TEXAS CENSUS RESPONSE LAGS THE NATION

Only 53 percent of Texas households have responded to the 2020 Census, compared to the national average of 58 percent.

There are three ways to be counted ­- online, by phone, or by mail. If you have not yet completed the once-in-a-decade survey, please do so and encourage others to do so as well. It typically only takes a few minutes and is critically important to a fast-growing state like Texas.

Because the results of the survey are used to determine how much funding local communities receive for key public services and how many seats Texas gets in Congress. Officials also use census counts to draw boundaries for congressional, state legislative, and school districts. Getting an accurate count of all residents is critically important to providing the services Texans need, including the services DFPS provides to protect children and vulnerable adults.

Remember that the census is more than a population count, it’s an opportunity to help shape the future of Texas communities.