Census 2020: Counting our youngest community members

An estimated five percent of kids under the age of 5 weren't counted in the last Census in 2010. That's about 1 million young children -- the highest of any age group. What does that mean? Less federal funding for schools, childcare, food assistance, health care and other programs for kids. There are big repercussions for an undercount. For every person missed, our communities will lose $1,000 per person, per year — for 10 years — in federal funding. That's $10,000 per person until the next Census in 2030. We need your help closing this gap in the upcoming 2020 Census so that Placer County kids get their fair share of resources. Here's what our research tells us about why young children are missed and what you can do to help make sure they are counted. In many families, a child might split time between two homes or live with a relative such as a grandparent, causing confusion when it comes to the census. The census counts everyone where they live and sleep most of the time, even if the living arrangement is temporary or the parents of the child do not live there. If the child truly spends equal amounts of time between two homes, count them where they stayed on Census Day, April 1. Coordinate with the other parent or caregiver, if possible, so the child is not counted at both homes. If it's not clear where the child lives or sleeps most of the time, count them where they stayed on Census Day, April 1. Newborns are often left off census forms as well. Some new parents mistakenly believe the Census incorporates birth records. It does not. Babies should be included even if they are brand-new and still in the hospital! And if it helps ease the minds of busy new parents, the census form only takes about 10 minutes to complete and parents can fill it out online at a time that works best for them. Parents and caregivers can respond to the census by mail or by phone in English, Spanish or 11 other languages. You can even do it on your smartphone! Some caregivers also get nervous about completing the census fully if a child is not listed on a rental agreement or lease. But by law, the U.S. Census Bureau cannot share information with a landlord. All census workers take a lifetime oath to protect everyone's personal information. Breaking this law has severe penalties, including a fine up to $250,000, five years in prison, or both. It's very important to count everyone living at your address. Bottom line: Be sure to count every adult, child and baby at your address when you complete the census online, over the phone or on a paper form starting in mid-March. A complete census count really matters. How much money our Placer County community gets for programs that support you and your loved ones during the next 10 years depends on a complete census count. Please visit 2020census.gov and participate this spring. Janice LeRoux is executive director of First 5 Placer, a commission building early childhood systems and supports needed to ensure Placer County's young children are safe, healthy and ready to succeed in school and life. Placer Counts Coalition, a group of community organizations, local governments and other interested parties committed to ensuring a full and complete 2020 Census, is submitting a series of columns the next few months.