Check back frequently for updates on what Lancaster County is doing to promote participation in the 2020 census.

July 31

Hello Census Partners –

Please help us encourage census participation in the rural parts of our county – August 2-8 is Rural Week of Action! Create your own message using the hashtag #2020CountTheCountry, or use the attached social media postings [please contact census@co.lancaster.pa.us if you would like social media postings referenced above]. If you have upcoming community events, please contact Juan Valencia about hosting a table of census promotional materials. Let us know if you have questions or ideas!

Thank you for your assistance!

Lancaster County CCC

Here’s what we want people to know:

RURAL WEEK OF ACTION: AUGUST 2-8, 2020 

Be counted in the 2020 Census! 

#2020CountTheCountry

• RESPOND to the census! Now through October 31. 
  • Online: 2020census.gov 
  • By Phone: 844-330-2020 
• WHY is the census important for rural areas? 
  • Our rural communities benefit when you participate in the U.S. Census. Our population count determines the funding communities receive for transportation, health care, and education - as well as through programs like Medicaid, Rural Business and Industry Loans, Cooperative Extension Services, and more. 
• HOW can you help? 
  • Remind your community through your local communication methods, such as local radio, newsletters, bulletin boards, newspapers, marquees, PSAs, YouTube, flyers, email, and social media! Include the #2020CountTheCountry and the hashtag in your messaging!

July 24

July 23

July 15, 2020

Hello 2020 Census Partners!

We have some new information for you about upcoming events and operations, and lots of reminders too! Please let us know how we can work together for a complete and accurate 2020 Census for Lancaster County!

Thank you!

The Lancaster County Complete Count Committee

NEW INFORMATION 

• Faith Communities Census Weekend of Action from July 24 to 26, 2020: Please reach out to your faith leaders! 
  • We are calling on faith leaders to share 2020 Census messages and encourage your communities to respond over this weekend. This could be as easy as including the importance of the census in your sermon or newsletter. See 1-page flyer here. Contact Juan Valencia or census@co.lancaster.pa.us with questions, or see more information below under “details.”
• Mobile Questionnaire Assistance (MQA) Operation: Let us know of high-traffic areas or large events planned between July 13 and Sept 30!
  • US Census Bureau is planning to have staff present to assist people and answer questions about the census at any low response location (particularly in parts of Lancaster City and Columbia.) Please let us know of upcoming events or high-traffic areas where MQA staff could assist people. Contact Juan Valencia, and see more information below under “details.”
• Let Your Community Know! Please encourage your community and constituents to respond to the census online, by phone, or by mail. Send emails, include articles in newsletters, post on social media. See more information below under “details.”

REMINDERS

• Respond now through October 31! Respond to the 2020 Census online, by phone (English: 844.330.2020 or Spanish: 844.468.2020), or by mail now through October 31. It’s not too late!
• Still hiring! The Census Bureau is still hiring, particularly in lower-response parts of Lancaster County, including parts of Lancaster City and Columbia. Learn more and apply here.
• Census Takers Knocking on Doors: The Non-Response Follow Up Operation. Between August 11 and October 31, Census takers will visit households that have not yet responded to the census.
• 2020 Census Giveaways: Juan Valencia of the Census Bureau is able to connect you with “Census swag” to give out to your constituents/clients – such as pens, cups, bags, etc.
• Printed Materials: 
  • The Lancaster Chamber can print any census material your organization would like, including translated or bilingual handouts, posters, or materials with your own census-related content (follow order form link here)
  • The Lancaster County Planning Commission has pre-printed Census posters and handouts in several languages – please let us know if you could use some! (contact Emma)
• Language Assistance and Outreach: 
  • Amer Al Fayadh at Church World Service is working on Census videos in a number of languages, which will be available soon. CWS is also able to do Census outreach and translation with communities with limited English proficiency.
  • Libraries in The Library System of Lancaster County will be offering “Browse Aloud” on public computers, which will allow users to view websites translated into dozens of languages. Learn more about the software here.

DETAILS

• Faith Communities Census Weekend of Action from July 24 to 26, 2020. Every ten years, the federal government is required to count every single person living in the United States through a census in order to determine how billions of dollars in federal funds, as well as political representation, will be distributed among states and local communities for the next decade. Though the census count has improved over time, certain populations continue to be “undercounted.” Faith leaders are among the most trusted messengers in our communities and are positioned to play a key role in ensuring that everyone is counted in the 2020 Census. The easiest way to begin educating and mobilizing your community is to become a Faith Census Ambassador by sharing information with their congregations and help spread the message that the Census is important and coming soon. Our efforts primarily focus on engaging historically undercounted populations, also known as Hard to Count (HTC) communities. We are looking forward to your partnership on the 2020 Census and hope you’ll join us as a Faith Census Ambassador.
• Mobile Questionnaire Assistance (MQA) Operation: Let us know of high-traffic areas or large events planned between July 13 and Sept 30!
  • What is the MQA? During the 2020 Census, more than 4,000 U.S. Census Bureau staff, called Census Response Representatives, will be in communities around the country that have low response rates to help people respond to the census. (These staff are separate from the census takers who will visit households that do not respond.) Census Response Representatives will visit events and key locations such as grocery stores and markets, houses of worship, community festivals, public transit hubs, libraries, community centers, and other locations where people naturally gather. Whenever possible, arrange to have field staff come to the location on a regular basis (e.g. every Tuesday, from 12PM to 4PM). There, the representatives will help people submit their census response. All Census Response Representatives have been trained in social distancing protocols and issued Personal Protective Equipment (PPE); including masks to be worn during MQA events.
  • What Language Assistance is Available? People can respond online in English or in 12 select languages. The representatives can also provide the direct phone lines for English and the 12 other languages. The representatives will have instructions available in 59 non-English languages on how to complete the English questionnaire.
  • Please invite us to participate in your events! Contact Juan Valencia with: Name of Organization, Name/Phone Number of Event Contact, Event Date, Time of the Event, Address (Specific location of the event), Specific Location of Where Census Staff will be Stationed, Table Available? (Yes/No), Shelter or Canopy provided? (Yes/No), Wi-Fi Available? (Yes/No), Estimated Number of Attendees, Language: English/Spanish/Both (Circle One), Other Language Spoken (if any).

Example Social Media Post, Compliments of the Lancaster City Hard-to-Count Committee (English and Spanish): 

If you haven’t filled out your 2020 Census yet online, by phone, or through the mail, you can expect a visit from a Census Bureau employee sometime between August and the end of October. The Census Bureau estimates it will need to visit approximately 56 million addresses to collect responses in person. Fill out your Census now at https://my2020census.gov/!

Si aún no ha completado su Censo 2020 en línea, por teléfono o por correo, puede esperar una visita de un empleado de la Oficina del Censo en algún momento entre agosto y finales de octubre. La Oficina del Censo estima que necesitará visitar aproximadamente 56 millones de direcciones para recolectar respuestas en persona. Complete su censo ahora en https://my2020census.gov/

June 26, 2020

Hello 2020 Census Partners!

We hope you are all healthy and well! We’ve got lots of updates and information to share with you. Now that we’re starting to return to “normal”, we anticipate that there will be more opportunities to remind folks about the census – and we would love to partner with you! A reminder that households can continue to respond to the census online or by phone through October 31 – so our outreach efforts will continue through the fall. Please check out the resources and important information below, and let us know how we can help!

Thank you!
The Lancaster 2020 Census Complete Count Committee

UPCOMING EVENTS?

Please let us know if you have or know of any upcoming opportunities (now through October) to remind folks about the 2020 Census, such as:

• Events (July 4 events, fairs)
• Activities (food/meal distribution, youth sports)
• Physical re-opening (libraries, public buildings)

CENSUS RESOURCES AVAILABLE. 

• 2020 Census Giveaways: Juan Valencia of the Census Bureau is able to connect you with “Census swag” to give out to your constituents/clients – such as pens, cups, bags, etc.
• Printed Materials: 
  • The Lancaster Chamber can print any census material your organization would like, including translated or bilingual handouts, posters, or materials with your own census-related content (follow order form link here)
  • The Lancaster County Planning Commission has pre-printed Census posters and handouts in several languages – please let us know if you could use some! (contact Emma)
• Language Assistance and Outreach: 
  • Amer Al Fayadh at Church World Service is working on Census videos in a number of languages, which will be available soon. CWS is also able to do Census outreach and translation with communities with limited English proficiency.
  • Libraries in The Library System of Lancaster County will be offering “Browse Aloud” on public computers, which will allow users to view websites translated into dozens of languages. Learn more about the software here.

CENSUS TAKERS KNOCKING ON DOORS: THE NON-RESPONSE FOLLOWUP OPERATION (NRFU). Please remind your community that census takers will be visiting households that have not already responded to the 2020 census!

• As part of its Nonresponse Followup Operation (NRFU), the U.S. Census Bureau is visiting every household that has not already responded to the 2020 Census to ensure a complete and accurate count.
• Census takers are scheduled to visit the nonresponding household between August 11 – October 31, 2020 to ask a few questions and will enter the answers on their secure Census Bureau smart phone. If a family member is not home when the census taker visits, they will leave a notice of their visit with information about how to respond online or by phone. As necessary, they will make additional visits to collect responses from the household.
• Census takers will follow social distancing protocols and all applicable state and local requirements with regard to health and safety.
• Until October 31, 2020, households can continue to respond online or by phone.

NEW MATERIALS FROM THE CENSUS BUREAU. 

• How to Encourage Census Response During COVID-19
• Key Messages During Nonresponse Followup
• 2020 Census Language Support Information
• Bilingual Poster (English/Spanish)
• Current Census Timeline (as of 6/24/2020)