Overview of Census Operations and Recruitment Strategies - Maricopa Association of Governments

1. Field Operations Presentation Presented to the Maricopa Association of Governments – October 7, 2004 Presented By: Dennis R. Johnson Mark K. Hellfritz Vicki A. McIntire Jay M. Occhiogrosso

2. Presentation Will Focus On… • A) Major operations: • - Recruiting • - Listing • - Group quarters • - Non-Response Follow-Up (NRFU) • B) Timing of Operations

3. Additional Topics… • Types of jobs available • Pay scales and benefits • Expected hours of work • Office space and logistics

4. Finally… • Talk about publicity, marketing, and • partnerships • Tie everything together by explaining your role • Segue into discussion on marketing

5. Getting Started • Local Census Office opens January 2005 • On-site Manager reports for duty • Office furniture/computers, etc. arrives • Manager hires initial office staff

6. The Recruiting Process • Manager hires 6 –10 office clerks for phone bank - from list provided by local governments • Manager hires 6-10 Crew Leaders to conduct testing sessions - from list provided by local governments • Ads placed in papers for listers in February/March • Phone bank takes calls from potential employees and schedules testing dates and sites • Manager trains crew leaders to conduct testing sessions

7. The Testing Process • Need to test 3000 people • Person must have qualifying score to be considered (70%+) • ½ hour test – 35 questions - math - map reading - following instructions

8. The Testing Process • Complete application paperwork • Short interview to be conducted with those that have qualifying test score

9. The Testing Process • Federal Government Veteran’s Preference rules will apply • Background checks will be performed on all individuals chosen • Selections made by local office following standard federal selection procedures

10. Types of Jobs, Pay Scales • Local Census Office Clerks - $ 11.43 • Listers/Enumerators - $ 11.43 • Crew Leaders - $ 12.79 • No Benefits!

11. Training • Performed by crew leaders 3 day training • 1st trainings will be in April 2005 for listing operations • Will train up to 20 people at one time • Will continue testing throughout listing period

12. Listing Operations • What is Listing? • Systematic canvassing of a census block • Recording address or physical location description of each housing unit (HU)

13. Listing Operations • How is Listing Done? • Listers will have a list of addresses from the 2000 Decennial Census and any updates since 2000 • Listers will go door to door to verify, add, delete or make corrections to this list

14. Listing Operations • Listing will begin in mid-May and end July 30th • Will hire 300 - 400 listers • Will list 13,000+ census blocks Hu’s

15. Listing Operations • Each lister will be given an assignment of approximately 150 HU’s at one time • Each assignment should take one week to complete • As lister completes assignment, we will assign more work • When all blocks are completed for a jurisdiction, listings are sent for processing and sampling

16. Group Quarters (GQ’s) Operations • Verify GQ’s in July 2005 via telephone from matched lists (March 4 and July 8) - service provider organizations - from locally provided lists - and from Census Bureau Records • Pre-visit to outdoor locations in August

17. Group Quarters (GQ’s) Operations • Expect 150 listers to become GQ/outdoor location enumerators • Will need to recruit and hire and additional 150 enumerators • Will continue recruiting in July - same procedures as other recruiting • Will train in late August 2005 • Conduct outdoor locations and GQ operations in mid-September

18. Non-Response Follow-Up (NRFU) • Expect 150 enumerators from GQ operations to work NRFU • Need to recruit/train additional 200+ • Continue recruiting in August and train from mid September through November 2005 • Start NRFU operations mid-September and complete December 15

19. NRFU Operations Specifics • Expecting 50% mail return and 25% via phone from telephone Center • 25% of workload, approximately 25,000 – 30,000 HU’s, via field operation • Higher mail return rates = less field operations = cost savings

20. NRFU Specifics • Enumerator makes personal visit to HU and conducts interview • Quality check on work is completed in office after review by crew leader in field • Enumerators will make at least six personal visits and/or telephone calls

21. Timeline

22. How Can You Help? • Recruitment: • Donate Rooms for testing sites • Accommodate up to 25 people • Handicapped accessible • Available from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. • Tables and Chairs • Census Bureau will work out exact schedule with local government

23. How Can You Help (cont.) • Recruitment: • Provide list of names of people interested in Census jobs • Publicize jobs and refer candidates to Census Bureau staff • Training Space: • We will be training in the spring and fall for major operations and will need training rooms

24. How Can You Help (cont.) • Crew Leader Meeting Areas: • Crew Leaders will meet with enumerators daily during major operations • Will need desk/table, chairs, phone if possible • Duration: • May through July • October through December

25. How Can You Help (cont.) • Furniture and Equipment for Central Office • Desks and Chairs • Office Supplies • Will be coordinated through MAG • Publicity and Marketing Support

26. Success Through Partnerships • Establish partnerships with community groups • and organizations • prepare press releases for their newsletters and newspapers • educate groups on importance of survey • Provide materials (posters, brochures, etc) so they can talk with constituents and prepare them for September 1