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Census: Kids at Risk to be Undercounted

posted 2/16/20 -- The 2020 Census will be very important for Head Start nationwide. Approximately $8 billion in annual funding for the nationwide program is driven by the Census. Data gathered in 2020 is used for ten years until the next census.

Children under 5 have historically been undercounted in each Census, so LCCAA wants you to know more about getting an accurate count. Here is what we need you to know about counting our children:

 

  • The information you share with the Census is truly confidential. The Census is prohibited by law from releasing your information. It CANNOT be shared with other government agencies or jeopardize your participation in any program or service, including Head Start.
  • Children should be counted in the household where they live most often. If there is a shared custody arrangement that has the child spending equal time in more than one household, the child should be counted where they are living on April 1.
  • Make sure to count all children in the household, including those that are living there temporarily and who may or may not be related.
  • Newborns - even if they are still in the hospital - should be counted as part of the household welcoming them home.

 

LCCAA staff have been trained on the Census. Our teachers, family service workers, HEAP advocates and all staff are able to answer your questions and concerns about the 2020 Census.

You will soon see billboards, sponsored by LCCAA, that encourage you to complete the 2020 Census. We have also created a special page on our website with Frequently Asked Questions and links to additional resources. You will find that at www.lccaa.net.

A 2020 Census invitation will be mailed to your home in March. This will come directly from the federal U.S. Census Bureau. You can complete the Census by mail, by phone or online. This is the first time the Census can be done online. If you don’t have a personal computer, it is safe to complete the Census on a public one at your local library. You may also contact your family service worker for further assistance.

LCCAA Head Start knows you count. We know that children count. Thank you for completing the 2020 U.S. Census and helping to make sure that we are funded at the levels locally needed in the decade ahead.