Getting the Right Count in 2010
A few weeks ago I hosted a conference at the University of Chicago entitled, “Understanding a Dynamic Decade: Population Trends, Public Policy, and the 2010 Census in Chicago.” The goal of the conference was to generate awareness of the 2010 Census and to help community groups identify strategies for encouraging residents in hard-to-count areas to submit their mail-in forms on time. In addition, a set of afternoon sessions focused on contemporary policy research that makes use of Census data and a session showing community-based organizations how they might use Census data in their own work.
Click here to access video and audio of the conference proceedings. In addition, the Population Research Center at the University of Chicago has created its own 2010 Census website with useful links and information.
Even though Census Day was yesterday, April 1st, the next few weeks are critical if cities and communities are to achieve an accurate count. During the last week of April Census Bureau staff will begin following up on nonresponse to the Census mail-in forms. To maximize efficiency and effectiveness of that follow-up work, it is important that community-based organizations encourage local residents to return as many mail-in forms as possible by April 22nd. The more forms mailed in on time, the more time Census Bureau staff will have to work in harder-to-count areas and ensure a right count in 2010.