Census 2020 – Be Counted!
Did you know that federal funding for after school programs is determined by the census?
Getting an accurate census count is crucial so the Afterschool Alliance has created a toolkit that makes it easy to learn more and get involved with the census. The Afterschool Alliance is a national advocacy organization dedicated to increasing access to quality, affordable afterschool programs for all children and their families.
Data from the 2020 Census will be used for the next 10 years to determine how the federal government spends over $900 billion a year. This money goes towards programs that are absolutely necessary for the communities we serve and includes programs such as free and reduced lunch, low-income housing, Medicaid, and the funding for afterschool programs.
Afterschool providers are in an excellent position to help with the 2020 Census not only because it directly benefits them and their communities, but they are also able to reach harder-to-count populations from a trusted place. It is safe to fill out the census and illegal for anybody to share information collected in the census, especially with law enforcement or immigration agencies. Trust is key. There are easy ways to get involved with 2020 Census efforts. Just taking the time to learn more about the census and help spread the word about its importance for afterschool programs is essential. The toolkit includes key facts and talking points about the census, can help answer any questions, and also has fliers you can put up. Educating yourself and your community goes a long way towards making sure our communities will get the funding they need.
If you have any questions, please reach out to info@afterschoolalliance.org.
Thank you for the incredible work that you do with our children and youth in the hours afterschool!