From Our Team
Together, Fearless, We Count - Census 2020
Posted on November 5, 2019 by Enrique Mata
What do all people living in the 50 states, District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories (Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands) have in common with El Paso residents? We all need to be counted for the 2020 Census. The data collected for the census are so vital to our community that a group of community leaders started the Paso del Norte Complete Count Committee (the CCC).
The CCC includes more than 40 representatives from organizations and agencies such as the City of El Paso, County of El Paso, Paso del Norte Community Foundation, Region 19, Rio Grande Council of Governments, elected leaders, businesses, community-based organizations, and other stakeholders committed to a complete count. The CCC was established to develop and implement a robust, collaborative campaign to work in complement with national Census 2020 efforts so the greater El Paso area can have the most complete and accurate count of residents possible. A key component of the CCC’s efforts is to connect with residents who are hard to reach. An ambitious goal was set to count 95% of the population in El Paso County.
According to the Census 2020 website, Census results help determine how billions of dollars in federal funding flow into states and communities each year. The results are used to determine how much funding local communities receive for key public services and how many seats each state gets in Congress. State and local officials also use census counts to draw boundaries for congressional, state legislative, and school districts. A recent brief from ChildTrends.org showed that Texas is one of the states that could lose the most in annual federal funding as a result of a “Hispanic undercount.” This could be an amount as high as $1.4 billion.
Be on the lookout, by April 1, 2020, every home will receive an invitation to participate in the 2020 Census. Once that invitation arrives, you can respond in one of three ways: phone, mail, or for the first time an online response option is available.
Information from responses is not shared with anyone, including other federal agencies, and the Census Bureau does not publish any information about individual households or businesses. Data collected will only be used to create statistics. The Census Bureau has legal, procedural, technological, and statistical safeguards to ensure that information provided is not disclosed to anyone.
Counting every person living in the United States is a massive undertaking, and efforts begin years in advance. In fact, the regional Census office currently has employment openings in the area to help with this vital effort. Let’s all do our part for an accurate census. This invaluable tool is one of the best sources of information to make evidence-based decisions that create jobs and grow this region’s economy. Together, fearless, we count!
To learn more about the U.S. Census visit: https://2020census.gov/en.html
To apply for Census 2020 related jobs visit: https://2020census.gov/jobs
Enrique Mata
Enrique joined the Health Foundation in 2001. He leads the Mental and Emotional Well-Being Priority Area and has more than 15 years experience in health philanthropy including designing, implementing, and evaluating Collective Impact initiatives. Enrique also maintains skill sets in clinical nursing practice, healthcare revenue cycle management, and commercial property management. He thrives on leveraging resources and building collaboration to make lasting health improvements for the region. A native of El Paso, Enrique holds a Master of Science in public health and a Bachelor of Science in nursing. He also holds certifications from the American Nurses Credentialing Center as an advanced public health nurse and advanced nurse executive.
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