TAKE 10 FOR A HEALTHY COMMUNITY.
We take our duty to get the word out about Census 2020 very seriously. The responses from this year’s decennial Census will impact numerous critical services to the citizens of Maryland - including how many vaccines may be apportioned to each county, city or municipality of the state. These services also include healthcare, roads, infrastructure projects, emergency services, and other matters important to our everyday lives. This is in addition to the $16 billion in census derived funding that will be available to Maryland.
The health and safety of all Marylanders, including our staff, is of primary importance. The Department of Planning (Planning) is following the Governor’s mandates and doing all that we can to ensure that the Census counts residents in each corner of the state. This is more important now than ever. We are in the midst of a pandemic that is changing the way we approach common, daily routines – but we are also learning even more so the importance and impact of the Census.
Census 2020 invitations are being sent to homes by the U.S. Census Bureau between Mar. 12 and 20 with instructions on how to participate. You may be thinking that responding to the Census means someone coming to your home. That’s not the case. In fact, the only reason for that to occur is if you don’t respond. It has never been easier to respond on your own, whether online, over the phone or by mail—all without having to meet a census taker. These are 21st century tools for a 21st century Census and you should take advantage of them as soon as you receive the invitation. You can even complete your Census now before the invitation arrives by simply clicking here.
Instructions on the invitation will include the web address for the online questionnaire in English and 12 additional languages. Further, it also includes phone numbers for those who prefer to call in their responses. Residents can also respond via a paper questionnaire that can be mailed with a prepaid postage envelope. The deadline for responding on your own through these easy methods is July 31st. We urge you to complete the Census before that date. More information about the Census forms and deadline can be found at Census.gov. [hyperlink]
Planning’s Census website is a one-stop shop of information about the Census and is charged with getting the word out to all Marylanders. We do not conduct the count but are doing what we can to make sure citizens know about it and how easy and important it is to respond. Now more than ever, we are seeing firsthand how crucial the knowledge of counting citizens is. This year’s Census will inform the need for critical health care supplies such as vaccines.. We ask you to take 10 minutes to complete your form – it has a larger impact on the health and safety of our communities than you may have thought. Please help shape the future of Maryland at my2020census.gov.
