ROCK ISLAND - The Western Illinois Area Agency on Aging, in partnership with the Illinois Department on Aging, is supporting an accurate count for Illinois in this year’s census.
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ROCK ISLAND - The Western Illinois Area Agency on Aging, in partnership with the Illinois Department on Aging, is supporting an accurate count for Illinois in this year’s census. On April 1, Illinois will join the rest of the nation for a count of every living person in the United States.
According to the U.S. Constitution, a count must be done every 10 years. The results of this census could have dramatic ramifications for local communities in several ways. Hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding and our ability to adequately get resources to our communities is on the line. This includes Medicaid part B, supportive housing for the elderly, and community centers.
In addition, the number of seats Illinois has in the U.S. House of Representatives for the next 10 years will be determined by the census count in 2020. All Illinoisans deserve proportionate representation in the U.S. Congress, and a fair and accurate census count is how our state ensures that happens.
Finally, state and local governments will use census data to redraw electoral maps in order to align with the principle “one person, one vote.” In Illinois, legislative maps will be re-drawn and this will impact the size and make-up of each district in the Illinois General Assembly.
Since the 2020 Census will be the first that will be completed largely online and carries such weight, WIAAA wants to make sure all older adults are counted. They are committed to ensuring these individuals are accurately represented in this important effort. To assist in the coming weeks, they will offer public presentations of Census 2020 information, distribute information, and partner with community members across their 10-county region (Bureau, Henderson, Henry, Knox, LaSalle, McDonough, Mercer, Putnam, Rock Island and Warren) to assist and inform older adults about their essential participation in the 2020 Census.
About the Western Illinois Area Agency on Aging:
WIAAA is an Aging and Disability Resource Center that serves a 10-county area. Their mission is to empower and support older adults, adults with disabilities, and their caregivers by providing quality services, resources, and opportunities to maintain independence and elevate quality of life.