News

Did you know that in 2010, five percent of children under the age of five weren’t counted in the 2010 Census? That’s roughly one million young children, the highest of any age group. In 2020, it’s important that we count all kids.

Why It’s Important

The U.S. Census impacts every person’s daily life, acting as a key indicator to inform funding decisions for services and infrastructure in our communities, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), the National School Lunch Program, and more. In fact, more than $675 billion in federal funding is directed to states and local communities each year based on census data.

However, due to varying fears, questions, and situations, many families and community members may be unsure of when and who to provide data on. To ensure communities receive the funding they need, families and community members across the United States must ensure that every person is accounted for in the 2020 U.S. Census.

Who Counts?

• • Everyone living in the 50 states, District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories (Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands) is required by law to be counted in the 2020 Census. View special circumstances here.
  • The person filling out the household form should count all children currently living in that household, including nonrelatives and children with no other place to live, even if the living situation is only temporary on April 1.
  • All newborn babies need to be included in Census data, even if they are still in the hospital on Census Day (April 1).
  • If a child spends equal time at two locations, count where the child spent the day on Census Day (April 1) or coordinate between both parties to identify which person will count the child with their Census data. Do not count the child twice.

Submitting Your Data

• • Filling out the Census yourself, on your own schedule, can often be easier than waiting for a Census worker to knock on your door. Consider submitting your data online, via phone, or via mail. Completing it shouldn’t take more than 10 minutes. See what type of questions the Census asks.
  • Non-English speakers can self-respond to the Census. An online form and telephone line will be available in 13 languages, including English. Language guides will be available in 59 languages other than English.
  • If you are a young parent with a young child and are living with a relative or household member, ask them to count you and your young child on their Census information.
  • For families who rent or recently moved, complete your Census information online or via phone. That way, you don’t have to worry about your paperwork getting lost during the move.

Safety & Confidentiality 

• • All responses submitted to the 2020 Census are safe, secure, and protected by federal law. Submitted answers will only be used to generate statistics and cannot be used against you in any way. All responses submitted to the U.S. Census Bureau household and business surveys are confidential.
  • Even if a child is living in a place they aren’t supposed to be, it’s important to count them during Census data collection. Submitted information cannot be used against you or the child.
  • The Census Bureau will never share information with immigration enforcement agencies like Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), law enforcement agencies like the police or Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), or allow this information to be used to determine eligibility for government benefits.
  • The Census will never ask you for your Social Security number, your bank or credit account information, money, or anything on behalf of a political party. Be careful of fraud and scams.

Resources

For more information on the 2020 Census, view the following resources that were provided by the U.S. Census Bureau:

• • Census 101: What You Need to Know
  • Counting Young Children in the 2020 Census
  • Options to Respond to the 2020 Census
  • The 2020 Census and Confidentiality

Learn More

For questions, visit the FAQ page or call 301.763.4636 or 800.923.8282.

For information on services for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, call the TTY number at 800.877.8339 to reach the Federal Relay Service.

*Information provided by the U.S. Census Bureau