FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the Census?

Every 10 years, the U.S. Census Bureau conducts a headcount of everyone living in the United States by sending a form in the mail to every household in the country.

Why do we need a Census?

The census is mandated by the U.S. Constitution, and your participation in the census is required by law.  The census is also vitally important to the AAPI community in many ways. Census data is used to ensure that each state is fairly represented in Congress, as well as to draw equitable political boundaries at the state, county and city level. The Census data is also used to distribute several hundred billion in federal funds. An accurate picture of the community is critical to knowing what kinds of programs are needed, and at what level they need to be funded.

When do I take the Census?

Census forms will be mailed to households in March 2010. Census forms must be mailed back on or before April 1, 2010.

How long is the Census?

The 2010 Census is a simple one-page, 10-question form that will take less than 10 minutes to complete for one person.

What questions are asked on the Census 2010 form?

The 2010 Census will ask the following:

• Name
• Sex
• Age and date of birth
• Race (you may choose one or more races)
• Hispanic origin (considered an ethnicity, not a race)
• Relationship (How are the people in the household related to each other?)
• Housing tenure (Is the home owned or rented?
• The Census 2010 form will not ask about immigration status or for social security information.
• The Census 2010 form does not exist the world wide web.

Is the Census form only in English?

Forms will be generally mailed in English, with bilingual English/Spanish forms mailed to selected areas. Forms in Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Russian are also available by calling the request line on the back of the English form.

What if I don’t mail back my Census form?

Households not returning a census form by mail will be called or visited by a Census worker. The best way to avoid having a Census worker come to your door is to mail back your form!

Is the information I provide the Census going to be kept confidential?

The information given on the census form is 100% confidential. Federal law protects the personal information you share during the census. By law, census information is not shared with any other government agency, such as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or the Internal Revenue Services (IRS). Census workers take an oath to protect the privacy of respondents and face jail time and/or heavy fines if they violate the oath.

How are census data used?

Census data are used:

• For political empowerment – determines how many representatives from a state will serve in the U.S. House of Representatives and for redistricting efforts at all levels
• For allocation of funding – including over $300B federal funding annually, as well as state and local funding, which uses census data to determine
  • How much money your community will receive for schools and English Language Learning
  • How much money will be provided for senior centers, job training programs, and student loans
• For planning purposes – government (federal, state, and local), businesses, and community-based organizations use census data to plan how to allocate their resources and what services to provide the community. For example,
  • The government uses census data to determine where hospitals, child care centers, and roads will be built;
  • Businesses use census data to determine where to open new stores or offices, often times increasing job opportunities in the community related to such openings;
  • Community-based organizations can use census data to identify trends and problems occurring in communities to determine their policy agenda to attempt to fix such problems legislatively or the type of services they should provide to the impacted communities.
• To prevent discrimination against minorities, the disabled and the elderly in the workforce.
• To enforce civil rights laws like the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Why is the Census so Important?

Every person counted, or not counted, in a community impacts TEN YEARS of federal funds, political representation, public infrastructure and private investment.  The data generated by the Census help the private sector as well as state and federal governments determine where jobs and job programs are needed. Census data help potential homeowners research property values, median income, and other demographic information about a particular community. Corporations use population data for market research to determine locations for commercial enterprises, such as food stores, pharmacies, and other essential services.

What specific programs does the Census Data help to fund?

• Title 1 grants to educational agencies (school districts across the nation)
• Head Start programs
• Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) (food grants)
• Public transportation
• Road rehabilitation and construction
• Programs for the elderly
• Emergency food and shelter
• Empowerment zones

For further assistance, please contact AACI at (408) 975-2730 ext. 145

The AACI Census 2010 Outreach Project is made possible through support from the Asian Pacific Fund and a grant from Silicon Valley Community Foundation.