If everyone in the county gets counted in the upcoming United States census (taken every 10 years), the county won’t miss out on its portion of the $300,000,000,000 (that’s 300 billion) in federal grants that will be based on census counts. Counting everyone might be tricky for Cook County, however.
Donna Hoffer of the U.S. Census Bureau appeared before the county board Tuesday, June 23, 2009, saying that a 10-item questionnaire will be sent out next March, but the questionnaires will only be sent to people who receive mail at their residences. That means that people receiving mail via their post office boxes will be left out unless they get a hold of their questionnaires somewhere else. Cook County is considered to be a “hard to reach area,” according to Hoffer.
The Census Bureau is encouraging local governments and community groups to form “complete count committees” made up of volunteers who work to ensure that everyone gets counted. Money is available through its Partner Support Program for promotional items – hats, coffee cups, cloth bags, t-shirts, and even clowns – that will remind people to take part in the census.
Board Secretary Janet Simonen pointed out that a lot of Cook County residents are gone in March when the questionnaires will be sent out. Hoffer said questionnaires can be filled out from other places, but people should make sure to note their main place of residence.
Native Americans wanting to be counted as part of their band will need to know the proper name of the band.
Local census-taking jobs are available. Having locals involved in taking the census may ensure that the most number of people are counted.
Affected by census data are grants for food assistance; school lunch programs; supplemental nutrition programs for women, infants, and children; adult education; vocational education; special education; school renovations; substance abuse prevention and treatment; child support enforcement; foster care; energy assistance; programs for the elderly; social service programs; community development; unemployment insurance; job programs; and road funding.
According to the Census Bureau, information that could identify individuals cannot be released for 72 years. A U.S. Census brochure on data privacy says, “…Information collected by the U.S. Census Bureau is used only for statistical purposes. …No authority can obtain personal identifiable data from the Census Bureau. The airtight law applies to the White House, U.S. Supreme Court, Internal Revenue Service, Immigration and Naturalization Service, police, military, and welfare agencies – everybody!” According to the Census Bureau, not even the FBI or the President of the United States has authority to access its data on individuals.
Census Bureau employees swear under oath not to disclose any information about individuals or businesses gathered by the agency. Violations are punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
Access to Census Bureau computer systems is controlled through security technology, and names and addresses are separated from electronic files containing individual answers when they are no longer needed. “TheCensus Bureau even withholds statistical totals if they represent a geographic area so small that the numbers might identify someone,” the brochure goes on to say.
Copies of census questionnaires cannot be used as evidence in court, and census data on individuals or businesses are not subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act.
General census data is used by the government, private industry, and even governments worldwide. The brochure states, “These data form the basis for the national unemployment rate, official poverty/income statistics, Consumer Price Index, monthly housing statistics, and other economic indicators. … The surveys…provide vital information about emerging social problems, such as the condition of education in the Unites States, pregnancy and infant death, the prevalence of alcohol consumption, and crime. The data also describe the health, housing, employment, unemployment, income, and consumer expenditures of the population.”
Apparently the answers to 10 little questions say a lot.
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