1. Achieving a Complete and Accurate Count
Introductions, thank you, and note your role.
BOS appointed 16 members from throughout the County to form the Contra Costa County Census 2020 Complete Count Steering Committee.
The Steering Committee is working to build coalitions to ensure a complete and accurate count.
2020 CENSUS COMPLETE COUNT
Achieving a Complete and Accurate Count

2. CENSUS 2020 GOAL
The US Census Bureau’s Goal and one the County is committed to.
Supervisor Burgis personal goal is to “Want everyone to want to be counted.”
CCC Census 2020 Complete Count Committee tagline “Count Me In!”
Ensure that everyone is counted once, only once, and in the right place.

3. IMPORTANCE OF THE CENSUS
Nearly everything you do is impacted by the Census
Who represents you at the local, state, and national level
How your voting districts are determined as you move to district elections
Funding for the roads you drive on and the schools your children attend
And even if a new coffee shop will be built down the street.
Representation
Census count determines Congressional Representation for each state and provides data to draw federal, state, & local legislative & voting districts. 
Funding
Apportion more than $675 billion in federal grants to tribal, state and local government.
Policy
Governments use census data to make policy decisions for our communities such as school siting, libraries service, and transportation infrastructure.
Planning
Plan future locations for retail stores, new housing developments and other community facilities.

4. KEY MESSAGES ABOUT THE CENSUS
Easy:  Short census questionnaire.  Depending on your household, it takes about 10 minutes to complete
Safe:  By law, the Census Bureau cannot share respondents’ answers with anyone, including federal and local law enforcement agencies.  Census Bureau workers take an oath to protect the confidentiality of the data.  The penalty for unlawful disclosure is a fine up to $250,000 or imprisonment of up to 5 years, or both.
Important: Census Data helps determine our political representation and funding for local roads, schools, and community improvement

5. EXAMPLES OF PROGRAMS WITH FUNDING DEPENDENT ON CENSUS DATA
Transportation: Highway Planning and Construction
Children: Foster Care, Nutritional School Lunch Program
Health and Nutrition: Medicaid, Medicare Part B, Health Center Programs
Schools: Head Start, Special Education Grants, Title I Grants
Affordable Housing: Section 8, Low Income Home Energy Assistance
Other: Community Development Block Grant

6. CENSUS BY THE NUMBERS
Note: Source of $2,000 per person per year is The George Washington University of Public Policy
Updated: $1,000 to $2,000 loss per person loss.
Contra Costa County receives 42% of its revenue from Federal & State resources
California receives approximately $76 billion in federal funding, based upon the state’s population
Each person not counted equates to a loss of between $1,000 to $2,000 in State and Federal funding PER YEAR
72% of CA’s population belongs to one of the groups historically undercounted during the once-a-decade Census process
Contra Costa County has just under 250,000 (20%) people living in “Hard-to- Count” Census Tracts
If Contra Costa County undercounts by 5%, we’d lose between $500 Million to $1.1 Billion over 10 years

7. BARRIERS TO A COMPLETE CENSUS COUNT
First online Census: Concerns about digital divide and fears about security
Deep Distrust in government and fallout from Citizenship Question legal battle combined with ongoing political rhetoric and ICE raids
Disconnect between the importance of the Census and daily life – difficult to see direct impact of being counted.
Our focus is to work with trusted messengers to create a deep grassroots effort to reach the hardest to count populations.

8. HARD TO COUNT POPULATIONS
Contra Costa County is focusing on trying to reach the Hardest to Count populations. These include:
Children under 5
LGBTQ
Youth between 18-24
People experiencing homelessness
Racial and Ethnic minorities
People who are distrustful of government
People living in poverty
Undocumented immigrants
Non-English Speaking households
People living in Rural areas
People with no high school diploma
Highly mobile people
Renters, and people in multifamily units
Seniors
Veterans

9. HARD TO COUNT POPULATION AREAS
Hard to count populations are found throughout Contra Costa County.
Hard to Count populations are found throughout Contra Costa County.
San Pablo (22,400) out of 31,156 – 72% Hard to Count
Richmond (55,800) out of 110,040 – 51% Hard to Count
Pittsburg (32,400) out of 72,141 – 45% Hard to Count
Antioch (37,400) out of 111,674 – 34% Hard to Count
Concord (22,700) out of 129,783 – 15% Hard to Count
Unincorporated (18,600) out of 173,406 – 11% Hard to Count
San Ramon (8,100) out of 75,931 – 11% Hard to Count

10. This slide shows the concentrations of low resonse score areas of Contra Costa County.

11. CONTRA COSTA COUNTY OUTREACH STRATEGY GOALS
For Mayor’s Conference, highlight Collaborate to avoid duplication and effectively communicate the Census message
Achieve a Self-Response Rate of at least 76.9% (2010 Self Response Rate according to the US Census Bureau);
Increase participation in hard-to-count communities;
Collaborate with the U.S. Census Bureau, State, regional groups, the Regional ACBO, Contra Costa cities and special districts, and community organizations to avoid duplication and effectively communicate the Census message; and
Build additional capacity and strengthen Contra Costa County community-based organizations through Census outreach efforts.

12. PARTNERS IN CENSUS OUTREACH
US Census Bureau
State of California
Regional Community Based Organization (United Way) and other Regional Funders
Contra Costa County
Trusted Messengers
Responsible for the Count
Partnership Staff and Local Census Offices
Budgeted approximately $180 Million
Grants to Counties, Regional CBOs, Statewide Outreach Contracts
United Way Bay Area (UWBA) has a State contract to implement Outreach for San Francisco Bay Area
UWBA and local Foundations are providing funding to local CBOs
Received Funding from State
Working to support Grassroots Outreach with Trusted Messengers
Committed $350K in Census Outreach grant funding
Work Directly with Hard to Count Population and encourage to fill out the Census Form

13. Common questions and associated dates
February – March 2020
  Census questionnaires are mailed or delivered to households. 
March – April 2020 
  Be Counted program is implemented. Census questionnaires are available at  
  select public sites for individuals who did not receive one by mail. 
April 1, 2020
 CENSUS DAY
May  – July 2020 
 Census takers visit households that did not respond. 
December 31, 2020 
 By law, the Census Bureau delivers population counts to the President. 
March 2021 
 By law, the Census Bureau completes delivery of redistricting data to states. 

14. Countdown to Census 2020 US Census Bureau Contra Costa Complete Count
The work with the Census Bureau and the County is going forward in parallel tracks.
Important to remember that the Census Bureau is responsible for the actual count.
The Complete Count Committee and all of the trusted messengers and partners are working to educate, mobilize and activate ALL residents to complete the Census in
US Census Bureau
Contra Costa Complete Count
Aug 2019 – Oct 2019
Address List Canvassing Operation
County RFP released Sept. 3
Census outreach funding deployed
Sep 2019 – Feb 2020
Recruitment & hiring of over 8K Census Takers / Enumerators
Early stage census outreach activities (trainings, outreach, canvassing)
Census Job Opportunity Messaging
Mar 2020 – Apr 2020
Self-response period (online, by phone, on paper)
”Count Me In" events; QAC/QAK operation
May 2020 – Jul 2020
Non-response follow up operation. Census takers visit ALL households that did not respond
Late stage census outreach activities

15. What You Will Receive From the Census Bureau and When
Areas that are less likely to respond online will receive a paper questionnaire along with their invitation. The invitation will also include information about how to respond online or by phone.
Every household that hasn’t already responded will receive reminders and will eventually receive a paper questionnaire.
It doesn’t matter which initial invitation you get or how you get it –the Census Bureau will follow up in person with all households that don’t respond.
On or between
You’ll receive:
March 12-20, 2020
An invitation to respond online to the 2020 Census. (Some households will also receive paper questionnaires.)
March 16-24, 2020
A reminder letter.
If you haven’t responded yet:
March 26-April 3, 2020
A reminder postcard.
April 8-16, 2020
A reminder letter and paper questionnaire.
April 20-27, 2020
A final reminder postcard before the Census Bureau begins in-person follow-up.

16. CONTRA COSTA COUNTY OUTREACH PROCESS
The Contra Costa County Outreach process is building to the Census 2020 count.
June 2020
April Regional Meetings: Final Push!
Complete Count!
April 2020
Jan/Feb Regional Meetings: Outreach Events Kick-Off and Training
Boots on the Ground
Jan 2020
Oct/Nov Regional Meetings: Training
Training
Sept 2019
Implementation Plan
June Regional Meetings: Inventory
We are here!
Strategic Plan – Building Network
Feb 2019

17. COMPLETE COUNT COMMITTEE PRELIMINARY OUTREACH PROGRAMS
These are examples of outreach programs that cities, towns and other agencies can partner with the County and Census Bureau to provide.
Messaging Partners – Utilizing existing networks to spread the word about the importance of the Census
County Logo and Tagline
Articles about Census for newsletters
Social Media Posts to share
Flyers
Videos
Stickers (“I Count!” “My School Counts” “Count Me In” “Count Me In for my ____”
Swag for events
Questionnaire Assistance Centers (QAC) and Questionnaire Action Kiosks (QAK) – Local government offices, community centers, or local community organizations host assistance with the Census form if needed or make room for a computer so people can fill out their form
Looking for specifics about privacy and security requirements
County and City of Richmond Libraries
Potential at Service Providers and Community Partner locations
Developing a QAC/QAK-in-a-box tool kit
Speakers Bureau –
County and Census Bureau staff can provide an overview of the importance of the Census and how to be involved
Training trusted messengers to give presentations about the importance of the Census for their community
Messaging Partners – Utilizing existing networks to spread the word about the importance of the Census
Questionnaire Assistance Centers (QAC) and Questionnaire Action Kiosks (QAK) – Local government offices, community centers, or local community organizations host assistance with the Census form if needed or make room for a computer so people can fill out their form
Speakers Bureau – Complete County Committee members or other trusted messengers are available to speak about the importance of the Census

18. COMPLETE COUNT COMMITTEE OUTREACH PROGRAMS
The County approved $500K to fund...
Census Outreach and Assistance Grants – BOS Approved $350,000 to Local Community Organizations
Goals:
Target the Hard to Count Communities
Work with Trusted Messengers
Provide local resources for people to get Census assistance, including in multiple languages
Find innovative outreach strategies to reach hard to count communities
Invest in our local non-profits and community organizations

19. WHAT CAN YOU DO? - Schools
Other ideas include:
Participate in or host Census rallies or parades.
Coordinating Census unity youth forums.
Hosting Interfaith breakfasts and weekend events.
Encouraging the use of Statistics in Schools classroom resources.
Incorporating census information in newsletters, social media posts, podcasts, mailings, and websites.
Helping recruit census workers when jobs become available.
Implement special events that will generate interest and participation in the census. • Use social media to engage your community.
Canvassing neighborhoods, conducting trainings, phone
banking, and hosting questionnaire assistance centers.
Go to to sign up to be a Census 2020 partner
Use your social media presence and other communications vehicles to amplify messages about the upcoming census, and encourage participation
Host QAC’s / QAK’s in publicly-accessible location
Display Census banners outside your school
Provide a Census 2020 table at open house, and other gathered events
Conduct Census-related art, poster or other contests
Utilize curriculum materials from the US and California Census 2020
Work with your county office of education to provide outreach materials to parents and community members

20. PARTNERSHIP IS THE KEY TO A SUCCESSFUL CENSUS!
I want everyone here to sign up now. Pull out your phones, and go to
Click on ”Be Our Partner” and complete as much of the survey as you can. At least put in your contact information.
Please sign up to partner with Contra Costa County’s Census Outreach effort!
Complete the Complete Count Census 2020 partner form to provide your Census 2020 lead info, and tell us how you and your organization can help ensure that everyone in Contra Costa County is Counted in Census 2020!

21. FOR MORE INFORMATION
Stress how important it is for cities and CBOs to sign up online
Checkout Census 2020 resources and sign up to be a Contra Costa County Census Outreach partner at

22. ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR IDEAS
Reach out to staff at

23. THANK YOU!!