Census 2010 – The Impact It Has On The Future and Education

 

Have you received your form yet? You know the one – where you fill out for the Census? The one where you have to include your family member count. Most people disregard the forms, but it is very crucial to get a proper head count for our children and family members.  We just received ours today and it literally took less than five minutes to fill out and this was for a family of four.  Don’t worry, your information is used only for statistical purposes only and the severity of importance it has is high.  Our children’s educational funds depend on this, as well as other important factors.  And, this costs you nothing.  The form that you mail back comes with an envelope in which postage is already prepaid.

WHY IS THE CENSUS SO IMPORTANT?
 
“A complete and accurate count of our nation’s youngest is critical to their health and education, and the future strength of our communities and labor force,” said Robert M. Groves, director of the U.S. Census Bureau.

The federal government uses Census data to determine how to best distribute more than $400 billion in annual funds, including $26 billion earmarked for educational services and other programs to benefit children. Undercounting will mean some communities won’t get the funds that they need.

The full Census occurs only once every 10 years, therefore a child born today will be in the fourth grade during the next national Census. Missing them this year means the child would spend their first decade of life with reduced health, education and community services because the federal government is unaware of the need.

Click HERE to see a message from Dora about the Census!  In a video called “Children Count Too,” Nickelodeon’s Dora the Explorer stresses the importance of including infants and young children on 2010 Census forms.

Click HERE to visit the 2010 Census website to learn more about the campaign, download web buttons, forms, and more.  Again, census data are used to determine the number of representatives your state receives in the U.S. Congress, as well as your community’s representation in the state legislature.  The data are also used to distribute more than $400 billion in federal funds each year to communites for estasblishing and improving schools, hospitals, roads and senior servies.

Please do your part because EVERY child counts!