how hundreds of billions of dollars are allocated to health care programs each year. Montana receives more than $1 billion in federal funds each year just for health care programs.
Examples of the largest programs supported by Census data include:
- Medicaid
- Medicare Part B
- Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
- Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
- Health Centers Program
- Reproductive Health Programs: Title X Family Planning Grants, Title V Maternal and Child Health Block Grants, and Social Services Block Grants
Your response to the 2020 Census means that leaders will know where additional health facilities are needed, be able to plan for essential services and disaster preparation, and hire enough health care providers for the next ten years.
SHARED SUCCESS ON CENSUS PROMOTION IN MONTANA
State Complete Count Committee (CCC)
The State CCC has been working side-by-side with the U.S. Census Bureau to ensure that every Montanan is counted. Many dual outreach efforts are in place to ensure a complete count. The State and the Bureau have been meeting weekly to collaborate on outreach that is already being done, creating plans for distributing materials statewide, and identifying potential areas of need once the count begins in mid-March.
Lions Club of Sidney
The Lions Club of Sidney had two speakers from the Richland's Complete Count Committee come and speak during a recent meeting. A story about this event was also published in the Sidney Herald which can be read, HERE.
MSU Nursing Program
MSU's nursing students have completed their training with the U.S. Census Bureau to be able to go into communities during the week of April 20-25 to assist with Census related activities. One hundred and four MSU nursing students will be available to help in locations across the state to delivering age-appropriate census promotion and education programming; answer questions about the census and how the data is used; and assist individuals accessing the 2020 Census to fill in responses. For more information on the program read the article, HERE.
Blackfeet Manpower
Blackfeet Manpower will be hosting a community Census event on March 4. The event will include a community feed, promotional items, and door prizes. State CCC members along with the U.S. Census Bureau staff will be providing information concerning the upcoming Census. The event will be held at the Stickgame Arbor from 10 a.m.- 3:00 p.m.
U.S. Census Bureau
The U.S. Census Bureau is starting to plan for their Mobile Questionnaire Assistance (MQA) sites, where Census Bureau employees with a secure iPad can go to assist people filling out their form. If you know of any events or have a "Be Counted" site you would like to have staffed, please let Contact Us and we will let a Census partner know.
Have Census success to share? Email Cassidy.blanton@mt.gov for a chance to be published in the next newsletter.
Steps You Can Take to Ensure a Complete Count for Montana
- Get involved with your community’s Complete Count Committee (CCC). CCC's are volunteer committees established within communities to increase awareness and motivate the public to respond to the 2020 Census. A map of CCC's in Montana can be found HERE.
- Ask public facilities (libraries, senior centers, county health offices, etc.) to become a "Be Counted" location. To view the current “Be Counted” sites click HERE.
- Place 2020 Census information in areas where people congregate (supermarkets, restaurants, health clubs, schools, etc.) To request free materials be mailed to you contact us HERE.
- Talk about the Census and become a trusted voice on the importance of a complete count. As a community member that people trust, your support of the 2020 Census can help other people see the benefit of filling out their 2020 Census form.
HELPFUL RESOURCES
UPCOMING EVENTS
February 27 at 12:00 PM: Bi-weekly Census webinar. This brief webinar is a chance to get Census updates, learn about activities across the state, ask questions, and brainstorm with others about Census promotional ideas. Please register at:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2496874762699378699
Mid-March: All Montana public K-12 schools should begin looking for their Census and Schools packet from the State Complete Count Committee. All schools will receive posters, fact sheets, rack cards, a Statics in Schools brochure, and K- 6 schools will receive a Census Activity book. Educators please keep your eyes open for these items and help Montana's children obtain a complete count of all children for their future
March 12 - 31: Montana households will begin receiving official Census Bureau materials with detailed information on how to respond to the 2020 Census online, by phone, or by mail. Watch for a postcard to be mailed to you or left in a packet along with the Census form on your front door.
March 30 - April 1: The Census Bureau will count people who are experiencing homelessness over these three days.
April 1: Census Day!
Throughout April: Census takers will begin visiting college students who live on campus, people living in senior centers, and other group facilities for those who live in common housing areas among large groups of people.
May - July: Census takers will begin visiting homes that haven't responded to the 2020 Census to help make sure everyone is counted.
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IN THE NEWS
Census Bureau, state preparing for upcoming census count in Montana KXLH
Political redistricting in Montana hinges on U.S. Census, court rulings Missoula Current
Big money at stake in Census Finance & Commerce
Sign Up to Become a "Be Counted" Site
With the Census count beginning in mid-March, there are ways you can assist in obtaining a complete count for Montana. Since the 2020 Census will be available online and by phone for the first time, one of the best ways to help is by signing up to become a “Be Counted” site.
To become a “Be Counted” location you will need to have:
- A building that the public and people with disabilities can access such as a business, organization headquarters, or community center where computers, tablets, or phones will be available for community members to use to fill out their form.
- Password protected WiFi.
- Your location will need to be available from mid-March until early May. Hours of operation will be determined by the site.
- The location does not need to be staffed, but if you choose to staff your site remember that only Census Bureau employees can assist people with filling out their form because they have taken a lifetime oath of confidentiality which is protected by law.
Click HERE to sign up to become a 2020 Be Counted location. We have an interactive map of "Be Counted" sites around the state, get your location added to the map and have promotional material mailed to you by signing up.
Sharing Montana 2020 Census material on your social media page is a great way to spread the word about the importance of the Census to our state. The State CCC has made social media graphics that you can share directly from our Facebook page or download from our website and distribute. A few examples are shown below.
HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT 2020 CENSUS OPERATIONS AND ENUMERATION?
To be routed to your local U.S. Census Bureau office Call 855-562-2020 select option 3, and enter your zip code.
Reach Out to a Montana Census 2020 Partnership Specialist.
Chance Gillette
Montana Partnership Specialist
U.S. Census Bureau
Email: Chance.j.gillette@2020census.gov
Phone: 406-850-0199
Jihan Khalaf
Montana Partnership Specialist
U.S. Census Bureau
Email: Jihan.k.khalaf@2020census.gov
Phone: 406-439-3383
Colleen M. McCarthy
Montana Partnership Specialist U.S. Census Bureau
Email: Colleen.M.McCarthy@2020census.gov
Phone: (406) 302-2226
Jeri Bucy
Montana Partnership Specialist
U.S. Census Bureau
Email: jeri.bucy@2020census.gov
Phone: (406) 302-2227
Josh Manning
Media Specialist
Dallas Regional Census Office, US Census Bureau
Email: joshua.manning@2020census.gov
Phone: (406) 422-6475
HAVE YOUR CENSUS EVENTS AND NEWS PUBLISHED IN THE NEXT NEWSLETTER
Do you have a Census event coming up? Have you been working on community outreach? Or have success you'd like to share? Contact us HERE for a chance to be published in the next newsletter and have your next event displayed on the 2020 Census Events Calendar at CENSUS.MT.GOV.
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