Getting an accurate census count is critical for public health to work toward health equity.
However, for some Hispanics in the U.S., the census may seem more of a threat than an opportunity to shape the future.
To answer questions about the critical data-collecting effort and encourage participation, APHA’s Latino Caucus hosted a webinar in partnership with the U.S. Census Bureau on Census Day, April 1.
“We in public health know how important it is, but making that side of the census real for people is a challenge,” said Paulina Sosa, MPH, president-elect of APHA’s Latino Caucus.
“The Latino community is underrepresented. We are here and we need to be counted.”
— Mary Anne Carabeo
The Census Bureau’s 2020 head count of people in the U.S. will determine representation in Congress as well funding for schools, hospitals and crucial services such as public health.
For some Hispanics in the U.S., concerns about submitting personal information to a government agency can make them harder to reach.
“We can’t do anything alone,” Sosa told The Nation’s Health. “That’s why it’s so important that we reach out. When you’re working with community organizations, you’re talking to people who already have that trust.”
While the data collected from the census is confidential, some Hispanics in the U.S. may have specific concerns about sharing information with the government. People who are in the U.S. without legal permission may be afraid of jeopardizing their housing or employment or being deportated.
For years, the Trump administration has publicly attempted to force a question on the census on citizenship status, a move advocates warned would lead to an undercount of Hispanics in the U.S. However, despite the issue of citizenship not making its way onto the questionnaire, fear of abuse remains.
Mary Anne Carabeo, MA, account manager at the U.S. Census Bureau, develops partnerships with organizations to help promote the census and engage hard-to-count communities. Addressing fears such as the citizenship question is part of that outreach. Carabeo said that it was helpful to team up with a public health organization to get the message out.
“It gave us a more diverse range of who we can reach,” she told The Nation’s Health. “The Latino community is underrepresented. We are here and we need to be counted.”
Participants in the April 1 webinar included university professors and community leaders. Beyond concerns about citizenship, housing and employment, attendees had specific questions, such as whether the census would be available to communities that speak certain Spanish dialects or indigenous languages.
Sosa said answering the webinar questions gave her hope.
“When I started seeing their questions coming through, I thought, if we can answer things at this level, we could have a positive impact,” Sosa said.
To watch a recording of the Latino Caucus webinar, visit bit.ly/Census2020Webinar.
- Copyright The Nation’s Health, American Public Health Association