What is the Census?
The decennial Census is a count of everyone living in the United States and is mandated by the U.S. Constitution since 1790. The City and County of Denver is committed to having an accurate count of all its residents in the 2010 Census. Federal law protects the personal information shared during the Census.
Why is the Census important?
The Census gives residents Money and Power.
Money
- Annual distribution of $300 billion in Federal funds to local, state and tribal governments each year
- Each person counted in the Census in the City and County of Denver represents $826 a year for ten years in money allocaled for federally funded programs.
Power
Congressional representation: Reapportionment of U.S. Congressional seats in the House of Representatives
Local representation: Reapportionment of Colorado state representatives and City Council seats
Accurate local statistical data is used for determining school and state legislature districts; to assist with infrastructure, public health, environmental protection, and disaster relief services amongst other services. Many state-funded grant programs also rely on Census data. Because the annual population estimates use the decennial census counts as a base, if a community's population is undercounted in the decennial census, these funds get misallocated for an entire decade.
Census Jobs
The U.S. Census is hiring for various jobs. Please call 1-866-861-2010 to find out the nearest testing facility.
Denver Census 2010 Complete Count Committee
In January of 2009 the City and County of Denver launched a Denver 2010 Census Complete Count Committee. The purpose of the committee is to increase the Census questionnaire mail-back response rate through focused structured, neighbor-to-neighbor program outreach. By bringing together a cross-section of community members who will focus on the 2010 Census awareness, we will be able to utilize the local knowledge, expertise and influence of each Complete Count Committee member in order to design and implement a Census awareness campaign targeted to the community.
Specifically, the Complete Count Committee members will:
- Ensure an accurate count of every City and County of Denver resident
- Ensure an accurate count of presumably undercounted communities
- Achieve a 75% return rate of mailed surveys
- Make every Denver resident aware of the census
- Make every Denver resident aware of the confidentiality of the census
The Complete Count Committee strives to involve every aspect of a local community in its subcommittee structure. The City and County of Denver has as part of its Complete Count Committee the following subcommittees in place:
Education - Facilitates Census awareness for local schools from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade, as well as post-secondary education institutions in the City and County of Denver area. May also encourage school administrators, teachers, and students to use Census in Schools materials.
Faith Based Organizations - Creates and coordinates activities and materials that can be used by any local faith based institution in the promotion of the 2010 Census awareness and participation.
Public Relations & Marketing - Creates and facilitates ways to get the Census message to all community residents, using all available sources such as local newspapers, newsletters, fliers, local festivals, billboards, radio and television.
Questionnaire Assistance Centers - Create and facilitate a space where the community can reach out to for questions and answers regarding the Census.
Neighborhoods - Collaborate with City neighborhoods in the promotion of the 2010 Census. Encourages participation in the Census awareness and participation efforts.
Community Based Organizations - Collaborates with community organizations to inform residents of the importance of participating in the 2010 Census, and the benefits derived from census data.
Niche Communities - Assists in Census promotion, outreach, and encourages participation with the populations that are at risk of being undercounted in the 2010 Census.
Recruiting - Disseminate information about census job openings for the 2010 Census. Information will include the number of jobs available, types of jobs available, and the locations of testing and training sites.
Data - Assist in gathering and deciphering data and maps which will support the other subcommittees in Census promotion and outreach.
City & County of Denver Complete Count Committee Expectations:
- Attend the quarterly Complete Count Committee meetings
- Attend the scheduled subcommittee meetings (vary by subcommittee, average every other month)
- Assist in recruiting members to the Complete Count Committee
- Emphasize the Census Bureau’s commitment to confidentiality to further increase participation in the Census.
- In partnership with the Census outreach specialist and subcommittee chair/s assist in developing and executing a local targeted plan to influence members of their community to complete the Census questionnaire in a timely and accurate manner.
- The time commitment requirements are as follows:
- Committee co-chairs 3 to 4 hours a month
- Subcommittee chairs 2 to 4 hours a month
- Subcommittee members 1 to 2 hours a month
*the time commitment and frequency of meetings is from January to December of 2009. This may change as Census Day in 2010 approaches.
If you are interested in volunteering with the Denver 2010 Census Complete Count Committee please contact:
Martha Rodriguez, Census Outreach Specialist
martha.rodriguez@denvergov.org
720.944.3023 phone
303.478.5404 cell
729.944.3092 fax