Census counts everyone every 10 years - this is the year

Fourteen 2010 Census workers were in training throughout the day on Monday to be ready to man Census Questionaire Assistance Centers (QACs)) for Carbon County residents who might need a little help filling out their 2010 Census questionnaires which have been hand delivered to some residents.

A.B. Schirmer, trainer and field operation supervisor for the 2010 Census, said that QACs are being established in communities that have historically been undercounted in past census operations.

The QAC workers will staff areas convenient to the public, such as in local churches, community centers, grocery stores, recreation halls, libraries or other places that are easily assessable to residents.

"Our goal is to answer questions and to provide support to help people fill out census questionnaire," he said.

Schirmer said that census field staff have hand delivered questionnaire to some households in Carbon County, which is why the QACs are opening now.

Schirmer said that the QACs representatives will help ensure that the 2010 will be the most accurate census count ever.

"You are the representatives who will provide answers to people with questions on the 2010 census," said Schirmer to the newly sworn in 2010 Census employees.

Schirmer said that different regions of the state will have partnerships specialists who are responsible for informing the public about the QACs which will help with the community's participation in the 2010 census.

Each hosting site will be using donated space.

"We're depending on community organizations such as Agency on Aging or libraries to get the word out," he added. "Plus there will be some advertising."

Schirmer said that QACs will be located at comfortable locations where people can get confidential assistance with their census questionnaires and will operate for a number of weeks in this capacity. After March 19, QACs will switch over to serve as distribution sites for D-10 questioniares for people who are missed by mailed questionnaires.

The U.S. Census counts every resident in the United States every 10 years. Local communities depend on the census counting each and every resident to help receive federal funds each year for things like hospitals, job training centers, schools, senior centers, bridges, tunnels and other-public works projects and emergency services.

The data collected by the local census will help determine the number of seats Pennsylvania has in the U.S. House of Representatives.

This month census forms will be delivered to every residence in the United States and Puerto Rico. When people receive their census, they should answer the 10 short questions and then mail the form back in the postage-paid envelope provided. Those who do not mail the form back, may receive a visit from a census taker who will ask you to the questions on the form. While the majority of the country will receive English-only materials. Households in areas with high concentrations of Spanish-speaking residents may receive a bilingual (English/Spanish) form.

Any personal data you provide is protected under federal law.