Carol Stream Chamber of Commerce

Counting the Nation – A Critical Undertaking

Our nation’s constitution requires the federal government to count the entire country every 10 years. The information collected is called official Census data and is used to assist federal agencies allocate $400 billion of dollars in revenue annually back to states and cities to address the needs of the nation. Many federal programs use population data in their revenue formula to determine how much revenue is distributed back to a jurisdiction including the following:

N Early Childhood Education funding thru the Department of Education to support local Head Start programs.

N Transit Improvement funding thru the Department of Transportation to support mass transit, roadway construction & improvements, bridge repairs and bike path construction.

N Emergency Food & Shelter Resources through the Office of Homeland Security to assist communities preparing for or recovering from a natural disaster.

N Nutritional Assistance to the elderly thru the Department of Human Services to help fund programs such as Meals on Wheels or the Women, Infant & Children’s program (WIC).

N Housing Rehabilitation funding thru the Department of Housing & Urban Development to help a community update its aging housing stock.

N Public School funding thru the Department of Education to improve educational facilities and the quality of instruction of our nation’s youth.

Your Cooperation is Essential

Federal law requires U.S. residents, regardless of citizenship status to complete the 2010 Census survey. The Census Bureau never asks for information on the legal or citizenship status of those sent a Census survey. Your survey responses are protected by strict federal regulations (Title 13 U.S. Code Section 9) that guarantee their privacy for 72 years. The data gathered in a decennial Census is strictly confidential with summary data used for statistical purposes only to determine the allocation of resources to the states and cities across our nation! The Village has approximately 14,545 dwelling units in the community who will be mailed a Census survey on or about March 1, 2010.

A Complete Count Preserves the Quality of Life for the Next Decade

Official Census data are valid for 10 years and will serve to guide the federal government in determining the number of members from a State who will serve in the United States House of Representatives as well as reallocating $3 trillion dollars in federal funds throughout the coming decade. It is critical that each and every resident complete and return a Census survey to ensure our state and locality receive the funds it needs to maintain our school system, take care of our elderly, rebuild and repair our infrastructure, improve the readiness of our nation to respond to disasters and to improve the overall health of our nation, especially at risk populations such as children, the disabled, the mentally ill and working families. Our goal is to count everyone, once and in the right place.

Census 2010 Survey – The Short-Form & Nothing But the Short-Form

The 2010 Census survey includes only 10 questions requiring only 5 minutes to complete. Answers to the following survey questions are asked:

This past May, Mayor Saverino Sr. appointed the following local leaders to serve on the local Census 2010 Complete Count Committee:

Carole Ellermeier, Community Relations Coord. – Community Consolidated School Dist. 93

Greg Schwarze, Village Bd. Member & Public Education Coord. Carol Stream Fire Protection Dist.

The members have been asked to work with community groups and their respective agencies to develop and execute a plan to ensure that all Carol Stream householders participate in the 2010 Census so every Carol Stream resident is counted once and in the right place. Any suggestions for ensuring a complete count can be directed to Christopher Oakley, Asst. to the Village Manager and Complete Count Committee Liaison at coakley@carolstream.org

The Census Bureau Chicago region will begin recruiting field employees beginning in October 2009 through April 2010. Successful candidates will be thoroughly trained and be assigned to field work that includes canvassing non-responding addresses as well as enumerating special facilities such as hospitals, nursing homes, homeless shelters, group homes etc. All Census workers must be fluent in English but bilingual applicants from a community that has a significant number of residents who speak a non-native language are highly encouraged to apply. For more information on employment with the Census for the 2010 Count, visit www.census.gov/2010censusjobs and click on Regional Office Link. Applications can be downloaded from the following web site address www.census.gov/rochi/www/emply.html

With the U.S. Census process beginning, the BBB advises people to be cooperative, but cautious, to avoid becoming a victim of fraud or identity theft. Eventually, more than 140,000 U.S. Census workers will count every person in the United States and will gather information about every person living at each address including name, age, gender, race and other relevant data.

“Most people are rightfully cautious and won’t give out personal information to unsolicited phone callers or visitors, however, the Census is an exception to the rule,” said Steve J. Bernas, President & CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Chicago and Northern Illinois. “Unfortunately, scammers know that the public is more willing to share personal data for the Census and take advantage of this opportunity by posing as a government employee and soliciting sensitive financial information.”

During the U.S. Census, households will be contacted by mail, telephone or visited by a U.S. Census worker who will inquire about the number of people living in the house. Unfortunately, people may also be contacted by scammers who are impersonating Census workers in order to gain access to sensitive financial information such as Social Security, bank account or credit card numbers. Unfortunately, people may also be contacted by scammers, who impersonate Census workers to get access to banking and financial information. Law enforcement in several states have issued warnings that scammers are already posing as Census Bureau employees and knocking on doors asking for donations and Social Security numbers. How do you tell an authorized U.S. Census worker from a con artist? The BBB offers the following advice:

Currently, Census workers are only knocking on doors to verify address information. Do not give your Social Security number, credit card or banking information to anyone, even if they claim they need it for the U.S. Census. While the Census Bureau might ask for basic financial information, such as a salary range, it will not ask for Social Security, bank account or credit card numbers, nor will employees solicit donations.

U.S. Census workers will have a badge, a handheld device, a Census Bureau canvas bag and a confidentiality notice. Ask to see their identification and their badge before answering their questions. However, you should never invite anyone you don’t know into your home. Eventually, Census workers may contact you by telephone, mail or in person at home. However, they will not contact you by e-mail, so be on the look out for e-mail scams impersonating the Census. Never click on a link or open any attachments in an e-mail that are supposedly from the U.S. Census Bureau.