AAJC Applauds Census 2010 Advance Letter Fix
Census Bureau Addresses AAJC Concern about Upcoming Census Letter
WASHINGTON — Today the Asian American Justice Center thanked the Census Bureau for translating language-help Web site information in the letters it will mail to all households announcing the Census.
“We commend Census Director Robert Groves for notifying the public, in multiple languages, that people may receive language assistance in completing their Census 2010 questionnaires,” AAJC President and Executive Director Karen K. Narasaki said.
Initially, the upcoming Census Bureau letter notifying residents that they can get help filling out their questionnaire in almost any language was only going to be printed in English. This was a departure from 2000 when Census partners, particularly those working in immigrant communities, credited the multi-lingual advance letter with increasing Census participation among members of hard-to-count constituencies.
“We are pleased the Census Bureau heard us and that Director Groves is receptive to input from interested stakeholders,” Narasaki added. “We look forward to working with the Census Bureau to ensure Census 2010’s success and its provision of an accurate count of Asian Americans.”
The Census Advisory Committee’s advance letter working group, led by AAJC, recommended that the information directing people to the Census Web site, where multi-lingual materials can be found, be available in multiple languages as well.
Additionally, Narasaki commended the Bureau and Groves for committing to a targeted outreach effort in Census tracts where 10 percent or more of households are not primarily English-speaking households, as recommended by AAJC. This effort is in addition to other communications avenues for reaching people with limited English skills.
“We believe this decision will help increase participation in the Asian American community by providing information and education to the people in a language that they understand,” said Terry M. Ao, AAJC’s director of Census & Voting Programs.
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The Asian American Justice Center (www.advancingequality.org) is a national organization dedicated to defending and advancing the civil and human rights of Asian Americans. It works closely with three affiliates – the Asian American Institute of Chicago (www.aaichicago.org), the Asian Law Caucus (www.asianlawcaucus.org) in San Francisco, and the Asian Pacific American Legal Center (www.apalc.org) in Los Angeles – and 102 community partners in 47 cities and 25 states in the country.
| For additional information on this release, please contact: | |
| Terry Ao | |
| Email: tao@advancingequality.org |
The NRFU phase, which stands for “Non-Response Follow-Up,” is the last in the Census process and represents the final push to collect Census information. The NRFU campaign encourages households who have not returned their Census form to welcome and cooperate with the Census taker that may knock on their door. Messaging for the NRFU campaign assures all that Census takers are sworn to secrecy and that they are there to help.
The NRFU phase, which stands for “Non-Response Follow-Up,” is the last in the Census process and represents the final push to collect Census information. The NRFU campaign encourages households who have not returned their Census form to welcome and cooperate with the Census taker that may knock on their door. Messaging for the NRFU campaign assures all that Census takers are sworn to secrecy and that they are there to help.
The NRFU phase, which stands for “Non-Response Follow-Up,” is the last in the Census process and represents the final push to collect Census information. The NRFU campaign encourages households who have not returned their Census form to welcome and cooperate with the Census taker that may knock on their door. Messaging for the NRFU campaign assures all that Census takers are sworn to secrecy and that they are there to help.
The NRFU phase, which stands for “Non-Response Follow-Up,” is the last in the Census process and represents the final push to collect Census information. The NRFU campaign encourages households who have not returned their Census form to welcome and cooperate with the Census taker that may knock on their door. Messaging for the NRFU campaign assures all that Census takers are sworn to secrecy and that they are there to help.
The NRFU phase, which stands for “Non-Response Follow-Up,” is the last in the Census process and represents the final push to collect Census information. The NRFU campaign encourages households who have not returned their Census form to welcome and cooperate with the Census taker that may knock on their door. Messaging for the NRFU campaign assures all that Census takers are sworn to secrecy and that they are there to help.
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