From Executive Director Dan O'Leary

It only happens once every 10 years. It involves 10 questions and 10 minutes of your time. It’s the national census and it’s important that you respond!

The census is a count of every person in the United States. An accurate count is necessary so that government resources can be allocated in appropriate numbers. In fact, census data is used to help determine how $400 billion in federal funding is distributed to state and local governments each year. The data is also used to determine the correct amount of representation that each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives. Elders should be especially interested in the census as the new data will affect community programs, hospitals, and food and transportation programs.

What should you expect? Each household will receive a census form in March 2010. The forms will be delivered or mailed. Please complete the form promptly and mail it back. If you do not fill out the form and return it, census workers will visit your household to complete a count.

One person in each household should complete the census form on behalf of every other person at the residence. Language Assistance Guides, in large print, Braille, and 59 languages, will be available to help you complete the form.

Completing the census form is important, but so too is your safety. If a worker comes to your house, be sure he or she is actually from the census bureau. Every census worker will have a census badge and bag. The census worker will only ask you the questions that are on the census form.

Privacy is also a concern. Be assured that under U.S. law, information collected for the census is confidential and cannot be used against you by any government agency. Each census worker takes an oath of nondisclosure that prohibits him or her from sharing any of the information collected. Individuals who break this oath are subject to a fine of $250,000; imprisonment up to five years; or both.

Great efforts have been made to ensure that the census is a smooth, safe process for residents. Please be sure to complete the census form and talk with census workers. So many of our future services depend on your answers.

If you have questions about the census, please call the Census Bureau Call Center at 1-800-923-8282.