A new short video produced by the Annie E. Casey Foundation is something you should watch if one of the following describes you: city councilperson, nurse, small business owner, educator, county social services worker, member of the clergy, librarian, hospital administrator, parent, neighbor or someone who simply wants to see America’s kids thrive.
If that sounds like just about every adult, it’s intended to, because as this “Count All Kids” video explains, our children need us to ensure every child is counted in the upcoming U.S. census. The Constitution mandates that we count everyone in the country every 10 years, and the 2020 census is just months away.
The nation’s children need us to ensure every child is counted in the upcoming U.S. census. The challenge is daunting: researchers believe up to 2 million children under age 5 could be missed in the count, for a variety of reasons. Share this video with community leaders and others, especially those whose work involves children and families.
The challenge is daunting: Researchers believe up to 2 million children under age 5 could be missed in the count, for a variety of reasons. That’s about how many were missed last time around, and the problem has worsened with every census since 1980.
And the stakes are high: Communities where children are missed in the count risk reductions in federal funding for schools, hospitals, libraries and other resources. An inaccurate census is a mistake we’d have to live with for 10 years.
But there are steps you can take where you live to ensure that all kids are counted. As the video explains, “On a local level… state, county and city officials must engage community partners — from nurses and child care providers to teachers and faith leaders — now to reach hard-to-count households with young kids to encourage participation in the 2020 census.”
