TMC PULSE

t m c n e w s . o r g 6 Participating in Census 2020 is Vital to Public Health Complete counts influence resources for the next decade B y C i n d y G e o r g e A pril 1 is acknowledged as an annual day of foolishness, but it's a serious date every decennial. For 2020, April 1 is Census Day. And for the first time, households will be able to submit responses online. The constitutionally mandated census is a count of every person liv- ing in the United States regardless of citizenship or immigration status. Responses are confidential. A complete count ensures every household, city, county and state receives its fair share and avoids a decade-long loss of resources and representation. The census impacts access to health care, housing, education, transportation and nutri- tional assistance—all elements of public health. It doesn't matter who you are, how old you are, where you live or why you're here, you should be counted. "All of the resources that we get for the community and for all of the public programs—Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security—and for infrastructure such as public transportation, parks, schools and hospitals all depends on who we count," said demographer Maria Perez-Patron, Ph.D., a research assis- tant professor at the Texas A&M University School of Public Health. "If we are undercounted, then we are underfunded. We are worse off all around. We get fewer resources, less money for our communities, less money for our services and we get fewer representatives in Congress." In mid-March, individual house- holds across the country will receive invitations to complete the 2020 Census. Later, a reminder postcard will arrive, followed by a paper questionnaire. Census forms will be available in English and 12 other languages that will cover 99 percent of the population. Language support online and by phone for 59 languages other than English will also be available. A census response—by mail, by phone or online—should include

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