Census Bureau adapts operations to complete count
As the U.S. Census Bureau continues to monitor the impacts COVID-19 has on 2020 Census operations, changes to operations are being deployed to ensure the safety of staff and the public while maximizing the number of households that respond on their own to the 2020 Census.
“We are taking steps and adapting our operations to make sure everyone is counted, while keeping everyone safe,” said Census Bureau Director Dr. Steven Dillingham. “Our commitment to a complete and accurate 2020 Census is absolute.
“In this challenging environment, we are deploying these tactics to make sure we reach every household in every community. If you haven’t responded, the time to respond is now.
“Responding to the 2020 Census online, on paper, by phone, or in person with a census taker helps secure vital resources for your community.”
Some key points from Director Dillingham’s Aug. 3 statement include:
“Complete count: A robust field data collection operation will ensure we receive responses from households that have not yet self-responded to the 2020 Census.
“We will improve the speed of our count without sacrificing completeness. As part of our revised plan, we will conduct additional training sessions and provide awards to enumerators in recognition of those who maximize hours worked. We will also keep phone and tablet computer devices for enumeration in use for the maximum time possible.
“We will end field data collection by Sept. 30, 2020. Self-response options will also close on that date to permit the commencement of data processing. Under this plan, the Census Bureau intends to meet a similar level of household responses as collected in prior censuses, including outreach to hard-to-count communities.
“Accurate data and efficient processing: Once we have the data from self-response and field data collection in our secure systems, we plan to review it for completeness and accuracy, streamline its processing and prioritize apportionment counts to meet the statutory deadline. In addition, we plan to increase our staff to ensure operations are running at full capacity.
“Flexible design: Our operation remains adaptable and additional resources will help speed our work. The Census Bureau will continue to analyze data and key metrics from its field work to ensure that our operations are agile and on target for meeting our statutory delivery dates. Of course, we recognize that events can still occur that no one can control, such as additional complications from severe weather or other natural disasters.
“Health and safety: We will continue to prioritize the health and safety of our workforce and the public. Our staff will continue to follow Federal, state and local guidance, including providing appropriate safety trainings and personal protective equipment to field staff.
“The Census Bureau continues its work on meeting the requirements of Executive Order 13880 issued July 11, 2019, and the Presidential Memorandum issued July 21, 2020. A team of experts are examining methodologies and options to be employed for this purpose. The collection and use of pertinent administrative data continues.
“We are committed to a complete and accurate 2020 Census. To date, 76.5% of housing units have been accounted for in the 2020 Census, with 12.1% counted by census takers and other field data collection operations, and 64.4% of housing units responding online, by phone or by mail.
“Building on our successful and innovative internet response option, the dedicated women and men of the Census Bureau, including our temporary workforce deploying in communities across the country in upcoming weeks, will work diligently to achieve an accurate count.
“We appreciate the support of our hundreds of thousands of community-based, business, state, local and tribal partners contributing to these efforts across our Nation. The 2020 Census belongs to us all.
“If you know someone who has not yet responded, please, encourage them to do so today online at 2020census.gov, over the phone or by mail.”
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