Placer Counts
A countywide coalition of community organizations, local governments, and other interested parties committed to ensuring a full and complete Census
Placer Counts brings resources and volunteers together to educate and reach out to communities likely to experience an undercount. Census partners on the coalition include Placer Community Foundation, Placer Collaborative Network, First 5 Placer, Community Development Resource Agency, Health and Human Services, Placer County Library, and more. The Coalition is guided by the belief that:
- Placer benefits the most when the Census counts everyone
- Smart outreach strategies hinge on high-quality information and best practices
- Existing capacity through programs and services already offered throughout Placer County provide the foundation for reaching historically undercounted populations
- Placer deserves its fair share of federal resources by encouraging full participation
To raise awareness and encourage participation in hard-to-count communities, Placer Counts will:
- engage in direct outreach (phone banking and canvassing) with people living in the four Placer census tracts where the likelihood of non-response is much higher than the statewide median;
- strategically site questionnaire assistance centers and questionnaire assistance kiosks in locations where historically undercounted people go;
- create a mobile assistance center through the Placer County Bookmobile;
- award mini-grants to community-based organizations so they can promote Census 2020 participation among those living in areas where an undercount is likely to occur;
- train organizations and volunteers interested in promoting the Placer Counts message;
- build and share relatable and positive stories about the census with our communities through our partners and leaders; and,
- maintain a website where people can learn more and get involved—either through donations or volunteerism.
