DETROIT – Beginning May 1, the U.S. Census Bureau will launch Non-Response Follow-Up (NRFU) operations in which census takers will go door-to-door to collect information from households that did not return their census forms by mail. Residents from the local community have been hired as census takers to complete this important task.

“The Non-Response Follow-up Operation plays a vital role in helping achieve an accurate 2010 Census count and determine the allocation of federal funds for community services,” said Dwight Dean, Director for the Census Bureau’s Detroit Regional Office. “We ask that you cooperate with census takers should they contact you. It’s easy, important and safe. Information collected by census takers cannot be shared with any other government agency; they’ve taken a lifetime oath to not reveal any private data and face a $250,000 fine or imprisonment if that oath is broken. Additionally, all Census enumerators have undergone an extensive background check.

“Getting an accurate and complete count is still very important, which is why we send people to knock on doors,” said Kim Hunter, Media Team Leader for the Detroit Regional Census Bureau. “More than $400 billion for schools, hospitals and roads is at stake and we need to obtain 100 percent Census participation in order for Detroit to get its slice of that pie.”

U.S. Census takers are easy to identify and will have a census ID badge that contains a Department of Commerce watermark. The census taker also may carry a bag with a Census Bureau logo. If asked, the enumerator can provide the resident with supervisor contact information and/or the Local Census Office phone number for verification. Census workers will never attempt to contact individuals by e-mail.

The enumerator will only ask the 10 questions found on the 2010 Census form. Census workers will never solicit funds of any type.

If census workers are unable to reach a household member in-person, they will also attempt contact by phone to conduct the interview with the household member

The Local Census Office began monitoring mail response rates through the data capture centers shortly after March 17, 2010 to begin estimating the local NRFU workload. The NRFU operations are scheduled to be completed by July 10, 2010.

For information on NRFU operations, visit www.2010census.gov.