The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors last week unanimously approved a resolution opting into the California Complete Count (CCC) Census 2020 program and continuing forward with the next steps in the census process, which will allow the county to receive census outreach funds that will be used to improve participation in the 2020 census.
The Census determines how much money in federal funds gets sent to local counties like Mendocino for multiple programs, including Health and Human Services, Planning and Building Services and the Department of Transportation, making the need to accurately count the number of people in Mendocino County a priority.
Supervisor Carre Brown said that she felt the county was undercounted at the last census count in rural areas and missed out on critical funding.
“I really felt good when I saw Mendocino step up and apply for this funding, so we can reach all of our population and be able to get people involved,” Brown said.
The Mendocino County Health and Human Services Agency would work with the CCC on a County-Optional Outreach agreement and help with outreach activities to promote the 2020 Census and target both geographic areas and demographic populations who are “least likely to respond,” also known as “hard-to-count” areas within Mendocino County.
The state of California says that geographic areas and demographic populations considered hard to count include, but are not limited to, Latinos, African-Americans, Native Americans and Tribal Communities, Asian-Americans/Pacific Islanders, Middle-Eastern North Africans, immigrants and refugees, farm-workers, people with disabilities, seniors, homeless people and their families, small children, veterans and areas with low broadband subscription rates and limited or no access.
The CCC 2020 is making $26.5 million available to participating California counties to conduct outreach and assistance, and Mendocino County’s census allocation is $75,000. Lake County’s census allocation is $75,000, and Sonoma’s is $100,000.
As part of the program, Mendocino County’s first step will be to prepare an overall strategic plan that includes outreach options, partnerships with organizations, outreach plans and language access plans. The county must provide a strategic plan within 60 days of entering into a contract.
