Thursday, April 01, 2010
The Census Bureau encourages everyone to “Take 10,” which means taking 10 minutes to answer the 10 questions on the census form and return it today. Communities are also encouraged to use the Take 10 Tracker to keep track of participation and develop strategies to enhance their involvement. People of color have historically been undercounted and concentrated efforts have been put in place to reach out to these communities. Complete count committees targeting African American, Asian American and Latino communities, for example, have formed and initiated specific strategies to increase awareness and encourage participation in Census 2010. It is estimated that for each adult not counted, the region loses $1,200 annually for ten years in federal funding for services such as schools, hospitals, job training and senior centers. Census information also affects the number of seats your state has in the U.S. Congress.