March 23, 2010 Co-hosted by: Children’s Defense Fund-RGV, Center for Public Policy Priorities, NALEO, and Frontera Asset Building Network

OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION WHAT IS THE 2010 CENSUS? WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? WHY ARE KIDS UNDERCOUNTED? WHAT’S THE TIMELINE? WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP MY COMMUNITY?

What is the 2010 Census? Count of EVERYONE residing in U.S.

What is the 2010 Census? Required by the U.S. Constitution every 10 years

What is the 2010 Census? Easy Important Safe

It’s EASY Questions, 10 Minutes # of people in house Rent vs. own Contact info Gender Age Hispanic Origin Race Other residence

How is my information used? No individual information is reported. Your information is grouped with everyone else’s from your area. Your Age Median Age for Your City

It’s IMPORANT!! Political Representation Affects drawing district boundaries for 232 Districts in Texas 36 Congressional Seats 150 State Legislative 31 State Senate 15 State Board of Education Thousands more in counties cities, & local school districts

It’s SAFE By law, Census Bureau cannot share any individual’s information with anyone, including other federal agencies or any law enforcement entities Unlawful disclosure $250,000 fine Up to five years imprisonment

It’s IMPORANT!! Used to distribute money to communities for schools, hospitals, and programs like job training that help people for the next 10 years!!

What’s At Stake? $400 BILLION in U.S. Annually $2.1 BILLION in Hidalgo & Cameron Counties in FY2008 $809 MILLION for children’s programs

$809 MILLION in FY’08 allocated to Hidalgo and Cameron Counties for kid’s programs based on Census (in MILLIONS)! Source: Federal Funds for TX in 2008 based on Census Data, “Counting for Dollars” report by Brookings Institution released 3/09/10; CPPP analysis of Housing, WIC, & Child Care ProgramHidalgoCameron Medicaid & CHIP $298 Million$217 Million WIC$48$21 Housing$33$26 Foster Care$3

$809 MILLION in FY’08 allocated to Hidalgo and Cameron Counties for kid’s programs based on Census (in MILLIONS)! Source: Federal Funds for TX in 2008 based on Census Data, “Counting for Dollars” report by Brookings Institution released 3/09/10; CPPP analysis of Housing, WIC, & Child Care ProgramHidalgoCameron Head Start$24 Million$19 Million Child Care$21$10 Title 1$56$30

Don’t leave money on the table for someone else to take!!

UNDERCOUNTED POPULATIONS IN THE CENSUS: WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL?

Most Undercounted Groups in 2000 Census Hispanic & African American Men Renters Young Children and Young Adults

Young Children are the MOST UNDERCOUNTED group Est. 750,000 young children missed across U.S. in 2000 Lots of young kids in hard-to-count areas Minority children missed most often Reduced funding for needy families

Why Does Undercount Matter for Rio Grande Valley? 4% Undercount All CountedDifference 2011$888 Million$925 Million$37 Million Estimated Child Funding for RGV Source: CPPP calculations based on 2000 Census child population, average annual child population growth from , federal assistance funds report from Brookings Institution, CPPP analysis of Housing, WIC, & Child Care. RGV = Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, & Willacy counties.

Why Does Undercount Matter for Rio Grande Valley? 4% Undercount All CountedDifference 2011$888 Million$925 Million$37 Million Estimated Child Funding for RGV Source: CPPP calculations based on 2000 Census child population, average annual child population growth from , federal assistance funds report from Brookings Institution, CPPP analysis of Housing, WIC, & Child Care. RGV = Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, & Willacy counties.

Why Does Undercount Matter for Rio Grande Valley? 4% Undercount All CountedDifference 2011$888 Million$925 Million$37 Million $9.4 Billion$9.8 Billion$377 Million Estimated Child Funding for RGV Source: CPPP calculations based on 2000 Census child population, average annual child population growth from , federal assistance funds report from Brookings Institution, CPPP analysis of Housing, WIC, & Child Care. RGV = Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, & Willacy counties.

Why Does Undercount Matter for Rio Grande Valley? 4% Undercount All CountedDifference 2011$888 Million$925 Million$37 Million $9.4 Billion$9.8 Billion$377 Million Estimated Child Funding for RGV Source: CPPP calculations based on 2000 Census child population, average annual child population growth from , federal assistance funds report from Brookings Institution, CPPP analysis of Housing, WIC, & Child Care. RGV = Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, & Willacy counties.

Why Should You Help? You are a trusted and local voice in your community You know how to communicate using culturally appropriate messages You have direct access to the people who are most undercounted... a captive audience!!!!

¡HAZME CONTAR! an initiative of the ya es hora ¡HAGASE CONTAR! is an effort to ensure a full Latino census count of all school-aged children. Efforts made possible through the kind support of the Annie E. Casey Foundation

Did you know? Every 10 years, the United States counts its residents and that is a big job. In 2000, there were 281, 421, 906 people living in the US and its territories. Census is not only about numbers but also of who we are and where we come from. Your information is private and protected by the U.S Constitution.

Why is it important to get counted?

When do we receive the Census Form? Every household in the nation should have received the forms now. Census Day is April 1 st. In mid-April, people come knocking at your door (April –July) Dec. 31 is the deadline for the Census Bureau to turn in the data to President Obama

What to do now… Easy, Safe and Important!!!! 10 Questions, 10 minutes, 10 years  # of people in house  Rent vs. own  Contact info  Gender  Age  Hispanic Origin  Race  Other residence

How can I help spread the word? Use school marquees to remind parents about Census Use your “hold button” on your phone to remind callers to fill out their forms. Bring up the census topic in your conversations with friends and encourage them to fill out the form.

Help Spread the Word: General Information Put out fliers or posters in lobby

Help Spread the Word: General Information Share NALEO’s bilingual hotline for answering questions about census: EL-CENSO ( )

Help Spread the Word: In your communications! Insert blurb in newsletter Note to listserv Link to Census 2010 and other support organizations on your website

Help Spread the Word: Start Conversations! Talk with clients and constituents about the Census during regular services, meetings, trainings, and educational activities.

Help Spread the Word: Jobs!! 84,000 Census Jobs in Texas $8-$24/hr

The main message is that it’s... Easy Important Safe

Other Useful Websites Official 2010 Census website: CPPP’s census page: NALEO’s census page: Frontera Asset Building Network:

PSAs available for download at

Contact Information Elizabeth Franco Program Manager-Hazme Contar NALEO Educational Fund Frances Deviney, Ph.D. Texas KIDS COUNT Director Center for Public Policy Priorities ext. 106