Public Policy and Advocacy Strategies

Issue Spotlight

The 2020 census faces a major problem – undercounting young children, especially those in low-income or immigrant families. These children and families face the consequences for years, including decreased funding for necessary supports, such as food programs, affordable housing, and education. On October 8, 2018, the Children, Youth & Family Funders Roundtable hosted a webinar examining the challenges inherent in counting young children in the 2020 census and exploring ways funders can help to minimize this undercount.

Two new resources from the Georgetown Center on Poverty and Inequality and The Census Project explore the importance and operation of the 2020 census in rural communities. "Counting Rural America: A Guide to 2020 Census Operations" describes how the census will be conducted in rural areas and identifies strategies to ensure a more accurate count in these communities. "Why the 2020 Census Matters for Rural America: Defining, Understanding, and Investing in Rural Communities" explores how census data are used to determine which areas are considered rural, to inform other surveys that characterize rural residents, and to make funding decisions for federal programs that serve those residents.