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Tasha Boone, deputy chief of the U.S. Census Bureau's 2010 Census Publicity Office, shows how the 2010 Census national advertising campaign will be the largest and most visible ad campaign this year. Photo courtesy of U.S. Census Bureau, Public Information Office |
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2010 Census Kicks Into Gear
By Beth IngallsPublished: February 22, 2010
Have you become a fan of the 2010 Census on Facebook yet? Did you know you can follow the Census Bureau on Twitter? Times have certainly changed since 2000, when the last nationwide push to count every citizen and non-citizen in America was undertaken. With an average census questionnaire mail-back rate of only 67 percent that year, the government is pulling out all the stops with the most expensive campaign ever launched. Did you catch the Super Bowl ad? There’s even a Census blog!
Whether social networking efforts and primetime commercials will encourage more folks to take part in the count this time remains to be seen. You’d think that a process which has been a part of our government’s mandate since 1790 would be firmly entrenched by now. Sadly, there were less than 10,000 census fans on Facebook as of Feb. 22. Compare that to over 12 million for Texas Hold ‘Em and more than 5 million for Lady Gaga. The census isn’t sexy, but it’s critically important.
Perhaps the shortened form, with only 10 questions, will help simplify the task. After all, an accurate count will help ensure that $400 million in federal funds can be distributed appropriately and equitably for hospitals, job training centers, schools, senior centers, bridges, tunnels and other public works projects and emergency services across the land. Numbers also determine representation in Congress.
2010 census forms will be arriving in the next few weeks in 90 percent of American households. Mail the form back by April 1 in the postage-paid envelope and you’re done. Households without regular mail delivery will receive a hand-delivered packet from census workers, which they are also asked to mail in. In very remote areas, with characteristically low rates of questionnaire return, residents get an in-person visit from a census staff person. Large military bases also receive door-to-door visits. If your household doesn’t return your form, you just may get a visit too. We can't move forward until you mail it back.
More info: 2010.census.gov
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