Plans Continue For The 2020 Census In Maryland

ODENTON, MD -- In less than nine months, Marylanders will be asked to fill out and submit 2020 census forms by mail, and for the first time ever, online or by phone. The Maryland Complete County Committee has been meeting regularly, most recently at the library in Odenton, while preparing for the decennial census, which is required by law to count every person in the United States.

Census information is used to distribute billions in federal funds for programs and services, reapportionment for Congress and local legislative districts, and for important local economic development and planning decisions. The census is confidential and protected by federal law.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan signed Executive Order 01.01.2019.03 in February 2019 directing the Maryland CCC to assist the state in achieving a full and accurate count in the 2020 decennial census. The CCC is developing and implementing an engagement and outreach plan to build partnerships and coordinate with local governments and other organizations throughout Maryland.

For every Marylander uncounted, it is estimated to cost the state more than $18,250 per person in unaccessed federal funds, which provide critical funding for programs including Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, school construction, emergency preparedness and transportation projects.

“The Maryland Department of Planning (Planning) has been preparing for the 2020 census for more than two years and the once-every-ten-years census process has a tremendous impact on the state’s ability to plan for Maryland’s future,” said planning secretary Rob McCord.

The U.S. Census Bureau urges the formation of CCCs at the state, jurisdictional and municipal level to organize census efforts. To date, every county in Maryland has formed a CCC. Maryland CCC co-chairs Walkiria Pool and Lilly Castillo stressed the importance of a comprehensive and coordinated approach to counting every Maryland resident.

“We are grateful for the efforts of our partners throughout the state and are committed to leaving no Marylander uncounted. The census is about making sure our families and our communities can grow and thrive, they said in a statement.

"Maryland public libraries are trusted organizations and community hubs,” added state librarian Irene Padilla in the statement. “Maryland's libraries support a complete count with comprehensive programming and outreach, connecting with families through targeted outreach for undercounted 'birth through five' populations, hosting job fairs for employment with the Census Bureau and keeping customers informed online and in the library branches."

The CCC meets at least quarterly until March 31, 2020, and will provide an interim report to Hogan by Dec. 31, 2019, with a final report summarizing the activities and suggested improvements by Sept. 30, 2020.