Data gathered with the Census is used to set House of Representative district boundaries, allocate trillions of dollars in federal funding allocation, and plan everything from economic development strategies to social programs.

Dublin City Schools urges its residents to complete the 2010 U.S. Census, which will be mailed to all households in March. The forms are brief – just 10 questions – but make a huge difference to communities.

The U.S. Constitution requires that the federal government count every resident in the United States and Puerto Rico every 10 years in a national census. All data collected is protected under federal law. This count includes non-citizens living in this country.

The primary impact is that population figures determine the distribution of representatives in the U.S. House of Representatives and the drawing of legislative districts.

Census data also helps determine distribution of an estimated $4 trillion in federal funds for roads and public works projects, emergency services, hospitals, senior centers, schools, job training centers and other important services.

Census data is used for performing economic development, forecasting transportation needs and growth trends, developing public safety strategies, advocating for causes, rescuing disaster victims, preventing diseases, researching markets, locating pools of skilled workers, and more.

The forms must be completed and returned by April 1. Between May and July, census bureau workers will visit residences that have not returned the forms and attempt to gather the data for the 10 questions. That data includes name, gender, age, race, ethnicity, relationship and whether the head of household rents or owns the home. It does not ask about the legal status of respondents or Social Security information.

Filling out the surveys saves tax dollars, too. For every percentage point increase in the mail-back response rate, the federal government saves $85 million.

The forms are available in six languages: English, Spanish, simplified Chinese, Korean, Russian and Vietnamese. English/Spanish bi-lingual forms will be mailed to areas with large numbers of Spanish-only households. People may request a form in one of the five non-English languages via toll-free numbers that will be available closer to Census Day.
However, language assistance guides are available in 59 different languages to help people fill out the English version of the census form. You may also access large print and Braille guides and a language reference dictionary.

Preparations for the “It’s in Out Hands” 2010 Census have been underway for months, but the push to communicate the importance of taking the Census are just beginning.

The 2010 Census is shorter than previous once thanks to the establishment of the American Community Survey, which is conducted on an ongoing basis. That survey produces a detailed picture of American communities.

For additional details on the 2010 Census, including a look at the 2010 form, visit www.census.gov.