Contributed
Census materials began arriving at homes throughout the state in March, and advocates are sending a simple message: count all babies, toddlers and young children.
NC Counts Coalition and NC Child have designated Monday, July 20 through Saturday, July 25 as “Count NC Kids Week of Action.” Count NC Kids Week of Action is a week-long statewide campaign to encourage families to count North Carolina’s young children in the 2020 Census.
Census figures will determine how the government spends $800 billion in federal funding. The Census directly affects the allocation of $23.8 billion annually in federal resources to North Carolina. Each person counted represents about $16,000 for our state over a 10-year period. Additionally, it provides key decision-makers with the information they need to ensure that government resources are directed strategically to the state’s communities.
“It’s important to count North Carolina’s children now so they have the resources they need as they grow up,” said Stacey Carless, Executive Director of NC Counts Coalition. “It all begins with responding to the 2020 Census. Ten minutes to complete nine questions versus ten years of lost funding for services like the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, school breakfast and lunch, childcare and special education is what’s at stake here. For the well-being of our children, our state cannot afford an inaccurate count.”
The 2010 Census missed more than two million children under five, costing states $550 million per year in lost federal funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Medicaid, foster care, adoption and childcare services. On average, schools lost $1,695 per year for every school-aged child missed. North Carolina failed to count an estimated 25,000 children in the 2010 Census and could miss an estimated 73,000 young children in the 2020 Census.
“Children under five are most likely to be missed in the census count – especially children from Black and Latinx families,” said La-Mine Perkins, Assistant Director of Community Engagement at NC Child. “The census result determines whether our communities will get the resources they need to thrive and to recover from COVID-19. Every child we miss in the census means less funding for first responders, schools, parks, and childcare. That’s why we’re calling on everyone who works with young children to participate in the Week of the Young Child – to make sure every child counts in the 2020 census.”
During “Count NC Kids Week of Action” childcare centers, libraries, direct service providers, government entities, community-based organizations and nonprofit organizations will share NC Child’s 2020 Census messaging materials with their constituents.
The Census is confidential, and data is protected by federal law. Under Title 13 of the U.S. Code, the U.S. Census Bureau cannot release any information that identifies individuals, and anyone who breaks this law faces a fine of up to $250,000 and/or up to five years in prison.
The Census operation will end on October 31. There are three ways for households to complete the Census: 1) Online at www.my2020Census.gov, 2) over the phone, 1-844-330-2020, or 3) Households can return the paper questionnaire received in the mail, no postage necessary.
Count children in the home where they live and sleep most of the time, even if their parents do not live there. If children spend time in more than one home, count them where they stay most often. If their time is evenly divided, or if a parent is not sure of where they stay most often, count them where they were staying on April 1, 2020. If a friend’s or family member’s child is staying with a family (with or without the parent), and the child does not have a permanent place to live, count the child if he or she was staying with the family on April 1, 2020 — even if it was only temporary. It is also important to remember to count babies, even babies born on April 1, 2020.
For more information about the 2020 Census, please visit www.icountnc.org.
About Author
