Arnold Jackson Associate Director for the Decennial Census 2008 SDC/CIC Annual Training Conference October 8, Decennial Census Program Update

2 MAF/TIGER Accuracy Improvement Program The Census Bureau has completed the MAF/TIGER Accuracy Improvement Project with the upload to the MAF/TIGER database of enhanced data for the 3,232 United States counties.

Decennial Census Program Update Completed operations: Local Update of Census Addresses Address Canvassing Group Quarters Validation Coverage Measurement Independent Listing Telephone Questionnaire Assistance Mail-out, check-in, and data capture of mail returns Simulated delivery of Nonresponse Followup Universe and Late Mail Returns Coverage Followup activities Completed down-scoping of other operations Ongoing Operations Processing of Data Planning for Count Review, prototype redistricting data products 2008 Dress Rehearsal Status (Census Day: May 1)

Decennial Census Program Update Local Update of Census Addresses About 29% of jurisdictions agreed to participate, covering about 92% of housing units. Shipped materials to all participants. We have received input from 78% of participants. As of September 30, integrated edits from 99% of submissions. Regional Census Center and Early Local Census Office space acquisition and build out All 12 RCCs (plus the Puerto Rico Area Office) are open and functional. Have signed leases for all 150 ELCOs; ELCOs open beginning in October Census Preparations

Decennial Census Program Update 2010 Census Preparations 2010 Census Questionnaire Wording We have done much testing of questionnaires throughout the decade. This includes: –Census 2000 AQE (Alternative Questionnaire Experiment) –2003 and 2005 National Census Tests –2004 and 2006 Census Tests –Wide-ranging cognitive testing Stakeholder Input: We held a special joint meeting of all our advisory committees on November 30, 2006 to review our proposed two-part question series for Hispanic origin and race, without a separate ancestry question. This resulted in a decision to adopt those proposed questions. Final wording was announced in January Additional tests planned as part of 2010 Census Alternative Questionnaire Experiment

Decennial Census Program Update 2010 Census Preparations Alternative Strategy for FDCA Alternative strategies required for FDCA due to the high risk and rising cost of Harris Re-plan. The new strategy uses Harris for near term operations including Address Canvassing, infrastructure, and development. Other FDCA operations will be replaced by Census and under other contractors. The strategy seeks to reduce risk and shift work and direct control of FDCA to Census as the systems integrator.

Decennial Census Program Update 2010 Census Preparations Language Program Goal : To identify the most effective way to provide the opportunity to respond to the 2010 Census in languages other than English. Will mail English/Spanish bilingual form to tracts with a high concentration of "Spanish Assistance" households, that is, those in which no person aged 15+ reports speaking English "very well“ Will deliver bilingual form in Update/Leave areas if feasible operationally 2010 Census short form translated into five languages--Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Russian - Available on request by calling the Telephone Questionnaire Assistance (TQA) line.

Decennial Census Program Update 2010 Census Preparations Language Program (continued) Be Counted Forms translated into these five languages are available at Questionnaire Assistance Centers and Be Counted locations. Telephone Questionnaire Assistance also to be provided in those five languages. Language assistance guides available in 50 languages via the Internet and in 22 languages by calling TQA line.

Decennial Census Program Update 2010 Census Partnership Program The 2010 Census Partnership Program is a part of the overall 2010 Integrated Communications Program and includes both National and Local components. The goal of the Census Bureau’s partnership program is to combine the strengths of local governments, community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, schools, media, businesses, and others to ensure a complete and accurate 2010 Census. The Census Bureau will provide promotional materials, regular updates, and data assistance to partners to assist in this effort. The 2010 Census National Partnership Program has started. Regional partnership staff reach into all communities, with a focus on hard-to- count populations, such as renters, those living in poverty, and those living in both dense urban neighborhoods and sparsely populated rural areas of our nation. We now have 120 regional partnership specialists and will be hiring an additional 460 in January 2009.

Decennial Census Program Update 2010 Census Partnership Program (continued) There are many ways that your organization can get involved and support the 2010 Census. For example: –Sign a Partnership Agreement and pass a resolution/proclamation in support of the Census. –Appoint a liaison to work with the Census Bureau. –Help us recruit job candidates and distribute and display recruiting materials. –Mobilize your local chapters/affiliates to help us promote the Census by: Organizing and/or serving on a local Complete Count Committee. Providing space to test and train job applicants. Working with the relevant Regional Census Centers. Providing space for the Be Counted sites and Questionnaire Assistance Centers. –In 2010, encourage your membership/community to complete and mail their questionnaires.

Decennial Census Program Update 2010 Census Communications Plan The campaign’s goals are to: –Increase mail response. –Improve overall accuracy and reduce the differential undercount. –Improve cooperation with enumerators. The campaign will include: –National TV, radio, and print. –Local radio and print. –Interactive media and recruitment efforts. DraftFCB subcontracted with G&G – an SBA-certified, small advertising agency with expertise in the American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders populations. G&G also developed the advertising and marketing for the Census 2000 AIAN effort.

Decennial Census Program Update Service-Based Enumeration (SBE) Service-Based Enumeration (SBE) is conducted at service locations to provide an opportunity for people experiencing homelessness to be included in the census. These service locations include: –Shelters for people experiencing homelessness, –Soup kitchens, –Regularly scheduled mobile food vans, and –Targeted non-sheltered outdoor locations. Census Bureau has designated : –March 26 as the one day to enumerate shelters for people experiencing homelessness, –March 27 to enumerate soup kitchens and regularly scheduled mobile food vans, and –March 28 to enumerate targeted non-sheltered outdoor locations.

Decennial Census Program Update Additional Operations That Can Count People Experiencing Homelessness Be Counted/Questionnaire Assistance Centers (BC/QAC) –The Be Counted (BC) program provides individuals who believe they did not receive a questionnaire an opportunity to use a Be Counted Form (BCF) to be enumerated during the 2010 Census. It is also an opportunity for people without conventional housing to complete a questionnaire and be included in the final census count. –The Integrated Communications Programs will coordinate the establishment of Questionnaire Assistance Centers (QACs) where individuals can obtain the assistance they need to fill out their questionnaires. –BC sites include libraries, local post office, community gathering points, gas stations, etc. Enumeration at Transitory Locations (ETL) –The Enumeration at Transitory Locations field operation enumerates individuals at occupied units at transitory locations who do not have a Usual Home Elsewhere (UHE). These occupied units count as housing units, but may enumerate people traditionally considered to be experiencing homelessness. –The ETL operation is designed to enumerate eligible populations that inhabit transitory locations such as Recreational Vehicle (RV) parks, campgrounds, hotels, motels (including those on military sites), marinas, racetracks, circuses, and carnivals. In this operation, a transitory location may not have a house number or street name address. People experiencing homelessness are also included in a variety of other living arrangements and will be enumerated during other 2010 Census operations, including: –living with friends or family in a traditional housing unit, –Emergency and transitional shelters, and –Halfway houses, jails, group homes, or worker dormitories.