Founded on the premise that conducting a complete and accurate census is dependent on the involvement of trusted and respected tribal, state and local governments, community groups, and businesses that can persuade and motivate people to respond to the census questionnaire, the 2010 Census Regional Partnership Program took a multi-lingual and multi-cultural approach to community education and outreach, and combined it with local communications, grassroots-style organizing, and special initiatives to promote census participation among Hard-to-Count populations.

More than 257,000 governments, organizations, groups, and businesses partnered with the Census Bureau during the 2010 Census operations. Partners and Partnership Specialists conducted a number of activities and strategic outreach initiatives to reach Hard-to-Count groups, including:

Education Initiatives

More than 30,000 regional education partners conducted census education and outreach activities. The largest education initiative was the Census in Schools program, which created census maps, lesson plans, and other resources for kindergarten, elementary, middle, and high schools. The second largest education initiative was the regionally created Census on Campus program, which became a national model for college and university student outreach.

Complete Count Committees

Complete Count Committees were volunteer groups facilitated and trained by Partnership staff to conduct census education and outreach. Complete Count Committees were established by tribal, state or local governments or by community organizations and typically included a cross section of representatives from government agencies, education, businesses, and community and religious groups.

Recommendation for the 2020 Census would be to start the Complete Count Committee program as early as three years before Census Day so that census education and outreach can be planned into budgets.

Faith-Based Outreach

The objective of faith-based outreach was to provide faith leaders materials to conduct census education and outreach with their congregations and among Hard-to-Count populations. Faith leaders are also trusted voices and gatekeepers of Hard-to-Count populations. Often non-English speaking and new immigrants find food, clothing and other services from faith-based organizations. A total of more then 34,000 places of worship and faith-based groups partnered with the Census Bureau during the 2010 Census campaign; most were in Hard-to-Count areas.

Recommendation for the 2020 Census would be to start as early as two years before Census Day.

Foreign-Born/Immigrant Outreach

The goal of the 2010 Census Foreign Born/Immigrant Outreach Program was to promote census participation among non-English speakers, recent immigrants, refugees and unauthorized residents. The Census Bureau partnered with organizations that worked with immigrant populations specifically with migrant and seasonal farm workers to conduct census education and outreach with this Hard-To-Count population. The Census Bureau also partnered with more than 250 embassies and consulates to promote the 2010 Census.

March to the Mailbox

March to the Mailbox was an unprecedented mobilization of thousands of partners and volunteers participating in events such as rallies, community walks and parades.

Recommendation for 2020 Census is to hold March to the Mailbox when it will have the biggest impact to potentially reduce the Nonresponse Followup workload.

New Outreach Initiatives to Special Populations

During the 2010 Census operations new initiatives were launched to conduct census education and outreach with individuals with disabilities and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender populations.

Portrait of America Road Tour

Twelve regional vehicles joined one national vehicle making Road Tour stops around the country at local fairs, festivals, and community events.

American Indian and Alaskan Native Program

Federally recognized tribes partnered with the Census Bureau to conduct 2010 Census education and outreach. American Indian and Alaska Native Complete Count Committees also organized and promoted census participation on tribal lands and urban American Indian and Alaska Native populations.

Recommendations for the 2020 Census are to continue the Tribal Liaison program so that there is an official communication protocol for other surveys such as the American Community Survey; consult with tribal governments before the census form is finalized so that American Indian and Alaska Native representatives can provide input into the wording of questions and to provide training on census data for American Indian and Alaska Native populations; and provide cultural awareness and protocol training for all census field staff.