FRIENDLY REMINDER from Dana Gargus, the Kitsap County Ombudsman regarding the 2020 WA. Census. She asks that you PLEASE REMEMBER to submit your 2020 Census immediately.
First off - What is a Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program?
The Washington State Long-Term Care Ombudsman advocates for residents of nursing homes, adult family homes, and assisted living facilities. Our purpose is to protect and promote the Resident Rights guaranteed these residents under Federal and State law and regulations.
We are trained to receive complaints and resolve problems in situations involving quality of care, use of restraints, transfer and discharge, abuse and other aspects of resident dignity and rights.
The Ombudsman Program wants not only households to make sure to do submit their 2020 Census, but all residents in the long term care communities must be counted too!!!
The best way to reach an Ombudsman during this stay at home reality, is to call the:
* Kitsap County Regional Ombudsman at 360-337-5714 or email: DGargus@co.kitsap.wa.us.
* Clallam & Jefferson County Regional Ombudsman at 360-452-3221
* Pierce County Regional Ombudsman at 253-798-3789
Dana Gargus asks that you PLEASE REMEMBER to submit your 2020 Census immediately and here's why:
By providing basic information about all adults, children, and babies living or staying at your address the Results from the 2020 Census will be used to:
Direct Billions of Dollars in Federal Funds to Local Communities for Schools, Roads, and other Public Services
Help Your Community prepare to meet transportation and emergency readiness needs
Determine the number of seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives and your political representation of all levels of government.
Here's some additional information too regarding the 2020 Census as it pertains to the timeline:
The Census process was to run from mid-March until the end of July 2020, (now extended). A first mailing from the Census Bureau arrived at residences between March 12 and 20, and a second letter arrived four days later. If the Bureau doesn’t receive a response after these mailings, another three reminders will be sent. The fourth mailing will include a printed copy of the questionnaire, but residents will continue to be able to respond online or by phone, as well. Those who have not responded by May 13 will receive repeated visits from a Census Bureau employee to their home to attempt to collect the information needed.
Why is the 2020 Census important?
An accurate census will drive decisions that will affect economic investments in communities in Washington and the weight of its political influence until 2031. For every 100 households missed in the 2020 Census count, the state could lose up to $5.8 million, which would affect the ability to support children, veterans, senior citizens and middle- and low-income families adequately. An accurate count of Washington's communities will ensure the fair distribution of taxpayers' funds and political representation.
The Constitution mandates a decennial census Article I, Section 2 of the U.S. constitution establishes the basis for a complete population count every 10 years in order to determine the number of Congressional representatives that each state gets. The 14th Amendment makes clear that the count must include “the whole number of persons in each state.”
Census data is used for political and administrative representation
Washington state uses the data to draw boundaries for every level of government down to the school districts. Due to growth in the state between 2000 and 2010, Washington was also able to send an additional representative to Congress. While the state is unlikely to gain another seat in the 2020 Census, an accurate count is important to ensuring fair and equal representation at all levels.
Policymaking, budget decision-making and planning
Federal, state, and local government agencies rely on census data for planning and delivering education, economic development and employment, health, and transportation services. In FY2016, Washington state received $16.7 billion from 55 federal programs based on census data. It is estimated that 300 federal programs allocate funds based on census-derived statistics.
State estimates are that census data determines the allocation of $200 million to counties and cities from the state general fund annually.
But, it is not just governments that use census data to plan, budget, and make policy:
Businesses use the census to decide where to build factories, offices and stores, which creates jobs.
Developers use the census to build new homes and revitalize old neighborhoods.
Local governments use the census for public safety and emergency preparedness.
Transportation planners use the census to decide on public transit routes.
Citizen organizations rely on census data to identify community needs, request and fund programs, monitor trends and assess program effectiveness.
Residents use the census to support community initiatives involving legislation, quality-of-life and consumer advocacy.
New technology may increase challenges for a complete count
In 2020, the Census Bureau plans to use the internet as the primary mode of self-response for the first time. Other cost-cutting measures include introducing “big data” solutions (e.g., GIS mapping, on-line personnel management methods, and administrative records) to replace more resource-intensive address canvassing, training, and non-response follow-up. While certain groups have typically been hard-to-count communities, the new and largely untested innovations increase the potential to omit residents where housing has grown or changed, to overlook those with less computer literacy or broadband access, and to undercount young children, minorities, low-income individuals and other marginalized individuals.
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