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

October 6

Good Morning Lancaster County Census Partners,

There’s still time to finish counting in our communities. Please see the email below for the official word on the extended deadline. As always, thank you for all of your hard work on this effort.

Good morning Census Partners,

Reaching out with EXCITING NEWS --  a federal judge has issued an order stating that the U.S. Census Bureau must currently continue its outreach for the 2020 Census through October 31st. 

This means that all Census activities -- self-response, NRFU and MQA -- will continue going strong from today through October 31st. Accordingly, please plan on continuing current outreach activities until the targeted date. 

With 26 additional days to obtain a more accurate count, we extend a resounding call-to-action to further embrace your role as valued Census Partners in supporting the mission of the 2020 Census -- to count everyone once, only once, and in the right place.  

We are following this development closely and will contact you with updates if any changes to this deadline evolve.

For more detailed information, please see the article: https://www.npr.org/2020/10/02/919224602/after-egregious-violation-judge-orders-census-to-count-through-oct-31-for-now

With gratitude for your continued support,

Robert Mitchell

Partnership Specialist

Philadelphia Partnership

U.S. Census Bureau - Philadelphia Regional Census Center

Office: (267) 909-7035

Email: robert.w.mitchell@2020census.gov

census.gov | @uscensusbureau

Shape your future. START HERE> 2020census.gov

September 29

Good Afternoon Lancaster County Census Partners,

Please see the email below from our new Census Partnership Specialist regarding official changes in the 2020 Census deadline:

___________________________________________

Good morning valued Census Partners,

As many of you have reached out inquiring about specifics re: the 2020 Census deadline, I would like to announce the latest directive from Census Headquarters. 

Official word was disseminated earlier this morning. The directive is as follows:

"The Secretary of Commerce has announced the target date of October 5, 2020, to conclude 2020 Census self-response and field data collection and operations."

Plainly stated, it means all Census activities . . . self-response, NRFU and MQA's will end on October 5th at the end of the day.

Please plan on continuing current outreach activities until the targeted date.

Kindly see the official announcement on the 2020 Census website:

https://2020census.gov/en/news-events/press-releases/2020-census-update.html

Very truly yours in the spirit of civic engagement and community building, 

Robert Mitchell

Partnership Specialist

Philadelphia Partnership

U.S. Census Bureau - Philadelphia Regional Census Center

Office: (267) 909-7035

Email: robert.w.mitchell@2020census.gov

census.gov | @uscensusbureau

Shape your future. START HERE> 2020census.gov

September 16

Dear Lancaster County Census Partners, 

Please see the message below from the Census Bureau about a push, beginning tomorrow, to remind people to complete the census.

________________________________________________________________________________________

Beginning on Constitution Day, September 17, through Sunday, September 20, join Census Bureau partners nationwide in reminding your network that time is running out to respond to the 2020 Census. 

We’re in the homestretch of conducting the count, and we need your help to remind everyone to participate. Every response matters, and the time to act is now.  

Share this 2020 Census graphic with your social media followers using the hashtag #2020Census, and post this 2020 Census banner on your website. Plan to send an email or text message reminder to your employees with a link to respond at 2020census.gov, and post a reminder on your intranet. Chalk the sidewalk in high-traffic areas of your community with a 2020 Census reminder.  

Constitution Day, celebrated every year on September 17, commemorates the signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787. Article I, Section II of the U.S. Constitution mandates a count of the U.S. population every 10 years.  

Time is Running Out to Respond: Plan Your Outreach 

• Time is Running Out Social Media Graphics – Graphic 1, Graphic 2 
• Time is Running Out Web Badges and Banner – Badge 1, Badge 2, Banner 
• 2020 Census Outreach Materials 
• Where to Count Yourself If You Haven’t Responded Yet 
• Sample Drop-In Messages to Encourage Response 

Thank you for your continued support as we work to count everyone in the 2020 Census! 

September 9

Hello Census Partners!

ONLY 22 DAYS LEFT UNTIL THE CENSUS DEADLINE!

Please continue your efforts to post, share, and forward 2020 Census information! We are so grateful for your assistance!

The Lancaster County Complete Count Committee

Some new Lancaster County Census press and resources: 

• CENSUS INTERVIEW. A big thank you to Hourglass for the opportunity to talk about the 2020 Census on Listening to Lancaster! Check out the video here!
• CENSUS ARTICLE. We are so pleased to appear in the September issue of La Voz Latina Central!! Take a look at the 2020 Census coverage on page 5, here!
• CENSUS MOBILE QUESTIONNAIRE ASSISTANCE LOCATIONS. Find dates, times, and locations here!

Census Bureau Update: Census Count Begins at Transitory and Temporary Locations

• Now through September 28, the Census Bureau will be counting those living in RV parks, campgrounds, hotels and motels. Learn more here. 
• Note: This operation does not include people who are experiencing homelessness. 

Respond to the Census ONLINE OR BY PHONE!

• 2020census.gov 
• 844-330-2020

What happens if you do not respond to the census? 

• If you do not respond, a census taker may visit your home to conduct an in-person interview – or may try to reach you by phone. 
• If they miss you, they will leave a notification of the attempted visit on the door - or on voicemail – with instructions about how you can complete the census yourself.  
• After several failed attempts to reach you, census takers may reach out to a neighbor, rental agent, or building manager to obtain as much basic information about the occupants as they can. 
• Learn more here
• If you are not counted, your community will lose crucial funding for things like roads, bridges, schools, and health care. 

August 28

Hello Census Partner - 

Here are our 2020 Census updates! Please let us know if you have questions, ideas, or resources you’d like to share with the group! 

Thank you - 

The Lancaster County Complete Count Committee 

Census Assistance Locations! Please let your clients and constituents know! 

• Need help filling out the census? Visit a Census Bureau Mobile Questionnaire Assistance location at the designated date/time - details are available here: 
  • Adamstown Post Office
  • Bethel AME Church 
  • Brothers Foodmax
  • City Gate Lancaster 
  • Community Cupboard of Elizabethtown 
  • Lancaster Central Market
  • Weaver Markets
• A big thank you to our Census Partners who have helped with or are hosting MQA locations! 

Plan your September Census social media posts now!

• The City of Lancaster has scheduled some social media posts throughout September – feel free to borrow and adjust for your community! See the posts here! 

What happens if you do not respond to the census? 

• If you do not respond, a census taker may visit your home to conduct an in-person interview – or may try to reach you by phone. 
• If they miss you, they will leave a notification of the attempted visit on the door - or on voicemail – with instructions about how you can complete the census yourself.  
• After several failed attempts to reach you, census takers may reach out to a neighbor, rental agent, or building manager to obtain as much basic information about the occupants as they can. 
• Learn more here
• If you are not counted, your community stands to lose crucial funding for things like roads, bridges, schools, and health care. 

REMEMBER: YOU CAN ALWAYS COMPLETE THE CENSUS ONLINE OR BY PHONE!

• 2020census.gov 
• 844-330-2020

August 24

Hi 2020 Census Partners: 

We urgently need locations for census assistance tables (known as MQAs). The Mobile Questionnaire Assistance (MQA) operation is an important part of the 2020 Census! Here’s what to do:  

1. Quick review…what is an MQA??? It’s basically a census assistance table. At an MQA, a census representative will answer questions about or assist people in filling out the census form. Learn more here.  

2. Consider possible MQA locations in your community. Where are the high-traffic areas right now in your neighborhood? Grocery stores? Churches? Community centers? Parks? Doctors’ offices? Events?

3. Offer to host, or reach out to your community contacts to see if they’d be willing to host an MQA. 

4. Contact Juan at juan.f.valencia@2020census.gov to schedule times with census staff – be ready to provide the following information: 

• 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)

Here are our current MQA locations, dates/times (list will be updated here): 

• Monday, August 24 from 5pm to 6pm @ East Chestnut Street Mennonite Church, 432 E. Chestnut Street, Lancaster, PA 17602
• Saturday, August 29 from 10am to 3pm @ Brothers Foodmax, 920 S. Duke Street, Lancaster, PA 17602
• Saturday, August 29 from 11am to 3pm @ Weaver Markets, 2610 N. Reading Road, Denver, PA 17517
• Sunday, August 30 from 11am to 1pm @ City Gate Lancaster, 218 N. Duke Street, Lancaster, PA 17602
• Monday, August 31 from 9:30am to 12:30pm @ Adamstown Post Office, 128 W. Main Street, Adamstown, PA 19501
• Saturday, September 5 from 10am to 3pm @ Brothers Foodmax, 920 S. Duke Street, Lancaster, PA 17602
• Saturday, September 5 from 11am to 3pm @ Weaver Markets, 2610 N. Reading Road, Denver, PA 17517
• Saturday, September 12 from 10am to 3pm @ Brothers Foodmax, 920 S. Duke Street, Lancaster, PA 17602
• Monday, September 14 from 9:30am to 12:30pm @ Adamstown Post Office, 128 W. Main Street, Adamstown, PA 19501

August 19

Hello 2020 Census Partners! 

We’ve only got a few weeks left until the deadline to respond to the census…and we need your help!  

THE DEADLINE TO RESPOND TO THE CENSUS IS SEPTEMBER 30, 2020! Please help spread the word! 

• Social Media. Please push this message out on social media! We’ve created content for you to post – download here.

• Mobile Questionnaire Assistance (MQA) Site. Please let us know of any events or high-traffic areas where census workers can set up a table to help your community complete the census. Contact Juan to get this set up! Learn more about MQA here. 

HERE’S WHAT OUR AMAZING PARTNERS ARE UP TO: 

• Church World Service (with the help of a grant from PA DCED) created 2020 Census videos in 16 languages spoken by communities in Lancaster County! You can view and share the videos here! Languages include Amharic, Hakha Chin, Karen, Kinyarwanda, Burmese, Arabic, Hindi, Afar, and others! 

• United Way of Lancaster County texted a census reminder to 8,700 users through the PA 211 East system! If your organization has the capacity to text users, please consider sending a census reminder! 

• Lancaster Chamber partnered with the Central PA Foodbank (with the help of a grant from Comcast) to include 10,000 census flyers in food boxes that were distributed to families around central Pennsylvania. If your organization would like census flyers to distribute, use the order form here.

UPDATES FROM THE CENSUS BUREAU: 

• Census Takers Will Follow CDC Recommendations to Reduce Transmission Risk. Read the Joint Statement from the Census Bureau and Centers for Disease Control on Conducting 2020 Census Non-Response Follow-Up Interviews here. 

• Videos and Photos You Can Use to Encourage Census Response. Check out the latest releases of B-roll videos and photos from the Census Bureau. Use these in your social media posts, brochures, emails, etc.!
  • Videos available here 
  • Photos available here 

• Notice of Visit in English and Spanish. If a census taker visits your home, they will leave notice that they’re trying to reach you. 

August 6

Hello 2020 Census Partners:

The deadline to respond to the census has been moved up to September 30, 2020. 

This means we now have under two months to motivate 50,000 Lancaster County households who have not yet responded to the 2020 Census. We’ve created messages that can be used on various forms of social media—Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn—we very much appreciate your help in pushing these out!

We will be having a CCC virtual call on Monday, August 10 at 4pm. Please join us to offer your ideas or hear what others are doing to push this message out. 

Thank you for your partnership!

The Lancaster County Complete Count Committee

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 
• WHYis 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)