Central Counties Health Centers

The 2020 Census is happening now and it’s very important to be counted. The census takes place once every ten years and counts everyone living in the United States. It’s easy to take – it only takes about ten minutes to complete, and there are three ways to take it. But first, let’s do some quick reminders:

Your answers are 100% confidential and federal law protects your responses. So don’t worry – your information is safe!
The information you provide can only be used to provide statistics and cannot be used by any government agency or court.
The census, or any person representing the census, will NEVER ask for your social security number, banking or credit card info, and they will NEVER ask you for money. The census is 100% free.

Thanks for those reminders. So, how do I take the census?

Great question! As mentioned before, there are three ways:

By mail
Online
By phone

Let’s break each of those down!

Mail

By now, you should have received a few census related items in the mail. Invitations went out in March and the actual census went out in April. If you haven’t taken the census yet, you may have also received a reminder postcard or two as well.

To respond by mail:

Verify the questionnaire. You can do this by making sure the outer envelope’s return address says “U.S. Census Bureau” and “U.S. Department of Commerce.” The return envelope to mail back your completed census will be addressed to either Jeffersonville, IN or Phoenix, AZ.
Now you are ready to fill out the census!
Once you are done, put the census in the enclosed return envelope and place it in the mail. Postage has been taken care of.

Online

Responding online is a fairly simple way to respond to the census; all you need is a computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. It is important to note, if you are filling out the census online you cannot save your progress. Be sure to allow about 10-15 minutes to log on and complete the census since it must be completed in one sitting. Let’s get started!

To respond online:

Go to my2020census.org
Locate your Census ID on the letter or questionnaire you received from the Census Bureau. If you cannot find your letter or locate your ID, that’s ok. You can still complete the census without it. Simply visit the online form and select “Start Questionnaire.” Below the ID field, choose the link that says, “If you do not have a Census ID, click here.”
If you have your ID, select the “Start Questionnaire” button. You will be prompted to enter your 12 digit ID.
You are now ready to fill out the form!

Phone

So online questionnaires and snail mail are not your thing. That’s ok – you can complete the census over the phone!

To respond by phone:

Call 1-844-330-2020
Follow the prompts.

If English is not your first language and you or someone you know prefer to take the census in your native tongue, there are over 15 languages available to you. Follow the link https://2020census.gov/en/ways-to-respond/responding-by-phone.html for a complete list of languages and phone numbers.

Well, that’s it – three easy ways to fill out the census, three easy ways to make sure you are counted in the 2020 Census. 9 questions and 10 minutes of your time to determine how $675 billion dollars is divvied up between communities across the nation every year for the next 10 years.

Your voice matters. Be counted.

Uncategorized

Does the Census Really Matter?

April 29, 2020April 28, 2020 Central Counties Health Centers

Do our schools matter? Our hospitals? Do roads, bridges, transportation, and community programs matter? Yes, all of these things matter. They are the foundation and building blocks of communities around the nation and without them – without proper funding for them – it can be difficult for communities to thrive and grow.

Just like schools, hospitals, and roads are important, so is the census. But first, what is the census exactly?

The U.S. census is kind of like a survey. It asks about 9 questions designed to help the government get an accurate count of how many people are living in the United States. That count includes citizens, legal residents, long-term visitors, and undocumented immigrants. The census also helps the government determine individual’s age, sex, marital status, race, income, education, and languages spoken in the home.

Why does the government need to know this about me and my family?

The data gathered from the census helps to distribute funds to communities across America. Cities and towns have programs that are funded by the federal government (think Medicaid, Medicare, food stamps, food pantries, etc.) and the government has about $900,000,000,000 (that’s $900 billion) to spread out across the states – that’s a lot of zeros. The funds distributed are determined by a community’s size, income, age, and some other factors.

So, do I really need to fill out the census?

Yes! Why? Because you matter. The people living in your home matter. Back in March and the beginning of April, you should have received some mail from the 2020 Census. This is your census form. You can fill it out and pop it back in the mail. If you want to fill out the census online you can go to http://www.2020census.gov or, you can call 1-844-330-2020 and fill out the census over the phone.

If you prefer to speak to someone local or have questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to us at Central Counties Health Centers: 217-788-2300. We will be more than happy to speak you .

Uncategorized

2020 Census

March 19, 2020 Central Counties Health Centers

What is the census? Why is it important? Does it really affect me? What does my community get out of it? Is my information safe?

You may find yourself asking these questions, and more, wondering why the big deal surrounding the census and what’s the point if I do it anyways? Well, hopefully we can help answer some of these questions for you! In the below video, you will find some answers and other great information to boot.

Still have questions? Leave a comment below and someone from our census team will be more than happy to answer any questions you have.

Cervical Health, Jacksonville Illinois, Prevention, Screening, Springfield Illinois, Taylorville Illinois, Women's Health

January is Cervical Health Awareness Month

January 14, 2020 Central Counties Health Centers

Nearly 13,000 women in the US are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year, but the disease is virtually always preventable with vaccination and appropriate screening from your OBGYN or family physician.

Prevention

Human Papillomavirus, or HPV, is a sexually transmitted infection causing 70% of cervical cancers. HPV vaccines can help prevent infection from high-risk HPV types leading to cervical cancer. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends all boys and girls, ages 11 through 14, receive the HPV vaccine as it produces a stronger immune response during these years. For this reason, only two doses of the vaccine are required. The vaccine is also available to males and females ages 15 through 45, however, three doses are required for the full preventative effect.

Screening

Since women are at a higher risk for cervical cancer, it is recommended you see your physician for a pap test. These tests can find changes to the cells in the cervix caused by HPV and help healthcare providers know which women are at a higher risk for cervical cancer. For women over 30, it is recommended you receive either one, or both, pap and HPV tests.

Please ask your health care provider how often you should be screened, and which tests are right for you.

At Central Counties Health Centers, we offer both HPV vaccines and pap tests. For more information call (217) 788-2300.

Children's Health, Flu Season, Healthy Lifestyle, Jacksonville Illinois, Springfield Illinois, Taylorville Illinois

National Handwashing Awareness Week

December 17, 2019 Central Counties Health Centers

It’s not the most glamorous subject, we admit, but boy is it important. Here’s why handwashing should not be ignored.

Experts recommend washing your hands with soap and clean water for at least 20 seconds. Be sure to get a good lather going and clean the back of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails. Dry your hands using a clean towel.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calls handwashing a “do-it-yourself vaccine” and suggests using five easy steps:

Wet
Lather
Scrub
Rinse
Dry

The four principles of handwashing are:

Wash your hands when they are dirty and before you eat (of feed a child)
Do not cough into hands
Do not sneeze into hands
Do not put your fingers in your eyes, nose, or mouth

So why do we need to wash our hands?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, handwashing can prevent one in three diarrhea-related illnesses and one in five infections, including the flu.

The CDC also reports that only 31% of men and 65% of women wash their hands after using a public restroom.

A typical human sneeze exits the body at about 200 miles per hour and emits around 40,000 droplets into the air.

Thinks of how many things you touch during an average day. Now imagine how many of those things were touched by other people’s hands. Yuck! Remember to wash your hands to prevent the spread of germs.