 Activity for Kids: Introduce them to the 2020 Census
An accurate count of all children is vital. The decisions based on the 2020 Census will impact schools for the next decade. Annually, Montana receives $500 million for education programs. While social distancing, take this time to introduce kids to the Census. Read relevant passages from the U.S. Constitution (Article 1, Section 2), talk about civic responsibility, look at past Census data for Montana and your city, then fill out your 2020 Census online at my2020census.gov.
For teachers, parents and guardians who are looking for educational resources now that students are learning online from home, the U.S. Census Bureau's Statistics in Schools program offers free curriculum to educate students from pre-K through 12th grade about the value and everyday uses of Census data.
Print out a census activity book from the State Complete Count Committee click HERE.
Remember: All kids count in the 2020 Census, no matter how old they are. Make sure to count your entire household when you fill out the Census.
Here's how Census data impacts children:
Special education & ESL services ✏️
Free and reduced-priced lunches 🥪
Class sizes 🙋♀️🙋♂️🙋♀️🙋♂️
Class technology 💻
Teacher training 👩🏫
After-School programs 🎨🎭🎼
Early childhood experiences 👶
Playgrounds and public parks 🌲
Public transportation 🚌
Governor Bullock Calls for Census Deadline Extension to Accommodate COVID-19 Health and Safety Measures
Governor Steve Bullock has called on U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross to extend the deadline for the decennial census from August 14, 2020 to at least September 30, 2020 to ensure an accurate count while allowing for continued health and safety measures to slow the spread of COVID-19.
“Many planned efforts to achieve high self-response rates from hard-to-count populations and rural geographic areas are no longer viable due to COVID-19 response measures, including those mandated by the U.S. Census Bureau,” Governor Bullock said in the letter. “More time is needed for effective outreach.”
Governor Bullock specifically noted Montana’s “significant share of hard-to-count residents, seven tribal reservations, and our low population density over a large land area,” which all present challenges to getting an accurate census count.
“In Montana, we must ensure that everyone is counted in the 2020 Census. Our schools, hospitals, highways, communities and families depend on it,” continued Governor Bullock.
In March, the U.S. Census Bureau extended the census deadline by two weeks, from the end of July to August 14.
Montana is one of the states with the lowest self-response scores in the nation, as shown on the U.S. Census Bureau's map.This is primarily due to the 20-35% (or over 100,000 households) who have not received a Census invitation because they collect their mail at P.O. boxes or rural route addresses, which the U.S. Census Bureau cannot mail to. Although Montana has made great strides we still have a long way to go to obtain a complete count.
Lt. Governor Mike Cooney and the State Complete Count Committee are working closely with rural and tribal partners to get out the word about the importance of completing the Census. The more people who fill out the Census online, the fewer enumerators the U.S. Census Bureau will eventually have to send into the field which is especially critical as we try and reduce person-to-person contact across the state.
Counting everyone in Montana is critical because it determines the state's share of federal funding over the next decade, and it determines whether Montana will get another representative in Congress.
Remember, no Census ID is required to fill out your Census!
 Complete the 2020 Census Now
Filling out the Census is quick, easy, and safe. It will take less than 10 minutes to complete and your information and privacy are protected by federal law.
The 2020 Census is now live and available to fill out online at my2020census.gov.
The 2020 Census can also be completed by phone in the following in over 15 languages or by TDD:
 With the U.S. Census Bureau suspending all field operations until April 15,and potentially later, it means that households across Montana, especially those that are in rural locations or have a P.O. box, will not receive any Census material until the Census Bureau restarts their door-to-door operations. This does not mean that you should wait to fill out your form, because even if you have not received your invitation to participate and do not have your 12-digit Census ID you can still fill out your form now!
Students living away from home at school should be counted at school, even if they are temporarily elsewhere due to the COVID-19 campus closures. Colleges and universities are being asked to contact their students to remind them to respond.
Resources for College Students and Educators:
Steps You Can Take to Ensure a Complete Count for Montana
- Promote my2020census.gov and 1-844-330-2020 for people to fill out their Census form online or by phone.
- Post a picture with Census content on your social media to let your family, friends, and followers know that you were counted in the 2020 Census. Use the hashtags #MontanaCensus2020 #makeitcount
- 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.
- Include Census information in mailings that you're sending out. 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.
- Distribute the Montana public service announcements (PSA) on personal or business social media platforms, websites, newsletters, or other digital communication channels.
IMPORTANT DATES
These events are current as of April 8, 2020, but are subject to change as the U.S. Census Bureau revises its operations in response to COVID-19. Check with event organizers regarding local events and go to 2020CENSUS.GOV for the latest U.S. Census Bureau operations updates.
April 9 at noon: Montana State Complete Count Committee Weekly Conference Call
This brief, under 30 minute call, is a chance to get updates from the state as well as the U.S. Census Bureau, to learn about outreach happening statewide, ask questions, and brainstorm with others about Census promotional ideas.
Call: 1- 877- 273- 4202
Enter the Conference Room Number: 471- 834- 192
March 12 - August 14: Self Response Phase
Montana households will receive official Census Bureau materials with detailed information on how to respond to the 2020 Census online, by phone, or by mail. The public is strongly encouraged to respond online.
April 15: U.S. Census Bureau field operations currently scheduled to resume.
April 29 - May 1: Service Based Enumeration
The Census Bureau is working with service providers at soup kitchens, shelters, and regularly scheduled food vans to count people they may serve.
April 16 - June 16: Group Quarters Enumeration
The Census Bureau is encouraging administrators of facilities like nursing homes, prisons, and student housing to choose an option for counting their residents that requires less in-person contact.
May 7 - August 14: Nonresponse Followup (NRFU)
Census takers will follow up with household that haven't self-responded responded online, by phone, or by mail.
December 31, 2020: Deliver Apportionment Count to the President
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HELPFUL RESOURCES
IN THE NEWS
Census: 10 minutes of your time will help shape Montana’s next 10 years -
MISSOULA CURRENT
2020 Census operations delayed due to COVID-19 - HAVRE DAILY NEWS
Census Bureau: You Can Complete The Census Without An ID Code - MPR
Montana lagging in census responses - BOZEMAN CHRONCILE
Almost 30% of Montana households respond to Census - HELENA IR
Bullock urges U.S. Census Bureau to extend Census submission deadline again - KHQ
The coronavirus could affect the accuracy of the 2020 Census - and that could decide who gets a vaccine - BUSINESS INSIDER
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.
Jeri Bucy
Montana Partnership Specialist
U.S. Census Bureau
Email: jeri.bucy@2020census.gov
Phone: (406) 302-2227
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
For Media Requests Please Contact:
Josh Manning
Media Specialist
Dallas Regional Census Office, US Census Bureau
Email: joshua.manning@2020census.gov
Phone: (406) 422-6475
HAVE YOUR CENSUS NEWS PUBLISHED IN THE NEXT NEWSLETTER
Have you been working on community outreach for the Census? Or do you have a success story you'd like to share? Contact us HERE for a chance to be published in the next newsletter and have your next digital event displayed on the 2020 Census Events Calendar at CENSUS.MT.GOV.
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