Census Protections Evolve Continuously to Address Emerging Threats

SHELLY HEDRICK  |  FEBRUARY 03, 2020

“When U.S. Marshals conducted America’s first census in 1790, they posted the answers in the town square so locals could check for accuracy, as required by law. This practice continued until 1850. 

How times have changed. Today, the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) may release decennial census records after 72 years. The most recent census available to the public is the 1940 Census.

The privacy law, in Title 13 of the United States Code, mandates that information about specific individuals, households and businesses is not revealed, even indirectly through our published statistics.“

Read more about the story by clicking on this link.

https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2020/02/through-the-decades-how-the-census-bureau-protects-your-privacy.html

Elder Waiver information and assistance

February 6th, 12:00 noon – 3:00 pm. Rondo Community Library, 461 Dale St North, St. Paul 55103. Community members will learn about the services that are available and how they can sign up for them. Participants can register or walk-in. To register and get more information: 651-917-4621 / http://bit.ly/rondoInfoSession

St. Paul area Healthy Aging quarterly networking meetings Multiple dates Come network with others who work in aging. Bring flyers, cards, announcements, needs etc. Everyone is welcome to all of the groups – the more people at the table the better. Coffee and light snacks will be provided.

February 3rd, 12 – 1:15 pm. West Central St. Paul group o Hallie Q. Brown Community Center, 270 N. Kent St., St. Paul

February 10th, 3 – 4 pm. Como-Falcon Heights group o Falcon Heights United Church of Christ, 1795 Holton St., Falcon Heights

February 7th, 12noon – 1 pm. The East Side group is a workgroup rather than a networking meeting. They will be focusing on bringing a circulator bus to that area. Location TBD. More information: Julia Wolfe Julia.wolfe@ramseycounty.us / 651-443-0984

White Bear area quarterly networking meeting

February 12th, 8:30 – 10:00am. The Consortium of Lake Area Senior Services’ (CLASS) hosts a quarterly networking meeting. White Bear Lake City Hall, 4070 Hwy 61. More information: Mary Mengel mary.mengel@isd624.org / 651-653-3125

Census Statistics Used to Plan Healthy Food Programs for Low Income Families

Funding for Nutrition Benefits Programs Informed by Census Statistics

One School’s Story.

AMERICA COUNTS STAFF  |  JANUARY 21, 2020

This story is part of an occasional series on the important community benefits that come from responding to the 2020 Census.

We all know fresh fruits and vegetables are key to good health. Yet many low-income neighborhoods have limited access to fresh produce.

That’s why programs such as the federally funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the National School Lunch Program are vital to the health of communities.

Click on the link to read more about this Census program and why it is important to be counted.

https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2020/01/census-statistics-used-to-plan-healthy-food-programs-for-low-income-households.html

“More than 30% of what goes into the trash is food scraps and other organic waste. Recycling food waste converts it to compost, which puts nutrients back into the soil. Ramsey County collection sites enable people to drop off food scraps that would otherwise be thrown in the trash – these are then processed into compost and used in gardening and landscaping.

Subscribe to food scraps (organic recycling) updates

Pick up a free food scraps collection (organics recycling) starter kit!

Ramsey County offers a free starter kit for residents who want to recycle food scraps. The kit includes a small kitchen caddy, compostable bags and tips for success. It also includes a loyalty punch card to earn a free t-shirt. Redeem a filled punch card at any Ramsey County yard waste site.

Pick up a starter kit at one of our yard waste sites or at a Ramsey County Library while supplies last. Select Saint Paul Libraries and Cities also have them. Call ahead.”

Click on the link to find out more info on this article.

https://www.ramseycounty.us/residents/recycling-waste/collection-sites/food-scraps

“ Ramsey Recycles #RecycleBetter Social Media Campaign ”

From this website, please click on this link for more information. https://www.ramseycounty.us/residents/recycling-waste/a-z-disposal-guide

Yes

• Aluminum cans o Empty, uncrushed aluminum cans belong in the recycling bin, not the trash. Thanks for helping us #RecycleBetter! #RamseyRecycles

• Milk jugs and cartons o Did you know that milk cartons and jugs can be recycled? Just be sure to rinse them out before placing them in your recycling bin. #RecycleBetter #RamseyRecycles

• Plastics 1, 2 and 5 o All plastic bottles and containers are stamped with a number inside a triangle, typically found on the bottom of the item. In Ramsey County, we can recycle items that are stamped with the numbers 1, 2 and 5. #RecycleBetter #RamseyRecycles

• Soup boxes and cans o Recycling soup boxes and cans is an easy way to #RecycleBetter. Make sure all items are rinsed before putting them in the recycling bin.

#RamseyRecycles

No Recycling.

• Big plastic items o Big plastic items, like 5-gallon pails and laundry bins, cannot be recycled at home. Visit RamseyRecycles.com/AtoZ to learn how to properly dispose of these items. #RecycleBetter #RamseyRecycles

• Black plastic o Recycling black plastic items in Ramsey County is a no-go. The recycling facilities can’t sort them. Please help us #RecycleBetter by following this easy rule! #RamseyRecycles

• Common glassware o Common glassware, such as drinking glasses, do not belong in the recycling bin. Damaged or broken glassware can be thrown away, and usable glassware can be donated to a local thrift store. #RecycleBetter #RamseyRecycles

• Freezer cartons o While frozen food boxes look like other recyclable boxes, they actually have a thin layer of plastic to prevent freezer burn. That coating prevents the fiber inside from breaking up in the recycling process. Freezer boxes and cartons should go in the trash. #RecycleBetter #RamseyRecycles

• Plastic bags o Plastic bags can’t be recycled in your recycling cart. They jam sorting equipment at recycling facilities and don’t get recycled. Bring them to a local drop-off location instead. Visit PlasticFilmRecycling.org to find a location near you. #RecycleBetter #RamseyRecycles

• Random metals o Random metals from your home, such as tools and pans, should not be recycled. Visit RamseyRecycles.com/AtoZ to learn what to do with them. #RecycleBetter #RamseyRecycles 11/22/19

• String lights/coil o String lights and other things that coil can’t be recycled in your recycling cart. They jam sorting equipment at recycling facilities and don’t get recycled. Visit RamseyRecycles.com/AtoZ to learn what to do with them. Thanks for helping us #RecycleBetter! #RamseyRecycles

• Small items o Don’t sweat the small stuff – and don’t recycle it, either! Don’t put loose bottle and carton caps in your recycling cart. Put them back on the container before recycling or thrown them away. #RecycleBetter! #RamseyRecycles

• Wrapping Paper o Wrapping paper is generally not recyclable because of the paper type. As much as we’d all like to recycle it, wrapping paper belongs in the trash. Use reusable gift bags or kraft paper instead.

#RecycleBetter #RamseyRecycles

States With High Opioid Prescribing Rates Have Higher Rates of Grandparents Responsible for Grandchildren-Census Research (MN Is On The Lower End)

LYDIA ANDERSON  |  APRIL 22, 2019

“In the wake of the opioid epidemic that was declared a public health crisis in 2017, there has been increasing concern about what happens to the children of parents with substance abuse disorders who may be unable to care for their children.

New Census Bureau research shows that grandparents may sometimes step in to care for these children.”

“Five states among those with the highest percentage of both the population age 30 and over raising grandchildren and opioid prescribing rates are located in the South.“

“The percentage of the population age 30 and over who are raising grandchildren is higher in states that have higher opioid prescribing rates, according to a new working paper, entitled “The Opioid Prescribing Rate and Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: State and County Level Analysis.”

This research uses both survey estimates from the 2012-2016 American Community Survey five-year data and administrative 2016 Opioid Prescribing Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Higher Rates in Southern States

• Four states ­— Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi — have among the highest rates on both measures – opioid prescribing and adults age 30 and over raising grandchildren — while Minnesota has one of the lowest.
• Some states on the list of the top and bottom five do not differ statistically from states that are not on the list.
• Five states among those with the highest percentage of both the population age 30 and over raising grandchildren and opioid prescribing rates are located in the South.
• Five states that are among the lowest percentages of the population age 30 and over raising grandchildren and opioid prescribing rates are spread across regions.”

Read more about this story by clicking on this link. https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2019/04/opioid-crisis-grandparents-raising-grandchildren.html

Children Under 5 Among Most Undercounted in Last Census

AMERICA COUNTS STAFF  |  NOVEMBER 13, 2019

“Counting every person in the United States in a census every 10 years is a challenge. But counting every infant and toddler in the country may be one of the most challenging parts of the job.

Parents and adults with young children often don’t realize they need to include all children who live with them fulltime or at least most of the time.”

“In the 2010 Census, nearly 1 million children (4.6% of children under the age of 5) were not counted, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

In fact, children under age 5 are one of the largest groups of undercounted people in the United States.

Counting young children will be vitally important in the 2020 Census because population statistics are used by local, state, and federal lawmakers to determine how to spend billions of dollars in federal and state funds annually over the next 10 years.

Much of that money funds programs that directly affect children. They include nutrition assistance, Head Start, special education, foster care, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program and housing assistance to help a child’s family.

Click on the link to find out more information. https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2019/11/big-push-to-count-every-newborn-young-child-2020-census.html