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Snelman Spotlight March 28. 1980 Pt Modifications in 1980 Census Local Review Program Announced by Census Bureau Modifications in a plan to seek local review of the population and housing field counts obtained in the 1980 census were an nounced today (March 3, 1980) by the Bureau of the Census, U.S. Department of Commerce. The Local Review Program, announced last year to officials in 39,500 counties, cities, and town ships, will give these officials a chance to study the accuracy of census totals before the Bureau’s temporary district offices are closed. Under the modified program, a single review of the population and household counts will take place in June of this year. Previously, the program called for a review prior to Census Day (April 1) and a second review af ter the enumeration had been completed by census field workers. The precensus review was to have covered only counts of addresses on the mailing lists used for mailing out question naires and for checking in questionnaires as they are retur ned. Elimination of the precensus review was decided upon when it became clear that the address counts would not include an unanticipated number of ad dresses to be added clerically just prior to April 1. The Bureau adds addresses to the mailing lists right up to the time of mailing out questionnaires in order to insure a complete an accurate census. A secondary factor in the decision involved maps needed by local officials to check the counts. To produce the maps early enough for the precensus review would have imposed strains on the tight schedule of census operations which Bureau officials believed it was necessary to avoid. The postcensus review which covers both nooulation and housing counts will be done at an earlier point in the census process than had been previously scheduled. “Although changes have been made to technical elements of the program,” Census Director Vin cent P. Barabba wrote in a letter to local officials, “the basic ob jectives remain the same and are being met by the present Local Review Program. The revised plan reflects our continued com mitment to joint Federal-local cooperation in the interest of a complete and accurate census. ‘The decision to modify the scope and timing of the Local Review Program has both ad vantages and disadvantages,” an attachment to the Director’s let ter points out. “On balance, however, we believe the purpose of local review is being served ef fectively. Housing unit counts are being provided at a time when they are virtually final. While population counts may be revised slightly during the final phase of the census, the impact is likely to be insignificant for the local government unit as a whole. “Because the counts are being provided at an earlier point in the census, there will be a longer period during which the problems reported by local of ficials can be resolved. “It should be noted,” the at tachment adds, “that while the length of the review period for local officials will still be 10 working days, the census district offices will remain open for about another month duriang which district office personnel can work with local officials to solve problems. Under the original plan, the offices would have closed approximately 7 to 10 days after postcensus local review.” The Local Review Program is an effort by the Census Bureau to satisfy local officials concerning the accuracy of the counts. In the 1970 census, questions con cerning accuracy could not be in vestigated fully by the Bureau because local governments often did not have clear evidence ot alleged mistakes and their con cerns were raised after the tem porary census offices had been closed. Since early 1979, the Bureau has been working closely with local government officials and their national organizations to ex plain how the Local Review Program will work. Technical manuals have been sent to the 39,500 local governments which have agreed to take part, and Bureau staffers have conducted workshops for local officials. Alpha Phi Alpha Calls for Accurate Black Count in Census Alpha Phi Alpha, one of the nation’s largest Black fraternities, has unanimously approved a resolution urging support in the Black community for the 1980 census. In calling on each member of the fraternity to take an active role in the census effort. Alpha President James Williams said. “We should all be aware that the Census is vital to the progress of our communities and the effort to reach minority groups deserves the strong support we have always given to voter registration and other humanitarian efforts.” Results of the 1980 census will help determine how and where more than 50 billion dollars in Federal funds are spent each year. In addition, census figures will be used to apportion seats in the U.S. House of Represen tatives, and most States will use the data to redraw their legislative boundaries as well. Noting the critical importance of the 1980 census to the Black community. Williams pointed out that “We must make certain that our population receives an ac curate count—and the benefit of the attendant governmental ser vice upon this information.” A census questionnaire will be mailed to every household on March 28. The questionnaire should be completed as soon as possible, and depending upon the .instructions, either mailed back on April 1 or held until a census taker arrives to pick it up. Williams noted that the resolution encourages each chap ter and Alpha member to actively seek minority participation in the 1980 census. During the Alpha convention he observed that “We urged the Census Bureau to strive to fully involve ethnic minorities in the Agency’s efforts. We are thus far pleased with the Bureau’s work with individuals and organizations in our community,” he said. CEP !g§^ Were counting on you. You, the people. That's what the Census has been about since the first one was taken in 1790. Now, the Census is help ing people more than ever bv providing information needed to allocate funds for jobs, schools, hospitals, parks and much more. Your answers also assure vour area of equal representation in Congress. All answers are kept confidential bv law. Blacks Living Longer Despite Increase in Cancer, Heart Disease Death Rate Since the turn of the century, the life expectancy at birth of Black Americans has shown a dramatic increase. An equally dramatic increase in the death rate from cancer and heart diease has occurred. These findings are contained in a statistical profile, released last J une, that traces the growth and development of the Black population from 1790 to 1978. The report noted that a sub stantial increase in the life ex pectancy at birth of Blacks has occurred in the present century. However, life expectancy for Blacks is still six years less than that for White. BLACK FEMALES STILL LIVE LONGER THAN BLACK MALES The report also shows that Black females continue to have a longer life expectancy at birth than Black males. In 1900-1902, Black males could expect to average 33 years, and Black females, 35 years. However, by 1974 the life expectancy of both Black males and females had shown a dramatic increase to 63 years at birth for the Black male, and 71 years for the Black female. Most of these gains oc curred during the first half of the decade. CANCER AND HEART DISEASES ON THE INCREASE Death rates from cancer and heart disease have inccreased among Blacks. In 1910, cancer and heart disease accounted for 12 percent of all Black deaths and 16 percent of all White deaths. By 1974 the same diseases ac counted for 46 percent of all Black deaths and 58 percent of all White deaths. HOMICIDE RATE IN CREASING From 1960 to 1974, the death rate due to homicide almost doubled for both Blacks and Whites. The rate for 1974 was 39.7 deaths per 100,000 for the Black population and 5.8 deaths per 100,000 for the White population. ACCURATE COUNT OF 1980 BLACK POPULATION SOUGHT Additional information about the Black population will be ob tained from the 1980 Census of Population and Housing, which begins April 1. Every household will receive a census question naire on or about March 28, and everyone is urged to complete the questionnaire accuratelv. An individual’s census answers are confidential by Law, and can be published only as part of statistical totals. Results from the 1980 census will help decide how billions of dollars in State and Federal funds are allocated. Interested persons seeking more information about the importance of the 1980 cen sus to the Black community are urged to call their nearest regional census center. Single copies of the report, The Social and Economic Status of the Black Population in the United States: An Historical View. 1790-1978, P-23, No. 80, are available for $4.50 from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Of fice, Washington, D.C. 20402, or from Commerce District Offices in major cities throughout the United States. Answer the Census. A Public Service of This Magazine & ®5| The Advertising Council COUKl At one time in Scotland fish ermen would help ensure a catch by throwing one of their number from the boat and then hauling him out of the water as if he were a fish.