RI Sets Up "Complete Count" Committee for 2020 Census

PROVIDENCE -- Gov. Gina M. Raimondo has signed an executive order establishing the Rhode Island Complete Count Committee to ensure that the 2020 U.S. Census does not undercount segments of the state's population.

"We only get one shot at this, and it's absolutely critical that we get it right," Raimondo said in a statement. "The results of this Census will have serious implications for our state for the next decade, which is why it's so important that every single Rhode Islander is counted. This Committee will help us do just that."

The U.S. Census Bureau identifies certain groups as "hard-to-count" populations that are sometimes overlooked in previous censuses, including racial and ethnic minorities, non-English speakers, low-income persons, undocumented immigrants, the homeless, children, young adults and members of the LGBTQ community.

An accurate census helps ensure that these communities receive appropriate federal funding and adequate representation in Congress. The Complete Count Committee, including representatives of hard-to-count populations, will lead an outreach program to increase awareness about the census and urge all residents to respond.

"A decade's worth of federal funding for the Ocean State's most vulnerable residents and communities will be determined by our shared commitment to accurately count every Rhode Islander," said Nancy Wolanski, Director of the Grantmakers Council of Rhode Island.

Raimondo appointed Central Falls Mayor James Diossa and Rhode Island Department of Health Director Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott to serve as co-chairs of the committee. In an effort to be as inclusive as possible, the committee will also include members of the following groups:

• Local governments;
• The Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns;
• Hard-to-count populations;
• A federally-recognized Native American tribe located in Rhode Island;
• The business community, including a representative of minority-owned business;
• K-12 and higher education;
• Youth;
• Senior citizens;
• The philanthropic community
• Organized labor;
• The faith community; and
• The health care community

The committee will be required to submit an interim report to the Governor and General Assembly leadership by March 1, 2019. A final report is due June 30 and the committee will officially disband on Dec. 31, at which point the census process will have ended.

The U.S. Census bureau estimates Rhode Island's 2017 population at 1.6 million.

Photo: Shutterstock