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Dress Rehearsal Site--Questions and Answers Menominee Reservation, Wisconsin |
Q: What is the purpose of a dress rehearsal?
A: The Census Bureau uses the dress rehearsal to provide for
operational testing of regional census center (RCC), local census
office (LCO), and data capture center (DCC) procedures and systems
planned for use in Census 2000, including the production of prototype
data products that comply with the requirements of Public Law 94-171
and provides an opportunity for others to comment on the range of
standard products and their formats. The dress rehearsal also may
include some procedures and systems that have not been tested
operationally in any prior field or processing activity.
Q: Why is it important to have an American Indian reservation in the dress
rehearsal?
A: In the 1990 census, the most significant undercount of any population
groups was on American Indian reservations. It is important for the
Census Bureau to test Census 2000 methods to address the differentials
for this type of area.
Q: Why did the Census Bureau select the Menominee Reservation, Wisconsin?
A: Compared to other American Indian reservations, the Menominee Reservation
had a very high proportion of American Indians living on the Reservation.
Additionally, the Census Advisory Committee on the American Indian
and Alaska Native Populations recommended the Menominee Reservation.
Q: Did the Census Bureau consider the labor market in the site selection
process?
A: Based on our experience in the 1990 census and the 1995 Census Test, and
our selection process, the Census Bureau believes that a variety of
factors will present challenges for staffing the dress rehearsal
operations, regardless of the unemployment rate. The greatest challenge
with any pool of applicants is our ability to communicate the requirements
of the job clearly; namely, that the data collection positions involve
almost exclusively evening and weekend work, especially in hard to
enumerate areas.
Q: What was our hiring experience in the 1995 Census Test?
A: The Census Bureau experienced hiring difficulties in all three sites,
though each had a relatively high unemployment rate. These hiring
difficulties included high turnover, difficulty recruiting staff to
work in specific areas and during the times and days required, and
competition from other longer-term employment opportunities. Based
on this experience, unemployment rate does not seem to be a very good
indicator of hiring difficulty.
Q: How many people will the Census Bureau hire to conduct the dress rehearsal
on the Menominee Reservation?
A: The Census Bureau anticipates peak staffing of about 30 temporary
workers. The duration of the jobs will vary from a few weeks to nine
months.
Q: Whom should people seeking employment contact?
A: People seeking employment may contact the Chicago Regional Office, as
follows:
Bureau of the Census
2255 Enterprise Drive
Suite 5501
Westchester, Illinois 60154-5800
Telephone: 708-562-1350
FAX: 708-562-1788
Q: Will the Census Bureau change sites if it does not receive the funding
required in Fiscal Years (FYs) 1997 and 1998 to cover the cost of the
planned dress rehearsal?
A: We are hopeful that the Congress will provide sufficient funding to carry
out the dress rehearsal as planned. In the event that our funding level
for FY 1997 or FY 1998 falls below the requested level, we will assess
how to reduce the cost of the dress rehearsal. We do not have the
option of switching sites because preparatory activities, such as
procurement of space for the local census offices and the development
of the master address file, require a long lead time. In a worst
case scenario, we will drop one or more sites.
Q: What are the benefits to the localities? What data will they get?
A: In addition to the job opportunities created within the Menominee
Reservation, they will have the opportunity to observe first-hand the
methodology planned for Census 2000. This experience could be
beneficial in preparing for the decennial census. The Census Bureau
also plans to provide some data tabulations to the tribal government.
Q: What is the Census Bureau's history of tests and dress rehearsals?
A: As part of the planning for each decennial census, the Census Bureau
conducts a series of tests and dress rehearsals. The tests and dress
rehearsals conducted before the 1990 census and in preparation for
Census 2000 are outlined below.
1990 Census
1985 Test Censuses
- Tampa, FL
- Jersey City, NJ
1986 Test Censuses
- Central Los Angeles County Test Census - included 21 jurisdictions
within Los Angeles County
- East Central Mississippi Test Census - covered a 7 county area,
including an American Indian reservation
1987 Test Census
- North Central North Dakota Test Census - covered a 10 county area,
including 2 American Indian reservations
1988 Dress Rehearsal
- St. Louis, MO
- East Central Missouri - covered a 14 county area
- Eastern Washington - covered an 8 county area, including 2 American
Indian reservations
Census 2000
1995 Census Test
- Oakland, CA
- Paterson, NJ
- Northwest Louisiana - covered a 6 parish area
1996 Community Census
- Acoma Pueblo and Trust Lands, NM
- Fort Hall Reservation and Trust Lands, ID
- Chicago, IL (7 census tracts)
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