“Each state gets a slice of it. If we miss anyone, it means the slice of the pie is smaller than it could be. It means less money for the state to pass on in funding to our cities and local communities,” Hector-Harris said.
According to a study from the George Washington University, each person not counted in Ohio is a loss of $1,800 per year for the state, this news organization previously reported.
“There is almost nothing that goes on in our lives that in some way doesn’t use census data to determine whether or not a service needs to be provided in a certain area,” Hector-Harris added.
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The U.S. Census Bureau will begin mailing detailed information in mid-March on how to respond. The process will start with that information and residents will be able to complete the census in one of three ways. That includes by mail, by phone or online, which will be new for the decennial census, according to census officials.
The actual census collecting work will be handled by those employed by the census bureau, which will offer seasonal part-time and full-time positions during the census reporting cycle.
The bureau is looking to recruit local people and plan on filling thousands of temporary jobs, said Hector-Harris. Those interested must be 18 or older and submit to a background check. More information can be found at 2020census.gov/jobs or by calling (855) 562-2020.
However, local officials say its important for them to make sure residents have access to information as well as opportunities to complete the census. That could be through public information campaigns or partnerships with local shelters and other organizations focused on providing social services.
Local officials said an accurate count can play a part in Medicare reimbursements or even for grants awarded to community organizations and programs.
“It is so important because we are given an opportunity to demonstrate who we are through numbers,” said Shannon Meadows, the community development director for the City of Springfield.
Clark County’s population peaked in 1971 with about 160,000 residents, according to Census data. By 2010, the population stood at about 138,300 people. The county’s population dipped about 2.7 percent from 2010 to 2018, according estimates for the latter year that put the population at 134,585.
However, population estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau have indicated that the number of residents in the county is starting to stabilize. The News-Sun previously reported that population dropped by more than 1,000 residents between 2015 and 2016, but only fell by 64 residents in 2017.
For the City of Springfield, the population was reported as 60,608 people during the 2010 census. However, estimates from the census bureau put the population at 59,282 as of July 1, 2019.
Local officials said that the decennial census is the largest effort in collecting that data and is especially important since it is used as a baseline for estimates and surveys conducted in between.
“You live with this data for 10 years,” Meadows said.
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Clark County’s strategy regrading the census will be focused on spreading information through social media, news outlets , county websites or in public spaces, said Ethan Harris, the director of the county’s community and economic development department.
Harris said that includes working with smaller municipalities to make sure residents know what to expect as well as how to properly identify census workers who may be knocking on their door. He said those efforts are expected to ramp up in the weeks preceding Census Day on April 1.
In addition to that, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services has released a statement that residents can use the computers at local OhioMeansJobs sites to complete the census survey.
“Each household will receive a card in the mail with a password and instructions for submitting information online, over the phone, or by mail,” said a news-release sent by the department.
In Champaign County, those heading local census efforts say they have started to engage with libraries in the area in order to provide local resources to help people complete the survey.
Champaign County’s population hit a peak of about 40,100 residents in 2010 but saw an annual decline beginning in 2011. It fell about 3.4 percent over the next several years, to about 38,700 in 2016, the News-Sun previously reported. However, Champaign County saw growth between 2016 and 2017 when it added slightly more than 100 residents, according to census estimates.
A complete count committee was established in that area last year in order to promote the count and improve response rates among residents. Its chair Doug Crabill said messaging includes displaying information in county buildings, including governmental offices in the City of Urbana, as well as consistent social media postings.
A tactic that was used this month was printing information regarding the census on utility bills for certain municipalities in the county.
Officials in both Clark and Champaign counties said they have been in contact with the census bureau and are working with that agency to confirm addresses as well as identify vacant homes.
Accurate census information can also play a part in attracting business opportunities in a area, which in turn can have a large impact on the local economy, Harris said.
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“We are competing with other counties and cities in the (country) for those allocated dollars,” he added.
In addition to that, population plays a large part in determining how many seats each state gets in the U.S. House of Representatives. The count also helps draw boundaries for congressional, state and local districts. Ohio is currently divided into 16 congressional districts, each having one representative in Washington, D.C.
In order to reach an accurate and complete count, Hector-Harris said it could mean overcoming stigmas associated with the census process or a distrust of federal institutions. For example, there can be a distrust over what will be done with that information.
However, she said that Census workers take a lifetime oath of secrecy and that information is used solely for a statistical purposes. Personal information and details of survey takers are not shared with other governmental agencies or reflected in the data.
One strategy is to engage with community organizations in taking a boots on the ground approach. That could include working with faith leaders and other “local faces” in various communities within a municipality to pass along messaging.
“Those that are marginalized are at the highest risk of being underrepresented,” Meadows said.
Crabill said in Champaign County there is also a plan to get information out to local homeless shelters, soup kitchens and pantries.
What does the census impact
The number of Ohio representatives in Congress. Ohio currently has 16 seats.
The amount of federal funding allocated to some state and local government agencies and programs
The level of need for community services.
Census timeline
March 12-20: When housholds will begin receiving infomation from the Census Bureau
April 1: Census Day
May - July: Census takers will begin visiting homes that haven't responded to the 2020 Census
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