NAPCA Partners With The US Census Bureau and AARP

Originally published: June 18th, 2020
Contact: Emiko Ormsbee
emiko@napca.org

SEATTLE, WA – The National Asian Pacific Center on Aging (NAPCA) announces in-language assistance for older adults and their caregivers with the 2020 Census submission process. Bilingual live operators in English, Vietnamese, Korean, Mandarin, and Cantonese are available Monday, Wednesday, and Friday between the hours of 8:30 am – 1:00 pm (PST) to answer questions about the Census and assist with online, phone, and paper response. “Our work with the Census Bureau and AARP symbolizes the importance of cross-industry partnerships in supporting our AAPI older adults. NAPCA is here to ensure we make every effort to be a national resource for our seniors throughout the country so that they are counted and heard,” said Joon Bang, President & CEO, NAPCA.

The National Asian Pacific Center on Aging (NAPCA) has been a proud partner of the Census Bureau for decades and renewed the organization’s role as a Census Information Center (CIC) in 2014. The Census Bureau’s CIC program was established in 1990 to effectively disseminate information and data produced by the Census Bureau to underserved communities. According to their CIC agreement, the Census Bureau has determined that this goal cannot be accomplished effectively without the participation of the National Asian Pacific Center on Aging. NAPCA provides the Census Bureau greater access to and feedback from these communities in the conduct of the Census Bureau’s mission of data collection and dissemination. “AARP is so pleased to partner with NAPCA to help AAPIs fulfill our civic duty of filling out the 2020 Census to make sure our elders are counted,” stated Daphne Kwok, Vice President, Asian American and Pacific Islander Audience Strategy, AARP.

“The AAPI community has been historically underrepresented in the Census count. According to the 2020 Census Barriers, Attitudes, and Motivators Study Survey Report, 38% of Asian American responders were unfamiliar with or not very familiar with the Census. When compared to other racial groups, Asian Americans reported to be the least likely to respond to the Census, and the most likely to believe their information would be used against them. Misinformation like this keeps the AAPI community from responding, which keeps their communities from getting federal funding for Medicaid, community centers, and first responders. Responding to the Census is a quick and simple way to do your part and ensure your community gets the funding it deserves.” – Emiko Ormsbee, Community Resource Manager, NAPCA

NAPCA will offer information about the Census in the form of live, in-language Helpline counselors, in addition to literature on the NAPCA website. Bilingual live operators in English, Vietnamese, Korean, Mandarin, and Cantonese will be available Monday, Wednesday and Friday between the hours of 8:30 am – 1:00 pm (PST) to answer questions about the Census and assist with online, phone, and paper response. Census information in the form of videos (with support from AARP) and factsheets are also available on the NAPCA website in English, Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Korean, Japanese, Tagalog, and Spanish.