The U.S. Census Bureau and the Federation of Pediatric Organizations are partnering to reduce the undercount of children. Together they will host a free event for children at the Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland. The news conference and event will focus on promoting the importance of counting young children during the 2020 Census.

Before the event, there will be a news conference where Census Bureau Director Dr. Steven Dillingham and the Federation of Pediatric Organizations will announce a major effort to ensure young children are counted in the census beginning next month.

Additionally, national and local partners, including The Rainey Institute, Sesame Workshop and Dr. Seuss Enterprises, will provide engaging activities for young children and their families. The Great Lakes Science Center is offering free admission to attend the 2020 Census event.

Census responses inform the distribution of billions of dollars in federal funds for services that benefit children, including food assistance, Head Start, childcare, housing support, public schools, early intervention services for children with special needs, and children’s health insurance. A newborn or toddler counted in the 2020 Census as of April 1, 2020, will be in or completing elementary school during the next census in 2030. It is important to count them now so they benefit from critical childhood services over the next 10 years.

Dr. Steven Dillingham, director, U.S. Census Bureau

Kirsten M. Ellenbogen, Ph.D., president and CEO, Great Lakes Science Center

Judy Aschner, M.D., chairperson, Federation of Pediatric Organizations

Helen Forbes Fields, executive vice president and general counsel, United Way

Tracy Garrett, Government Affairs, Sesame Workshop

Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020
9 a.m. to 10 a.m. (EST) News Conference
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (EST) Family Festival

Great Lakes Science Center
601 Erieside Ave.
Cleveland, Ohio 44114

Members of the media who wish to attend the news conference, please RSVP here. Members of the media who wish to attend the event in person should RSVP here by 11 p.m. (EST), Friday, Feb. 21. If you wish to participate via livestream, select that option when you RSVP and you will receive an email confirmation with a link to the livestream.

Please contact the Census Bureau’s Public Information Office at pio@census.gov  or call 301-763-3030 to request an interview.

Event materials can be accessed by visiting the Census Bureau Newsroom. 

The news conference will be live streamed from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. EST. To view the event online, visit the Census Live page at <www.census.gov/newsroom/census-live.html>.

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Validated parking is available on site.

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