As homes across Central Texas begin to receive their Census 2020 invitations this week, local groups are now adjusting outreach plans amid coronavirus concerns.
“Everything is a fluid situation,” said Hector Nieto, a Travis County public information officer.
After Gov. Greg Abbott issued a state disaster declaration Friday, Nieto said plans are constantly being reevaluated as the county receives quickly changing information. For now, local census efforts are focusing on digital outreach strategies and a previously planned digital ad campaign made by census groups representing the African-American, Latino and Asian communities that will begin soon.
The U.S. Census Bureau this week encouraged everyone to respond online as soon as they get their invitations in the mail. “It has never been easier to respond on your own, whether online, over the phone or by mail — all without having to meet a census taker,” the bureau said in a statement.
Throughout Central Texas, some groups have opted to cancel live census events and switch to virtual programming while others are working on devising alternate ways to spread the census message such as phone banking or sending text messages.
“We’re all waiting day to day for additional public health information on best ways to move forward,” said John Lawler, census program manager for Travis County.
The United Way for Greater Austin, which promotes Census 2020 participation across Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Williamson and Travis County, granted nearly $400,000 to 17 Central Texas organizations for census outreach.
“We support our grantees in changing the (outreach) strategies in any way to maximize the health of everyone,” said Mariana Salazar, the organization’s Census 2020 project director.
Salazar anticipates large events leading up to Census Day on April 1 will likely be canceled or switched to online programming. Plans for canvassing may change. Upcoming census ambassador training programs will now be recorded. Educating the public during “tough times” will be challenging, Salazar said.
“We’re going to have to mobilize digitally in ways we haven’t before,” she said. “I’m hopeful that we’ll continue to sort through the challenges and have a complete count.”
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