Posted on August 26, 2019
Though the Census doesn’t start until April 2020, ACNJ has
been promoting the importance of an accurate count for New Jersey since last
year. Together, my colleagues and I have been crisscrossing the state,
educating mayors, civic groups, social service agencies and other nonprofits on
how the Census affects federal funding
and political representation.
But while more people understand the importance of the
Census, we heard the same thing over and over: “OK, that’s great. So, what can I
do about it?”
Lots, actually. One easy way people can help is by participating in local Complete Count Committees. These committees are heavily featured in the State Complete Count Commission report on Census outreach. With $9 million allocated to the New Jersey Complete Count Commission for Census outreach, much of New Jersey’s plan focuses on grassroots organizing built around local Complete Count Committees.
What is a Complete
Count Committee?
A Complete Count Committee is a group of stakeholders
dedicated to helping Census efforts to get a complete count of all residents in
a given area. Members works together to identify what may prevent a complete
count of all the individuals in their community. Then, they identify what resources
and strategies might be successful in improving their local count.
Complete Count Committees may sound formal, but they can be
as simple as a few neighborhood members meeting in a library community room
once a month. They tend to follow the same general model:
1) Learn about the Census from the Census Bureau and partners (including ACNJ)
2) Identify the hard-to-count
populations in their community (for a map of hard-to-count areas in New Jersey,
click here)
3) Develop strategies to address
those needs
The Census is a
federal program, so why do we need local Complete Count Committees?
Although the Census is a national undertaking, counting
everyone means focusing locally. People may not trust the federal government,
but they do trust their neighbors, friends, doctors, teachers, clergy and
neighborhood/community leaders.
Local communities have local obstacles. Bridgeton is different
than Hackensack. The strategies they will need to reach hard-to-count
populations will need to be different as well. The federal government does
not know your community as well as you do!
How do I start a
Complete Count Committee?
Typically, a Complete Count Committee is appointed by the highest level of government in an area – either the mayor or the county freeholders/executive. Check to make sure that your town doesn’t already have a Committee formed. If a group already exists, join in! If your community has not created a Complete Count Committee, contact your mayor’s office or local county freeholders and/or executive to request that they do so. Click here for a sample letter from the League of Women Voters-Atlantic County, which was sent to their Board of Chosen Freeholders.
You can also set one up yourself by contacting the Census
Bureau’s partnership specialists at New.York.rcc.partnership@2020census.gov.
There, you can register your group as a Complete Count Committee and also
request a presentation from the Bureau on Census operations.
Members should include:
- Government agencies
- Schools
- Libraries
- Nonprofit agencies
- Faith groups
- Business community
- Local foundations/philanthropy
- Community organizations serving hard-to-count
populations (homeless, immigrants, limited English proficiency, college
students, seniors, ex-offenders, etc.)
The Committee should then meet regularly to discuss what
action steps have been taken and what planning needs to be done.
Funding for committee work may come from local government or
philanthropies. Groups that are interested in philanthropic support should
direct their questions to Kiki
Jamieson at Fund for New Jersey at kjamieson@fundfornj.org, who is
encouraging foundations to support Census outreach.
The New Jersey Complete
Count Commission, which was created by legislation and has appointments
from the governor and legislature, is planning to fund local outreach. The
application process, however, has yet to be finalized.
The Census Bureau provides a complete guide on starting
a Committee. However, for a quick one-pager, this
short document lays out the basics.
What are the
strategies we need to reach hard-to-count populations?
Strategies to reach individuals will differ based on the
community, but some examples include:
- A poster project at local middle schools to
design posters and logos on why the Census is important for the community
- Host job fairs at local sites such as city
offices, churches and community organizations
- Host informational sessions for community
members at existing events such as school PTA meetings, faith groups or local
service organizations
- Invite the Census Bureau to table at local
events such as fairs, festivals, parades, etc.
- Translate Census materials into non-English
languages particular to the community
- Have committee members appear on local
non-English radio stations to highlight importance of Census for immigrant
communities
Local committees should develop solutions that make the most
sense for their communities.
When should we get
started?
As soon as possible! We’re currently helping community
members understand what the Census is and that it is coming soon. But Census
Day will be here before you know it. If a community is planning to reach
everyone in their community, they will need to start planning now.
Additionally, state funding and philanthropic dollars will
likely be targeted to communities with robust plans for how that money will be
spent. No community should miss out on these critical funds for Census outreach
due to a lack of planning.
How can I support
my local committee?
If there’s a local
committee, join! Complete Count Committees work best when they have representation
from hard-to-count populations and groups that serve those populations. If a
committee only has local government and the same five people who come to every
meeting, it might be missing some of those hardest-to-count groups.
Additionally, think about those who serve these populations who
may not be included in outreach and planning. Immigrant groups may not rely on
traditional nonprofits, instead leaning on small churches or local businesses.
Tenant legal aid agencies may be more likely to reach populations who move
frequently or are afraid to respond because of housing code violations. Having
these people on your committee is invaluable.
What if my
municipality is not creating a Complete Count Committee?
Start planning
anyways! You don’t need the government to start your own Complete Count
Committee. A group of engaged citizens can always create their own Committee.
Additionally, groups may want to form Complete Count Committees with special
population focuses. For example, in Trenton, a group of local nonprofits has
begun organizing a Complete Count Committee alongside the city’s own effort,
with a special focus on very hard-to-count groups such as people experiencing
homelessness.
I’m ready to
start!
Getting a complete count in New Jersey will require everyone
to be involved. Together, we can ensure an accurate count and bring billions of
federal dollars, as well as congressional representation, to the State. If you
would like a group to give an educational presentation, please feel free to
reach out to me at pchen@acnj.org.
Resources from
this post
