"We are currently sending people to do presentations to get them ready to be counted, "said Census manager Anthony Muñoz.
Census workers known as crew leaders are making their rounds visiting hospitals, dorms, group homes -- and other places that house large groups of people. "We want people to have confidence in us ... to give us the basic information that we are requiring."
They also want people to be wary of scammers -- people impersonating census workers in an effort to gain your personal information.
Muñoz warns, "There are no questions regarding your social security number, there are no questions regarding personal finance -- there are no questions regarding citizenship. Anytime somebody comes and is requiring that, it is probably not a census worker."
Census workers will always carry official identification badges ... and they probably won't visit your home unless you don't fill out your questionnaire or they need clarification.
Munoz said, if you're suspicious of a caller or someone at your door, contact your local census office. "If people don't have confidence in the census they will not cooperate. If people don't cooperate we are limited in funding. The whole census wouldn't work."
Census questionnaires will be mailed out mid-March ... But in certain areas, counting will officially begin March 1st. These are people that may live in rural areas and use post office boxes.
The Census is still looking to hire hundreds of people locally -- The number to call: 1-866-861-2010.
