“It’s a balancing act between protecting the health and safety of both Census workers and the people we’re trying to reach, to ensure a complete and accurate count of all our communities.”
In light of the COVID-19 outbreak, local efforts to promote the importance of all Boulder County residents completing the 2020 Census continue to adapt and adjust.
“It’s a balancing act between protecting the health and safety of both Census workers and the people we’re trying to reach, to ensure a complete and accurate count of all our communities,”
says Stuart Feinhor, 2020 Census Field Outreach Coordinator, Boulder County Community Action Programs (CAP).
Indeed, the U.S. Census Bureau temporarily suspended 2020 Census field data collection activities in March. Steps are being taken to reactivate field offices in June, and the window for field data collection and self-response has been extended to October 31, 2020. But the sooner all Boulder County community members get counted – just nine questions, easily answered in a few minutes – the less risk of possible exposure to the Coronavirus among Census workers and those who haven’t completed the Census, whether online, by phone, or by mail.
“Before COVID-19 hit, I was in direct contact with residents in senior centers,” continues Stuart, whose outreach efforts are focused on Boulder County seniors. “We had several events planned, but then had to adapt to outreach by phone, email, and online.”
As part of his online outreach, Stuart actively promotes the significance of the Census on the CAP Facebook page.
“Another thing I’ve done to work around our circumstances is to contact all independent living facilities in our county, providing them my name and number – and asking them to let their residents know there’s help out there if they need any assistance completing the Census,” he adds. “But a lot of seniors don’t do stuff online, and prefer to receive paper forms. That’s okay, too!
“People are usually surprised that the form is so short – not dozens of questions. And I also like to remind people that completing the Census can be an intergenerational effort – parents reminding grandparents to get counted, and vice versa. Especially at a time when a lot of us or feeling overwhelmed with other things, consistent reminders that the Census is happening are really important.”
Once 2020 Census data collection is complete, the U.S. Census Bureau begins its lengthy, thorough, and scientifically rigorous process to produce the apportionment counts, redistricting information, and other statistical data products that help guide hundreds of billions of dollars in public and private sector spending per year.
Note: As of May 28, the Census self-response rate in Boulder County is 70.8%, compared to a final self-response rate of 73.4% in 2010. Says Chris Barge, the foundation’s Vice President of Strategic Initiatives: “Back then, the self-response period ended in mid-May. This year, it’s been extended through the first week of August. So we seem on track to surpass the 2010 benchmark in 2020 – a testament to all the folks working overtime to ensure a complete and accurate count, despite strong headwinds with the quarantine.”
