Census Outreach FAQs and Ideas

What kind of messaging should we use to connect with our communities about the census?

Each community will have unique challenges and opportunities to craft messages to promote the census in a way that promotes trust and validation for their communities. Here are some ideas.

  • Allow community members to claim where they associate “as home”
  •  “____________ Counts” ( insert City, neighborhood, or use words like “we,” “community” etc)
  • Be careful of assigning areas to people (ex. Different cultures and generations associate different names to neighborhoods)
  • Allow folks to enter their own association and unifying logo
  • Use empowering slogans including
    • “I belong in my community”
    • “I want to stand up and be counted in my community”
    • “My kids count”
    • “Every adult, child, and baby should be counted”
    • “Standing up means fighting for the resources we deserve”
    • Use your voice: Complete the Census
  • Clearly define WHO is to be included on the form: “1 Census per household” means that the Census must include everyone living at that address on April 1, 2020 (including additional dwelling spaces on that property).
  • Develop messaging that it is “ok” to leave a question blank but not to skip people
  • Keep messages to simple sound bytes that include why, how, when
  • Include images of the actual Census form or link to view it online
  • Use pictures / images / photos
  • Develop templates that can be used on website / social media / flyers
  • Create Step-by-Step instructions
  • Messages should convey what is in it for them / what is at stake
  • Message that the Census is safe
  • Make the language extremely simple, easy to read for those with low-literacy and low-comprehension skills
  • Inform people where the “Census Stations” are located to complete online form
  • “Do you care about _____? ________? _________?” They are funded b/c Census
  • Messaging must begin before Census starts; awareness outreach to grow buy in
  • What messaging would reach those who don’t want to be “noticed”? Get creative!
  • Don’t use messaging that promotes distrust such as
    • “Census is used to inform ____________” (sounds shady)
  • Messaging must convey that identification information provided to the Census does not go to city zoning board (re: housing crisis)
  • Census information does not go to ICE (re: immigration issues)
  • Collected information does not go to IRS (re: tax status)
  • It is illegal for Census information to be shared with anyone, even Census staff.