The U.S. Census Bureau calls the 2010 census a “snapshot of America,” but this snapshot is worth much, much more than 1,000 words.
According to the 2010 census Web site, www.2010.census.gov, the census results will be used to determine how $400 billion in federal tax money is spent annually in states and communities. Multiply the annual spending by 10, and the census impacts the spending of $4 trillion.
“Holistically speaking, the 2010 census affects everybody directly,” said Darryl Lee, senior partnership specialist for Alabama for the U.S. Census Bureau. “Census data will help planners and decision makers determine what neighborhoods need and help them decide where to invest as well.”
According to Lee, 61 percent of Alabamians participated in the 2000 census. Overall U.S. participation in the census was 67 percent. Those numbers are too low considering all that is at stake, Lee said.
The Web site states that information gathered from the census will determine the need for services such as transportation, economic development, public works, public health, education and senior services, as well as congressional representation.
“The census impacts the state’s representation in Congress and funding as well,” he said. “More funding for Alabama means more funding for our counties, cities and communities.”
The goal of the census is to count all people living in the state, but there are many areas and populations that are hard to count: foreign-born immigrants, minority groups, households headed by a female and areas of high crime and/or high poverty rates.
Individuals and groups who are considered hard to count often have a general fear and mistrust of the government, Lee said. To combat these fears, a large part of the U.S. Census Bureau’s efforts so far have been to educate residents about how the 2010 census will and will not be used.
The 10 questions on the census form seek answers to specific questions related to age, race, gender and housing status. According to the Web site, information gathered from census forms is used only to produce statistics — no individual information is reported to outside agencies. That statistical data can be used to evaluate existing programs, such as those promoting equal employment opportunities for minorities and women, and forecast future needs, such as the number of people eligible for Social Security or Medicare benefits.
Title 13 of the U.S. Constitution prevents disclosure of private information collected through the census, Lee said. So no information is disclosed to the Internal Revenue Service, child support agencies or immigration officials, for example.
To combat the myths and increase participation for this year’s census, religious leaders are being asked to encourage parishioners to participate.
Mount Mariah Baptist Church, Birmingham, in Birmingham Baptist Association, where Lee serves as pastor, has provided space for training and testing of census workers, as has Sixth Avenue Baptist Church, Birmingham, in Birmingham Association. Many parishioners are taking jobs with the census as well.
In these turbulent economic times, the census jobs have provided relief for many families, Lee said.
“With layoffs the way they are, the census is providing employment opportunities,” he said. “These are temporary jobs but they are good-paying jobs.”
Lee said there are plenty of jobs still available in communities throughout Alabama. He added that having community members actively educating others about the importance of the census improves the accuracy of the “snapshot.”
For now, education is the key focus in preparation for the count. In early March, letters will go out to all U.S. households to let them know about the census form. The actual census questionnaire will be mailed in mid-March, and completed forms should be returned by April 1.
Lee said he encourages individuals to take a few minutes to complete the form and mail it back immediately in the postage-paid return envelope that comes with the form.
The theme for this year is “It’s in Our Hands,” Lee said, noting the census can only be accurate if everyone participates.
Those who need help completing the form can contact questionnaire assistance centers that will be set up throughout the state, Lee said. Information is available on the Web site as well.
Those who do not return forms by the April 1 deadline will receive follow-up visits from census takers.
The importance of an accurate count and the potential impact for the state should motivate everyone to participate, Lee said.
As a local pastor, he knows his community and the needs, and he believes the census is a vital part of the future of his community and other Alabama communities.
“We want better schools and better streets, and we want to give all citizens an opportunity for a better life,” he said. “An accurate census is a step in that direction.”
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