Over the next few months, The Wellbriety Movement will be providing some communications around the importance of registering for the 2020 Census and voting! Registering for the Census impacts how much funding is going to help our communities. It can help secure more funding for schools and programs that our people need! Below we have provided some information on why everyone should participate in the Census and how your information is being protected.
How the Census Affects Indian Country?
The census works as an important tool for federal and Tribal decision making. Your participation in the 2020 census is important so that our Native population is not underrepresented! The results of the census determine the number of seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives, and they are used to draw congressional and state legislative districts. The data collected from the census helps guide how billions of dollars in federal, state, and tribal funding are distributed. Having accurate census data allows for fairer allocations of funds that support Tribal programs. The census also helps Tribal leaders understand what their community needs are, plan for growth, and helps Tribal communities attract new business. Many Tribal organizations and Tribes have used census data to plan new facilities and programs for the communities they serve.
In summary, registering for the 2020 Census can actually help your community! Click here for the link to the 2020 Census Tribal Handbook to help answer any additional questions or concerns you may have.
What is the Census?
Every 10 years the U.S. Constitution requires a census to determine how many seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives. The count is conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, a nonpartisan government agency. The census counts the population of the U.S. and five U.S. territories (Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands).
The Census Bureau respects the privacy of people who answer the census and is bound by strict confidentiality requirements. The Census Bureau cannot share the answers it receives with anyone, including welfare agencies, U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services, the Internal Revenue Service, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Tribal officials, Tribal courts, Tribal police, or the military. Census employees take an oath of nondisclosure and are sworn for life to protect all information that could identify individuals. Anyone who breaks this law can receive up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.
The 2020 Census marks the first time everyone has been invited to respond online. There’s still time to shape the future for your community. You can complete the #2020Census now online, by phone, or by mail.
Visit the 2020 Census website to register or for more information: https://2020census.gov/en/ways-to-respond.html
The Census Bureau uses technology to protect your information through many security measures, including electronic barriers and encryption devices. Data from an individual are combined with other data to produce the statistical summaries that are published. The Census Bureau does not produce data that can identify any individual. Below is a quick video to give more information on why being part of the 2020 Census is so important!
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