Tomorrow, Wednesday March 18, is Count All Kids Day

Count All Kids Day is tomorrow! In the midst of COVID-19, our message to families is an important reminder to invest in the long term health of communities.

As we all know, a major pandemic has grabbed the attention of individuals across the globe – shifting the normal way of life for many. As the nation adjusts to life with social distancing, census advocates’ message stays the same – Count All Kids in the 2020 Census form. But our strategies for delivering that message must adapt.

There are many resources that advocates can share for Count All Kids Day. Below is a messaging and resource guide for Count All Kids Day with strategies for adapting to social distancing.

Messaging

• When people see something that makes them fearful, they often turn away from it. Instead of using messages that could increase fears, offer messages that provide choices and options.
  • Example (Fear): If you don’t want someone knocking on your door who might have Coronavirus, fill out your census online, over the phone, or by mail.
  • Example (Options): There are convenient and confidential ways to fill out the census form. Right now you can fill it out by going online or calling on your phone. In a few weeks you can fill it out by mail as well – all from the privacy of your own home.
• Emphasize that one of the benefits that census data affects is access to healthcare. This includes healthcare facilities, Medicaid, and CHIP.

Resources

TWEETSTORM

Join our Tweetstorm between 1 and 2pm EST on March 18.

• We missed 1 in 10 young children in the 2010 Census. We have to do better in #2020Census. Big or small, count them all! #countallkids
  ✅Join @CountAllKids, @4americaschild, @First_Focus, @ZEROTOTHREE, and @CoalitionHN for the #CountAllKids tweetstorm TODAY from 1-2pm (EST)
• Counting young children helps them thrive, because schools, child care, health care and other programs kids need get more funding. Big or small, count them all!
  ✨Join the #CountAllKids tweetstorm TODAY from 1-2pm (EST) #2020Census
• Almost 1 in 5 parents of young children think they should leave their young child off the census or are unsure. Get the word out that Big or small, count them all!
• #2020Census #CountAllKids

MESSAGING AND OUTREACH KIT

Many people are looking to social media for information. This is a great opportunity to use the social posts from the Messaging and Outreach Kit. You can adapt the language if you have a message that is important to your specific community.

GOOGLE DRIVE

There are several posters and flyers in the Count All Kids google drive.

SESAME WORKSHOP

Sesame Workshop created posters and flyers with Count von Count that you can download.

NICKELODEON

Nickelodeon created 30 second PSA and other resources.

RADIO READERS

We have radio readers in English and Spanish. Ask your local radio stations to read these PSAs to help get out the word.

PRESS STATEMENT

We created a state template press statement which you can modify to include your state’s data.

FACEBOOK ADS

If you are buying Facebook ads, you can focus your efforts on a ZIP code level. Here is our blog explaining the ZIP code data.

FACEBOOK FRAME

As part of our ongoing Count All Kids Census 2020 campaign, we created a Facebook frame in English and Spanish to encourage people to count all kids and babies on their Census forms. We encourage you to share this Facebook frame with your networks and add it to your organization’s Facebook page, as well as your personal page. Below are instructions.

Option 1 Using the Links

1. 1. Click on one of the following links to open the frame in a new window. You will be prompted to add a frame to your profile picture.
   2. Frame in English
   3. Frame in Spanish
   4. Adjust the frame, if needed.
   5. Select the length of time you want to use the frame. (We recommend having it up until May 31st.)
   6. Add a description: Write a sentence or two encouraging people to fill out the Census and emphasize that everyone should include all kids and babies living with them on the Census.
   7. Finally, click “Use as Profile Picture.”

Option 2 – Use Frame from the Count All Kids Page

1. 1. 1. Go to the Count All Kids Facebook Page.
      2. Click on the account’s profile picture.
      3. Hover your mouse on the picture and click on the “Use Frame” option at the bottom of the picture.
      4. You will be prompted to add the Count All Kids frame.
      5. Adjust the frame, if needed.
      6. Select the length of time you want to use the frame. (We recommend having it up until May 31st.)
      7. Add a description: Write a sentence or two encouraging people to fill out the Census and emphasize that everyone should include all kids and babies living with them on the Census.
      8. Finally, click “Use as Profile Picture.”

Option 3 – Search Frame

1. 1. Go to www.facebook.com/profilepicframes.
   2. Click your profile picture in the bottom left and select your Page.
   3. Search for the frame by entering “Count All Kids.”
   4. Select the frame you want – either the English- or Spanish-language option.
   5. Adjust the frame, if needed.
   6. Select the length of time you want to use the frame. (We recommend having it up until May 31st.)
   7. Add a description: Write a sentence or two encouraging people to fill out the Census and emphasize that everyone should include all kids and babies living with them on the Census.
   8. Finally, click “Use as Profile Picture.”

PAY EXTRA ATTENTION TO THESE COUNTIES

Just 34 counties have half of all kids that are at highest risk of being missed in large counties. Consider reaching out to encourage schools and emergency organizations in these communities to include information in their electronic mailings and with their grab and go food pick-ups. There is also data available for African American kids, Hispanic kids, and Asian kids. You can give organizations this palm card in English and Spanish to copy and share.

This is a great time to work with trusted community messengers. Schools, child care facilities, dentists, and pediatricians are probably sending email and text updates to families with young children and babies surrounding Coronavirus. You  can remind these trusted voices to include Census 2020 materials in their updates. Additional guidelines are available in our previous blog as well.