This assessment of the National Partnership program concludes that while there were operational difficulties similar to those faced by other large national campaigns, the program met its goals and helped make the 2010 Census Integrated Communications Program a success.

The National Partnership Program had three programmatic goals:

• Goal 1: Make contact with national organizations representing various target populations;
• Goal 2: Get national partners to sign the partnership agreement form or verbally commit to assist in the 2010 Census campaign; and
• Goal 3: Get national partners to mobilize local affiliates. Engaged national governmental and non - governmental organizations to mobilize their local affiliates and chapters to support the 2010 Census at the local level through completed partnership outreach activities.
  

The overall partnership program had both a national and regional focus, building partnerships with state, local, and tribal governments, community - based organizations, and the private sector. Census Bureau National Partnership staff was responsible for establishing partnerships with national governmental organizations such as the Veterans Administration, U. S. Conference of Mayors, and the Social Security Administration. Staff was also responsible for establishing partnerships with national non - governmental organizations such as: community action/advocacy groups, chambers of commerce, foundations, labor unions, religious organizations, and youth organizations.

The Census Bureau asked its partners to assist in three major areas: 1) data collection support, 2) recruitment, and 3) promotion. National partners rose to the challenge through a variety of activities. Partners assisted in recruiting millions of individuals to conduct various census operations and make public endorsements of the 2010 Census. Partners put drop - in articles in their newsletters and other publications, developed co - branded products using 2 010 Census logos and messaging, distributed and displayed 2010 Census promotional materials, and included 2010 Census messages on their websites. Partners translated Census Bureau prepared products into languages other than English. Partners included the Census Bureau on the agenda of national (and regional) annual meetings to speak to their constituencies during plenary sessions or to do workshops. Census Bureau staff also exhibited during national conferences to develop awareness with attendees about the census.

This report draws on a number of diverse sources for program feedback and assessment including :

• Analysis of the Integrated Partner Contact Database , a customer relationship management tool used to document staff and partner activity;
• Formal Formal feedback from staff solicited through a lessons learned/best practices session;
• Formal debriefings on National Partnership program facilitated by the 2010 Census Publicity Office through their formal 2010 Census Integrated Communications Program debriefing and;
• Miscellaneous qualitative feedback from staff and contractors.
• Some of the most notable specific findings of this assessment show that the National Partnership program:
• Provided a good channel for communicating with organizations that service the target population s . National Partnership staff provided direct support for their assigned partners’ activities and on several occasions participated in partner sponsored activities.
• Helped to increase partner organizations’ census awareness level to serve as the trusted third party voice in promoting participation to their stakeholder communities. Specific tactics used to raise partner awareness included regular communications through : calls, email blasts, training webinars, and featuring or involving partners in Public Service Announcements.
• Exceeded outreach efforts compared to the Census 2000 campaign. The National Partnership program for the 2010 Census was more robust and successful; more national organizations participated and their activities were m ore high - profile and impactful.
• Produced or coordinated production of relevant and helpful materials.
• Utilized population - specific materials in useful ways, with some exceptions. Partners were very positive and receptive to the myriad of in - language materials available, though a more researched production and distribution plan could have yielded better return on investment per language.
  

Some recommendations for the 2020 Census are:

• Start the entire partnership planning and implementation process earlier. Ramp up the program beginning with at least a skeleton staff in FY 2017 versus FY 2018.
• "Ever green” the National Partnership program into an ongoing program during the intercensal years to maintain contacts and relationships, keep up the Custom er Relationship Management database, and provide value to other ongoing census programs.
• Increase the coordination among all the various levels of Census Bureau staff associated with the partnership programs — do more embedding of disparate staffs, more regular mandatory meetings, more co - attendance at outside events, etc.
• Identify and partner with more emerging population organizations that reach out to groups not as familiar to the typical Census Bureau stakeholder realm (disabled, young people, multi - ethnic, etc.).
• Develop a unified, systematic approach to determining value added contributions and minimize the subjectivity of this critical metric.