Taking Action to Help the Census Count: Share Social Media
Montana's self-response rate to the 2020 Census stands at 56.6 percent, below the national average of 63 percent. Each newsletter we are featuring an idea you can use to help increase Montana's self-response rate to the Census.
This week we are highlighting content you can share on your social media channels. As a trusted source among your friends and in your community, your voice can make a difference in getting those in your circle to respond. The short message you share can be then be shared quickly out to other’s networks. In this time of many competing communications, social media is an effective way to urge everyone to self-response today.
The Montana Complete Count Committee has many images you can use. You can check them out HERE!
CENSUS STORIES OF THE WEEK
Governor Bullock, Lt. Governor Cooney Urge U.S. Census Bureau to Uphold Commitment to a Complete Count Following COVID-19 Disruptions
Governor Steve Bullock and Lt. Governor Mike Cooney Tuesday sent a letter urging the U.S. Census Bureau to continue 2020 Census operations through its extended deadline of October 31 to get an accurate count for Montana while allowing for continued health and safety measures to slow the spread of COVID-19.
“Montana is not alone in experiencing deep and unprecedented effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our administration is working first to protect the health and safety of our state’s 1.06 million residents,” Governor Bullock and Lt. Gov. Cooney, who serves as chair of the Montana Complete Count Committee, wrote in a letter to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. “We are also doing all we can to offset the short and long-term impacts this will have on our economy, our communities and our families.”
The U.S. Census Bureau suspended all field operations from March to early May to slow the spread of COVID-19 and extended the deadline from July 31 to October 31 to respond to challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Census Bureau late Monday evening confirmed news reports last week that it will cut its 2020 Census count operations short by a month, to end on September 30.
After delays due to the pandemic, ending count efforts early would jeopardize Montana’s efforts to get a complete count and ensure full federal funding. According to the U.S. Census Bureau as of Monday, 56.6 percent of Montanans have self-responded to the 2020 Census, putting Montana below the national average of 62.9 percent.
“Today, an estimated 525,000 Montanans have not been counted in the 2020 Census. If the Census Bureau continues to move the goal posts of the decennial count, we fear entire communities in Montana will go uncounted and therefore unrepresented in our democracy. These communities rely on an accurate Census to provide critical funding for schools, health care and highways. Without an accurate count, the fabric of Montana will be detrimentally impacted for at least the next 10 years,” Governor Bullock and Lt. Gov. Cooney wrote in the letter.
While the federal government is tasked with counting all households every 10 years, the state supports the effort to educate and promote the importance of the Census. In June, Governor Bullock allocated $530,500 in Coronavirus Relief Funding to the Montana Department of Commerce to continue 2020 Census education and outreach efforts. The funding is being deployed to low response areas of the state to quickly make up for the time lost this spring due to COVID-19.
An accurate and complete count of all Montanans is critical for determining the federal funding distributed to the state – overall, more than $2 billion from 300 federal programs is allocated back to Montana based on Census information. The Census count also shapes local voting and school districts, and it determines whether Montana will receive a second seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Montanans who have not yet responded to the 2020 Census can do so by going to MY2020CENSUS.GOV, by calling 1-844-330-2020, or by mailing in their Census form if they received one in the mail.
The full letter to Secretary Ross can be found here.
Expanding 2020 Census Outreach with Statewide Partners Using Coronavirus Relief Funding
On Monday, the Lt. Governor and the Department of Commerce announced expanded 2020 Census outreach efforts with statewide partners through $530,500 from the Coronavirus Relief Fund to ensure all Montana households are counted in the decennial Census. Three partners, the Montana Nonprofit Association, Western Native Voice and the Forward Montana Foundation, will share the funding to continue targeted outreach efforts aimed at low self-responding areas of the state. Over the last year, these partners have all been actively working to increase the 2020 Census response.
Additionally, the Department of Commerce is contracting with Missoula-based marketing agency Windfall to strategically continue promotions to households in low-response areas of the state through radio, newspaper, television and digital communication. Since the U.S. Census does the actual count, efforts from the state and partner organizations are geared toward making sure every Montanan understands the importance of the Census and responds.
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Follow-up to Non-responding Households to Begin August 11th
The U.S. Census Bureau has said operations to follow up with households that have not yet responded to the 2020 Census will start August 11th and end September 30th. Census Bureau employees are planning to visit every household that has not already responded to the 2020 Census. We are urging households to self-respond online, by phone or by mail today to limit the number of households Census workers will have to visit.
PARTNERS IN ACTION
Western Native Voice working to ‘make Natives count’ in Census
Western Native Voice, working with in coordination with the Blackfeet Tribal Complete Committee, piloted a “Native Counts” booth near Glacier Family Foods in Browning. The Booth gave residents a chance to learn and respond to the 2020 Census. More than 200 individuals took this opportunity to respond. Read the full story here.
Counting All College Students
Because of the COVID-19 outbreak, many college students returned home before they were able to respond to the Census. Since college students spend most of the year at school, according to Census requirements, they should be counted in their campus community. Through the efforts of the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education (OCHE), the U.S. Census Bureau, and the State Complete Count Committee education members, Montana college students who were living on campus last spring have been successfully counted in the 2020 Census through electronic response.
The successful counting of on-campus students is great news and demonstrates the power of the work the many Census partners can have.
With more than 50,000 college students, the on-campus population is a critical population to count for our state. Working with the Forward Montana Foundation, OCHE will now focus on counting students living off campus. Unlike those who live on-campus, information cannot be provided electronically for these students. Off-campus students must submit a response online, by phone or by mail so the form can be matched to a physical address.
An accurate and complete count of all Montanans is critical for determining the federal funding distributed to the state – overall, more than $2 billion from 300 federal programs is allocated back to Montana based on Census information. The Census count also shapes local voting and school districts, and it determines whether Montana will receive a second seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Montanans who have not yet responded to the 2020 Census can do so by going to MY2020CENSUS.GOV, by calling 1-844-330-2020, or by mailing in their Census form if they received one in the mail.
IN THE NEWS
State pushes back on census timeline – HELENA INDEPENDENT RECORD
After Previous Undercount, Census Bureau Focuses Efforts on Native America – YELLOWSTONE PUBLIC RADIO
Census to begin household visits in Indian Country – BILLINGS GAZETTE
Analysis Spotlights Risk Of Census Undercount In Communities Of Color – BOISE STATE PUBLIC RADIO
IMPORTANT DATES
These events are current as of the publication of this newsletter, but are subject to change as the U.S. Census Bureau revises its operations.
March 12 – September 30: Self-response Phase
April 2 – September 3: Group Quarters Counting (e-response and paper)
July 1 – September 3: In-person Group Quarters Counting
August 7: Update/Leave Operations End
August 11 – September 30: Non-response Follow-up
September 3 – 28: Counting at Transitory Locations such as RV parks, campgrounds, and hotels if people do not usually live elsewhere
September 22 – 24: Operations to count those experiencing homeless outdoors and at service-based locations
December 31, 2020: Deliver Census Count to the President
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HELPFUL RESOURCES
Montana Customized Census 2020 Resources
U.S. Census Bureau YouTube Channel
U.S. Census Bureau Outreach Materials
U.S. Census Bureau PSA Toolkit
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
Jihan Khalaf Montana Partnership Specialist U.S. Census Bureau Email: Jihan.k.khalaf@2020census.gov Phone: 406-439-3383
Laurie Cipriano Public Information Officer Email: laurie.a.cipriano@2020census.gov Phone: (720) 891- 2497 (Colorado)
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