Assistance Forums

Starting in March 2010, through approximately July 2010, we encourage our community members to have or participate in an Assistance Forum.  Assistance Forums are designed to actually help our community members fill out their Census forms which will be mailed in early March.  There are two types of assistance centers:  ones managed by the actual Census Bureau (called Question Assistance Centers) and those done by community organizations or members (Assistance Forums).

CPACS is an official Question Assistance Center (QAC) and Be Counted Center (BCC).  What that means is that we will have both paid Census staff and extra Census forms (in six languages, including English) in order to assist our community in completing their Census forms.   Because information provided to the Census is strictly confidential, only sworn Census staff are allowed to review personal responses on an individual’s census form.  Those organizations interested in being a QAC or BCC should contact the Census Bureau for more information (http://2010.census.gov/partners/partners/).

There are two ways you can participate in helping your community members complete their Census forms:

• Participate in one of CPACS’ Question Assistance Days in March.  During the last half of March, CPACS will host a variety of Assistance Forums in different API languages.  You may choose to work with us in marketing that event to your community, and volunteering your time at an event tailored to your community.  Because CPACS is a QAC, we will have extra Census forms available and will have Census staff to assist.
• Have your own community Assistance Forum:  You can have a similar event in your own space, home, church, etc.  We advise that you have a Census Bureau partner join you.  If you do have your own assistance forum, please remember the following:
  • You can show a “sample” Census form and, in your own language, explain to the group how each question should be answered.
  • You cannot read or help write out a person’s actual Census form.  Unless you are a Census employee, you should not read or ask to read someone’s actual Census form.
  • Ask the group to complete and seal their forms in the pre-paid envelopes, then drop them off in appropriate mail receptacles that are emptied daily by the U.S. Postal Service.
    • Do not offer to collect or “bundle” the 2010 Census Forms.  It is important to avoid any suggestion of impropriety.  Respondents should return their own census form by mail through the U.S. Postal Service.
  • If someone was not mailed a Census form, they can come to CPACS for a Census form.

Below is  a PowerPoint presentation used at the March 3, 2010 ACCC Meeting regarding “How to Conduct Assistance Forums”

3.4.10 Assistance Forum Presentation (Full Presentation)