Less than half of county residents reply to census

Alexis Barker
NLJ News Editor
 
As of May 17, 41.9% of Weston County residents had responded to the 2020 Census in one form or another, according to the U.S. Census Bureau media specialist for Colorado, Wyoming and Kansas, Jennifer Hillmann. 
“We officially resume field operation in Wyoming this week, beginning on May 18. The Casper Area Census Office began sending field staff back out across the state to begin ‘Update Leave operation — all field staff are provided PPE, they follow state and local health guidelines for wearing masks and gloves and this operation does not require any personal contact with residents,” Hillmann said. “Lastly, Wyoming has also resumed the hiring/recruiting processes for additional field staff that will be needed for future operations this summer.” 
According to the 2020 Census website, the COVID-19 pandemic caused the U.S. Census Bureau to adjust their operations in order to protect the health and safety of the public and employees. Guidance from federal, state and local authorities have been implemented throughout the operation while the census continues with their mission to ensure a complete and accurate count of all communities. 
Hillmann reported that due to the pandemic, the timeline for the 2020 Census completion was adjusted. The website says the planned schedule was March 12 through July 31, with the updated completion date now set for Oct. 31.
Results of the 2020 Census helps determine how federal funding flows into communities every year for the next decade, according to the Census website, such as funding for schools, highways, housing assistance, Medicaid and more.
According to the new schedule, nonresponse follow-ups, which involve a census taker interviewing a household, will begin Aug. 11, and in-person group quarter enumeration will begin on July 1.
Forms can be completed online, by phone, or by mail when an invitation to respond arrives. Visit my2020census.gov to learn more.