census

Census Efforts Lead to Census Success in Maryland!

/ Maryland Department of Planning / 1 Comment

The Census ended on October 15, and we are extremely proud of Maryland’s accomplishments during this decennial event. With the kickoff for the Census coinciding with the beginning of a nationwide pandemic and stay-at-home orders, marketing plans were modified from a mostly out-of-home advertising campaign to a more digital and in-home approach. Further, we added a paid social media campaign in targeted areas to reach thousands of families where programs and services are highly utilized.

Continue reading →

Maryland Census 2020: Challenges and Adaptations

/ Maryland Department of Planning / Leave a comment

Planning Assistance in Action

Planning Works to Assure a Complete Count Amid the COVID-19 Crisis

by Kristin R. Fleckenstein, Director of Public Affairs
with Kristen E. Humphrey, MLA, Local Assistance and Training Planner

During these uncertain and unprecedented times of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Maryland Department of Planning (Planning) has found ways to adapt traditional, in-person census outreach efforts to engage the public and communities across the state. The goal of the 2020 Census is to ensure as complete a census count as possible of all Marylanders, while also recognizing the extraordinary circumstances of “stay-at-home” orders and social distancing and keeping Census workers, volunteers, and the public safe. Continue reading →

The Census 2020 Self-Response Dashboard: Track Response Rates in Your Jurisdiction, Across Maryland, and Around the Country

/ Maryland Department of Planning / Leave a comment

Resources and Tools

By Kristen E. Humphrey, MLA, Local Assistance and Training Planner
with Alfred P. Sundara, Manager, Projections, and State Data Center

For the first time, respondents to the U.S. Census can complete their Census survey online, by telephone, or the more traditional way, by U.S. Mail. And for the first time, anyone  — from planners, politicians and teachers, health care advocates and private citizens — wanting to see the results as they unfold, can do so online.

Continue reading →

Why the U.S. Census is Critical for Planning During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond

/ Maryland Department of Planning / Leave a comment

Planning Assistance in Action

by Kristin Fleckenstein, Director of Public Affairs
with Kristen E. Humphrey, MLA, Local Assistance and Training Planner

When people think of the U.S. Census, they often simply connect it to counting the number of people living in the United States and how those figures will determine the number of representatives serving in various levels of government. While that is certainly one of its primary functions, the reach and impact of Census data goes far beyond the issues of representation to affect countless aspects of American life. U.S. Census numbers are used in a myriad of ways for planning across both the public and private sectors of our society and economy. That’s why it is critical for Maryland to get the most complete Census 2020 count possible — accounting for every person living in our state.  Continue reading →