Locals discuss census efforts
EL CENTRO –
The participation of community-based organizations in upcoming census efforts will be essential to help persuade reluctant respondents to participate and ensure an accurate count.
Since many local community-based organizations (CBOs) already have established relationships of trust with their constituents, they can exert their influence with individuals considered “hard to count.”
“We need people that are on friendly terms with the community,” said county Deputy Executive Officer Esperanza Colio. “You have to use a face that is trusted.”
Colio’s remarks came Wednesday during a workshop hosted by the California Complete Count - Census 2020 Office, where the crucial role that CBOs will play in local census efforts was among the topics discussed.
Almost the entirety of the county is considered hard to count, with the exception of a few areas, making it the hardest to count county in the state, officials said.
Locally, those hard to count (HTC) residents and areas are defined by lower income levels, language barriers, unemployment and lack of internet access, to name just some characteristics.
Currently, the county is encouraging local CBOs to submit requests for proposals (RFP) to receive funds to aid in their volunteer census efforts. The county has received about $284,000 from the state to aid in such efforts.
A total of about $156,000 is available through the RFP for the Valley’s incorporated cities, with 50 percent of those funds being set aside for each city based on their respective population and HTC population.
Non-profit organizations are also encouraged to submit an RFP as sole applicants or as co-applicants with an incorporated city.
A total of about $71,000 is available for the Valley’s unincorporated areas and is available to non-profits, school districts and Native American tribes, as well. The deadline for all entities to apply is 5 p.m. Sept. 3.
Though the grant money is not designed to provide compensation for administrative expenses, it is aimed at offsetting costs associated with the potential purchase of equipment and supplies, and travel, officials said.
As part of ongoing census efforts, the county’s libraries have trained some of their bilingual staff to assist residents who choose to turn in their surveys at the libraries.
Stakeholders have also identified more than 25 locations where kiosks will be installed to assist residents with filling out the census survey.
Three of those kiosks will be located at frequently used sites within the Quechan Tribe’s Fort Yuma Reservation, including its senior and community centers, and tribal administration office.
Ensuring an accurate count for the upcoming April 1 census is of extreme importance to the Quechan, which numbers about 4,000 members.
To date, it has been relying on 2000 census data to apply for grants, which leaves it at a significant disadvantage in comparison to other smaller and more powerful tribes within the state, said tribal President Jordan D. Joaquin.
“It’s all about the money but we have to explain what the money is going to be used for,” Joaquin said during his remarks to those gathered at the county Department of Social Services for the workshop.
Annually, an estimated $675 billion in federal funding is distributed to states and communities according to the needs determined by census data, officials said. For each individual who is not counted, an estimated $2,000 in annual federal funding is withheld, they said.
The current political climate and the resultant fear it is apparently creating in immigrant communities was repeatedly cited by speakers at Wednesday’s meeting.
That apparent fear is another factor that local stakeholders must contend with and overcome if an accurate count is to be ensured, said Quintilia Avila, California Complete Count regional program manager.
“We have an uphill battle and we need your help to tell people why it’s safe to participate,” Avila said.
The state has made about $187 million available for statewide census efforts, a significant increase from the $4 million dispersed in 2010, Avila said.
In March, census officials will mail residents postcards containing their registration numbers in advance of the April 1 census. To avoid having census representatives come knocking on residents’ doors between May and June, they are being encouraged to respond to the questionnaire.
“We know it’s going to take a trusted messenger to lay the foundation to convince those people that are considering not responding,” said Arturo Hernandez, U.S. Census Bureau partnership specialist.
Wednesday’s meeting also included afternoon sessions for stakeholders to identify solutions to address hard to reach areas.