The 2020 Census is happening now. The goal is to count every person living in the country, including young children, and it is done every 10 years. Everyone who lives in the United States is required to participate.

A full census count is very important to the future of our children in Lake County.

The Census helps determine which areas qualify for the critical resources that children and families depend on for the next 10 years—basically an entire childhood! Accurate census data means our local communities will be more likely to get the roads, schools, child and senior centers, hospitals, and other services our families need. It will also decide how much money Illinois will get to help pay for All Kids health insurance, school breakfast and lunch programs, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (also known as SNAP or food stamps), financial aid for college, and many other programs that are important to keeping our children healthy, strong and well educated.

More than 1 million children under 5 were not counted in the 2010 U.S. Census.

It is important that you count everyone who is living in your house on April 1, 2020. This includes you, all the children living with you whether they are yours or someone else’s, and anyone else like grandparents, cousins or even friends who are living in your home. You should count everyone, even if they are not U.S. citizens (the Census Bureau will not ask about citizenship in the 2020 Census). The information you provide to the U.S. Census Bureau is safe and secure, and cannot be shared with anyone else by law, including any other government agencies. Responding to the 2020 Census is an easy, safe and very important way to help provide resources for our children and communities over the next 10 years.

How to make sure your family is counted.

In March or April, you should have received information in the mail from the U.S. Census Bureau on how to respond by phone, online or with a mail-in paper questionnaire.