The Constitution requires an accurate count of the nation’s population-–a census–every ten years. Unfortunately, the 2010 census missed more than 10 percent of young children, about 2.2 million children, age four or younger. Unless we act, we might miss even more young children in 2020. When we miss young children in the census it has serious consequences for them, their families, their communities and our nation – consequences that last for most of their childhood.
Why is the Census important?
The Census counts everyone in the United States despite citizenship status or income status. State and community leaders use this data to create bus routes, businesses use Census data to decide where to open factories and office buildings, and the 2020 Census will determine how the $1.5 trillion are spent on resources like infrastructure needs. It is important to remind everyone that counting all children is essential for school funding, child care, and other services that children need, and federal funding for local government plans.
For the past several years, the Census has been underfunded, and some unintended consequences included reduced offices and Census takers. The decennial Census needs adequate funding, and it is essential that every individual is counted in the 2020 Census. The Count All Kids Campaign is working to make sure that every child is counted in 2020. Please refer to Count All Kids message guide with additional information and resources for your network. You can learn more about the campaign at www.countallkids.org.
In addition, the Sesame Street launched, Make Your Family Count, a Census campaign to help families understand the importance of including all the children in their home on the census. The free toolkit includes six video PSAs and an audio PSA, available in English and Spanish that emphasizes the need to count all kids. To learn more about the campaign and to download the toolkit, you can access it at https://www.sesameworkshop.org/2020Census.
