Background Foster Care Placements When children are removed from their homes, state or local child welfare agencies are typically responsible for coordinating their placement and provision of services. State or local child welfare agencies may also contract with private child welfare agencies to help them administer child welfare services. Child welfare agencies often place children in a foster home or in group care settings, depending on the child’s needs. Children placed in foster families may live with unrelated foster parents, relatives, or fictive kin (e.g., close family friends who are not relatives). Group care settings— also known as congregate care—typically include group homes and child care facilities that provide 24-hour care and/or treatment for groups of children. For example, these settings may include child care institutions, residential treatment facilities, or maternity homes, according to HHS. Child welfare agencies may provide foster caregivers with a monthly payment (referred to as a foster care maintenance payment) to help cover the costs of a child’s care, as determined by each state. Children generally remain in foster care until a permanent suitable living arrangement can be made, either by addressing the issues that led to the child’s removal and returning the child to his or her family; or through adoption, guardianship, placement with a relative, or another planned permanent living arrangement. In some cases, the child reaches adulthood before leaving foster care, commonly referred to as “aging out” of foster care. Historically, aging out typically occurred at age 18, but some state-funded programs implemented prior to the enactment of the Fostering Connections Act in 2008 allowed youth to remain in care beyond their 18th birthday. Federal Funding for Child Welfare Programs Title IV-E of the Social Security Act authorizes federal funding to state child welfare agencies to help cover the costs of operating their foster care programs. ACF administers title IV-E and oversees states’ foster care programs for compliance with IV-E requirements. Title IV-E is the largest single federal source of funding for child welfare programs, comprising about 89 percent of federal child welfare appropriations in fiscal year 2017 (approximately $7 billion of nearly $7.9 billion), according to ACF. Under title IV-E, states can access funding for their foster care programs in a few ways. Title IV-E reimbursements: Title IV-E funds may be used to reimburse states for a portion of expenses to support the daily care and supervision of eligible youth in foster care (such as for food, clothing, and shelter). The eligibility requirements generally limit reimbursements under title IV-E to youth that were removed from homes with very low incomes, among other criteria. However, some states have received waivers from certain title IV-E funding requirements to carry out HHS-approved demonstration projects. According to HHS, under these waivers states receive a capped allocation of title IV-E funds for youth in foster care, and these funds are generally reserved for youth under age 18. Chafee Program funds: The Chafee Program provides funding to states, under title IV-E, for support services that are intended to assist eligible youth in the transition to adulthood. Chafee Program funds are allocated to each state based on the state’s proportion of the nation’s foster care caseload. Through the Chafee Program, states can offer services to youth who have experienced foster care at ages 14 or older, youth who are likely to age out of foster care, and certain older youth who have aged out or left the foster care system. States generally have flexibility in determining the goals, strategies, and other features of their Chafee programs, as long as states design and conduct their programs based on the key purposes outlined in the law. Chafee Program services may include help with education, employment, financial management, housing, and emotional support through mentoring. State and county child welfare agencies may contract with private entities to provide these services. Up to 30 percent of a state’s Chafee Program allotment may also be used for room and board costs for certain eligible youth. According to HHS data, services provided under the Chafee Program may vary by state, including the extent to which states provide room and board financial assistance services. While title IV-E is the primary source of federal funding available to states for child welfare programs and services, states may also use other federal funds, such as title IV-B of the Social Security Act, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Social Services Block Grant funds, as well as Medicaid. State child welfare agencies also generally combine state and local funds with federal funds to support their programs. According to a state survey funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation and Casey Family Programs, in state fiscal year 2014, 43 percent of all child welfare expenditures were from federal sources, and 57 percent were from state and local funds. Federal Option to Extend Care Since the Fostering Connections Act was enacted in 2008, HHS has as of February 2018 approved 26 states and six federally recognized tribes to claim title IV-E funding to extend foster care to youth ages 18 to 21. According to ACF, most of these states (19 of 26) began offering federally funded extended care between 2010 and 2012, with one state beginning to provide extended care as recently as 2018. States have several different options for implementing their extended care programs. For example, in order to be eligible for extended care, title IV- E requires a youth to meet at least one of five employment or education conditions specified in the statute. States can choose to use all or some of these conditions to determine which youth are eligible for their extended care program (referred to in this report as “eligibility criteria”). In addition, states can utilize supervised independent living settings for youth in extended foster care—a placement setting not typically available for federal reimbursement for youth under age 18. (See table 1 and fig. 1). Supervised Independent Living The amendments made by the Fostering Connections Act permit states to use title IV-E funds to place eligible youth age 18 or older in supervised settings in which the youth live independently. According to a research brief sponsored by ACF, supervised independent living settings are unlike other foster care placement options (such as foster homes and group homes) because they are primarily intended for youth in extended care. States may place youth under age 18 in supervised independent living settings, but, as previously noted, they generally may not seek federal reimbursement for foster care maintenance payments for youth under 18 in such settings. According to ACF’s program instructions for implementing the Fostering Connections Act, state child welfare agencies have the discretion to develop a range of supervised independent living settings which can be reasonably interpreted as consistent with the law, including whether such settings need to be licensed and any safety protocols that may be needed. These instructions state that child welfare agencies may determine that—when paired with a supervising agency or supervising caseworker—host homes, college dormitories, shared housing, semi- supervised apartments, or other housing arrangements meet the supervised setting requirement. Youth in such settings may not have onsite caregivers and often have increased responsibilities, such as paying bills, assuming leases, and working with a landlord, according to ACF documentation. However, youth may receive foster care services, such as financial support and case management, to help them become successful adults. Additionally, ACF encouraged child welfare agencies to continue to work with youth who are in supervised independent living settings to ensure that youth form permanent connections with caring adults. This could include exploring options for guardianship, adoption, or living with other caring adults, and helping youth work towards those outcomes. Extended-Care States Reported Providing a Range of Supervised Independent Living Options and Some Allow Youth Under 18 to Live Independently Supervised Independent Living Arrangements in Extended-Care States Range from Group Settings with On-site Staff to Individual Apartments with Minimal Supervision In response to our survey, all 26 extended-care states reported offering a variety of supervised independent living arrangements as a placement option for older youth in care, with most of the options falling largely in two broad categories—transitional living programs and private residences—in addition to a range of other types of supervised independent living settings (see fig. 2). Overall, across 21 of the 26 extended-care states for which we analyzed placement data, about 34 percent of youth in foster care who were ages 18 to 21 were placed in supervised independent living settings in state fiscal year 2017 (see appendix I for additional information). Twenty-three of the 26 extended-care states reported that they offer transitional living programs as a type of supervised independent living arrangement. Generally, officials said these programs provide youth with the opportunity to practice daily independence and may include on-site case management and high levels of support built into regular programming. Supports may include experiential learning activities to build independent living skills, such as grocery shopping and budgeting. Local officials in California told us that transitional living programs are a stepping stone to independence, and they encourage older youth to start in one of these programs before living on their own. In our discussion groups with youth in extended care, youth told us transitional living programs helped them gradually move towards more independence and learn how to pay bills on their own. Officials we spoke with in the five selected states—California, Illinois, Maryland, New York, and Tennessee—described transitional living programs that use single-site or scattered-site models, or both, ranging from a group of youth living in a single family home to youth living in apartments dispersed across a geographical area (see table 2). Local caseworkers may continue to check in with youth in both single-site and scattered-site transitional living programs, but private agencies operating these programs are typically responsible for providing more frequent case management and supervision, according to officials in the selected states (see text box). One youth in a scattered-site program in California told us that he meets with his county case worker every couple of months, but he meets with program staff on a weekly basis and sometimes several times a week. Examples of Single-Site and Scattered-Site Transitional Living Programs in Selected States Single-site program: Officials from a single-site, all-male program in Tennessee described it as a family-like environment. Youth in the program live in cottages and house managers live in private quarters attached to the cottages. Program participants have their own bedrooms, and share bathrooms and common areas such as the kitchen. Youth over age 18 do not require 24-hour supervision, but have 24-hour access and daily interaction with the house managers. Youth typically receive an allowance of $150 per month (reduced to $100 if they are employed) to purchase personal items such as hygiene products. Scattered-site program: Officials from a private agency in California explained that their agency holds master leases on one- and two-bedroom apartments across Los Angeles and Alameda counties for youth who have demonstrated their readiness for more independence. An education and employment specialist or youth advisor meets with youth living in these apartments once a week, but youth can access program staff via phone anytime and are encouraged to attend activities at the agency’s main site. Youth receive a monthly stipend for personal expenses and their rent is paid by the program, but they are encouraged to work to manage additional living expenses. Those who stay in the program until they age out of foster care may remain in the apartment and take over the lease. Officials and representatives of private agencies we spoke with in four of the selected states said that they have transitional living programs specifically for certain populations that need specialized support. For example, Illinois officials described programs in their state that specialize in serving youth with mental illnesses, youth who are developmentally delayed, pregnant or parenting youth, youth who are dually involved with child welfare and justice systems, and youth with problematic sexual behaviors, such as sexual offenders. (See sidebar.) Private Residences State and local officials we spoke with in the selected states said that youth who are ready to practice living more independently, in many instances with no on-site supervision, may live in private residences. Youth in these settings may choose where they would like to live, in comparison to youth in transitional living programs whose options may be limited to the apartments and facilities offered by the programs. Officials said that youth may live in apartments or private homes that are integrated in the community, and they are often responsible for signing their own lease or rental agreement. According to officials in the selected states, the level of supervision provided to youth living in private residences varies, but is generally less than youth in transitional living programs. Officials we spoke with in all five selected states confirmed that, at a minimum, case workers are expected to have monthly, in-person contact with youth. These visits are typically to confirm if youth are still in their living arrangement, and to determine if youth are experiencing any challenges, such as limited access to resources in their community. However, officials said that some youth may receive more frequent case management and supervision, such as youth who have behavioral or mental health conditions. For example, officials at one private agency in Illinois told us their staff have weekly check-ins with youth who require legal assistance or have mental health needs. State and local officials in two states mentioned that in addition to monthly in-person contact, case workers typically have more frequent communication with youth via phone calls, texting, or video conferencing. If youth are located far away to attend college or pursue other opportunities, caseworkers may use these alternative modes of communication to maintain contact and provide support. For example, a case worker for a private agency in Illinois told us that she video chats with her client twice a week, and communicates via text messaging and email several times a week, to provide support for this college student living in a private residence while studying abroad. Generally, states vary in the types of settings they allow for private residences, according to our survey results. Among the 26 extended-care states, the most common types of settings states reported offering include living in a shared apartment or home with a friend or roommate (25) or living in a private apartment or home (24). Most states reported that they also allow supervised independent living arrangements where a young person lives in a foster family home (20) (see text box). Living Arrangements with Current or Former Foster Parents In response to our survey, most states reported that they allow youth in supervised independent living arrangements to live with a foster parent. Officials in two states mentioned that because these placements are considered supervised independent living settings, youth are eligible to receive a stipend directly from the child welfare agency for rent and living expenses. The youth and their foster parent(s) may establish a rental agreement so the youth can practice paying rent. In three states, officials also said that they provide foster families with information and resources to teach and demonstrate independent living skills, such as cooking and cleaning a home. State and local officials said this arrangement allows youth to remain connected to a supportive adult, while also learning to live independently. In our discussion groups with youth in extended care, one youth told us that living with a foster family can be a good choice when a youth has a good bond with the foster parents, and when the foster parents allow the youth to have more independence. Youth in private residences typically receive a stipend to pay for their rent and other costs, according to our survey results. States reported that stipend amounts ranged from $421.80 to $1,715 per month. However, states reported having different expectations for youths’ responsibilities in covering their living expenses. Officials in some states said they require youth to supplement their stipend with income from their employment to cover living expenses. Officials in other states said they may encourage youth to work because the stipend may not be enough to cover most of their housing and other costs. Officials in one county said that youth may receive up to $850 per month but that amount may be adjusted based on the income they earn while attending school. In another state, officials reported that youth are expected to pay at least $50 towards their rent and, depending on the young person’s budget and financial obligations, the child welfare agency typically pays the difference directly to the landlord. One youth we spoke with in Illinois said that while working and going to school part-time, he built up his savings with help from the stipend that he received from the child welfare agency. Other Supervised Independent Living Settings States also reported allowing youth to live in a variety of other types of supervised independent living arrangements. According to our survey, other types of supervised independent living arrangements include college dorm rooms (22 states), Job Corps or employment training programs (21), single room occupancies (19), or mental health or substance use treatment facilities (15). Officials we spoke with said that they continue to provide case management and supervision to youth in these placements, and may also support youth with a stipend to assist with living expenses. Additionally, they said that when colleges go on break during the winter or summer, case workers work with youth to find a temporary placement if needed to ensure there is no lapse in housing. Temporary placements may include living with former foster parents, friends, or renting their own apartment. States Reported Allowing Youth Under 18 to Live in Supervised Independent Living Arrangements in Certain Instances and Providing Additional Supports Supervised independent living settings are primarily intended for youth age 18 and older in extended care; however, some states also reported allowing these arrangements for youth under 18. In response to our survey, 19 of 26 states reported allowing youth under age 18 to live in supervised independent living arrangements. State and local officials said that in instances when youth under 18 are placed in supervised independent living arrangements, they are generally placed in college dorms or transitional living programs. In one state we visited, a transitional living program official said that the program accepts youth as young as 15 years old in a very few instances. (See table 3.) Local officials and case workers said that they place youth under age 18 in supervised independent living settings on a case-by-case basis if their case worker determines that the young person is mature and capable enough to manage living with less supervision (see text box). In response to our survey, 17 states reported that when youth under age 18 are placed in supervised independent living settings, they generally receive additional supervision or supportive services compared to youth 18 and older. Two states reported that no additional supervision or supportive services are provided for youth under 18 in independent living arrangements beyond those provided to youth ages 18 to 21. Officials we spoke with in three of the five selected states provided examples of the additional supports they offer to younger youth in these settings. Officials at one private agency in Tennessee told us that if youth under 18 in their transitional living program are unable to ride the bus to high school, program staff will transport them to school. State officials in California said that generally, youth under 18 living in transitional living programs receive more hands-on support. Officials at one private agency in California said the supports provided to youth under 18 in their transitional living program include 24 hour access to on-site program staff and weekly meetings with their case manager. Officials in Maryland told us youth under 18 living on their own receive additional case management support to evaluate how the youth is adjusting to living on their own, and to provide additional guidance on budgeting and household management. While many states allow youth under age 18 to live in supervised independent living settings in certain circumstances, over half of all extended-care states (15 of 26) reported that the typical age that youth enter this placement type is 18. Officials in three of the selected states said that even when the state allows it, these arrangements are not often used for youth under 18. Additionally, officials we spoke with reported that highly independent settings, such as their own apartment, are typically reserved for youth age 18 or older. States Reported Considering Youths’ Readiness for Supervised Independent Living, but Officials Noted that Housing Availability can Affect Placements Most states we surveyed reported considering youths’ readiness, such as life skills, education, and employment status, when placing youth in supervised independent living arrangements. Officials we spoke with in four of the five selected states similarly noted that supervised independent living is most appropriate for youth who have demonstrated their readiness. These officials also noted that they consider the availability of housing options, including for youth with complex needs, which can affect youths’ placement in supervised independent living arrangements. Life skills. In response to our survey, most states reported considering youths’ life skills when placing youth in supervised independent living. Specifically, 19 states reported requiring or recommending that youth participate in an assessment to gauge their mastery of certain life skills, such as the ability to budget finances or schedule medical appointments. For example, state officials in California said they developed an assessment form with questions such as whether youth understand the risks associated with using credit cards, can shop for food and prepare meals, and know how to do laundry. Caseworkers in one California county said that they consider youths’ ability to manage their living costs and their rental responsibilities prior to approving a supervised independent living placement. Education and employment. Most states also reported considering education and employment when placing youth in supervised independent living. Specifically, 16 states reported requiring or recommending that youth have a high school diploma or General Education Development certificate, or be enrolled in secondary or post- secondary school, in order to be placed in supervised independent living. Additionally, 17 states reported requiring or recommending that youth be employed or enrolled in a job training program. For example, in Illinois, youth who want to live in private residences must have a job for at least 45 days prior to being referred for placement, and continue working for at least 15 hours per week while in the private residence. Five states reported considering other indicators of readiness beyond life skills, education, and employment when placing youth in supervised independent living settings. For example, the District of Columbia reported requiring that youth (1) have no pending or unresolved criminal proceedings at the time they apply for supervised independent living, and (2) have a checking account with a minimum balance of $100 and actively participate in the child welfare agency’s financial literacy program. Availability of housing options, including for youth with complex needs. State and local officials in two of the five selected states said that they may place youth in private residences as a default or short-term option when no other living arrangements are available for youth age 18 or older. For example, officials in Tennessee said that transitional living programs and other housing options for youth outside of metropolitan areas are more limited. To ensure that youth in these areas do not experience homelessness, the officials said they may rely on other living arrangements, such as providing youth with stipends to live in private residences. Additionally, officials in New York and California said in certain localities, there may be constraints offering certain supervised independent living settings due to a lack of affordable housing. For example, officials in one San Francisco area county said some youth who want to live independently choose to move to a different part of the state, or even out of state, because their stipend for a private residence is insufficient to afford an apartment there. Officials in all selected states also said that there are shortages of foster parents willing to provide care for youth ages 18 to 21, which can generally affect their options for living arrangements. State and local officials from all five selected states also cited challenges finding housing options that are equipped to serve certain subpopulations of youth with complex needs, such as youth with acute mental health needs, youth that are also involved in the juvenile justice system, and pregnant and parenting youth. For example, local and private agency officials said state child welfare agencies may require parenting youth in supervised independent living settings to be in larger apartments, which may be too costly to afford. In addition, officials in four selected states said private agencies may be less likely to accept youth with acute mental health conditions or youth involved in the juvenile justice system if the agencies do not have the resources to address their needs. In addition to these considerations, officials we spoke with in all five selected states and other stakeholders said they consider the importance of giving youth in extended care greater involvement in decision making as they become adults. Local officials in California said they believe in allowing youth to take risks and experience the challenges of living independently while they have support from the child welfare system. Similarly, local officials in Tennessee said that giving youth choices in their living arrangements and considering their needs and goals is important for keeping them engaged in extended care. Most States Reported Using Title IV-E Funding for Supervised Independent Living Arrangements but Several had Low Title IV-E Eligibility Rates for Youth in Extended Care Most (24 of 26) extended-care states we surveyed reported using title IV- E funds to support youth in supervised independent living arrangements. Most (19 of 26) states also reported using Chafee Program funds, which primarily support independent living services, to fund supervised independent living arrangements. For example, state officials in Tennessee said that in certain situations when youth need to secure an apartment quickly, officials may use Chafee Program funds to help with the deposit. Officials in Illinois told us that they also use some Chafee Program funds for room and board, particularly for youth who are not title IV-E eligible. In addition to title IV-E and Chafee Program funds, most states reported using a combination of sources, including other federal funds such as those available under title IV-B of the Social Security Act, as well as state and local funds, to pay for supervised independent living arrangements. All states reported using state funds for supervised independent living (see fig. 3). Although most states reported using title IV-E funds to support supervised independent arrangements, in several states, few youth in extended care (regardless of their living arrangement) were eligible for title IV-E funding. In 14 of the 17 extended-care states for which we calculated eligibility rates, we found that the majority of youth ages 18 to 21 in care were not eligible for title IV-E reimbursement in state fiscal year 2017, meaning that the state was responsible for most or all of the cost of their care. We found that six of the states had title IV-E eligibility rates of 30 percent or lower. Two states, Virginia and Hawaii, had eligibility rates of over 70 percent (see fig. 4). State officials we spoke with in three of the five selected states said that ineligibility frequently stems from family income exceeding the income limit for title IV-E funding. Specifically, title IV-E is limited to youth removed from homes that would have qualified for cash assistance under the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program as of July 16, 1996. To receive title IV-E funding, youth must have met eligibility requirements at the time they were initially removed from their home, or at the time of their voluntary placement agreement. ACF has reported that fewer families meet the AFDC income standards over time, thereby reducing the number of all youth who are eligible for title IV-E funding, regardless of their age. In 2018, we reported on declining title IV-E eligibility rates for the entire population of youth in foster care. Officials we spoke with in Illinois and Tennessee said they reconsider a youth’s title IV-E eligibility once the youth turns 18, using the youth’s income at that point in time. Officials from these two states told us they close the original foster care case when a young person turns 18 and then reopen the case when the young person re-enters extended care. Using this approach, officials said they can base the title IV-E eligibility determination on the youth’s income at the time of re-entry into the foster care system, rather than the income of the home from which the youth was removed upon initially entering foster care. Illinois officials said this process helped increase the eligibility of their extended-care population by more than 30 percent since 2012. Officials we spoke with in the remaining three selected states said they do not use this approach. ACF officials said that states can choose to close and re-open cases for youth in extended care, which would allow new eligibility determinations based on a youth’s income. However, ACF officials said they do not monitor states’ choices in this area, or how states’ choices affect their title IV-E eligibility rate. Officials said they focus on helping states identify options and provide examples in ACF program instructions so states can determine what works best with their own policies and procedures. Four states (Arkansas, Indiana, Maryland, and Massachusetts) reported in our survey not claiming title IV-E reimbursements for any youth in extended care in state fiscal year 2017. Officials in two states, Indiana and Maryland, reported not claiming title IV-E funds for youth in extended care at least in part because they use a title IV-E waiver. However, according to ACF, states can claim title IV-E reimbursements for youth over 18 in addition to their waiver funds, so these two states may be able to claim additional title IV-E funds for their extended care population. State officials in Arkansas told us they have not yet established the proper procedures, internal controls, and monitoring mechanisms to allow them to claim title IV-E funds for youth in extended care. Officials said they do not have systems to track when youth may have lost their jobs or dropped out of school, which could affect the youth’s eligibility for extended care. Selected States Reported Offering a Range of Training and Other Supports to Prepare Youth in Extended Care to Live Independently Youth in Extended Care May Receive Targeted Assistance in Selected States, As Well As Training and Other Supports Offered to All Older Youth in Care To help youth develop independent living skills and successfully transition out of care, state and local officials in four of the five selected states reported offering targeted training and support for youth ages 18 to 21. For example: Officials in one Maryland county said they offer youth nearing age 21 a 3-week intensive training focused on employment and housing called “Keys to Success.” According to officials, Keys to Success offers experiential learning through cooking demonstrations, budgeting and financial literacy training, group trips to stores to look at furniture or interview-appropriate clothing, and housing fairs. (See fig. 5.) Officials from Youth Villages, a national nonprofit organization, said they offer the organization’s intensive YVLifeSet program to youth in extended care in Tennessee. The program generally lasts six to nine months and pairs youth with a specialist to meet with weekly to help them achieve their goals for independent adulthood. For example, to help youth maintain employment, officials said specialists can help youth build skills such as how to handle conflict with supervisors or coworkers, provide customer service, and understand job expectations, among others. In Illinois, the state’s “Countdown to 21” program is intended to encourage youth to plan for long-term education and vocational goals, and promote their financial stability through financial literacy training. All youth, at age 19, are referred to the financial literacy training, which covers topics such as credit and investing, and officials said most youth complete the training prior to exiting extended care. Officials in one California county said they offer youth ages 18 to 21 an annual public transportation pass through the Youth on the Move program, to ensure they can get to work or school. According to ACF, some extended care states also have a specialized case management system for youth over 18. For example, officials from one county in Maryland told us that all youth in foster care are automatically enrolled in a supervised independent living case management track when they turn 18. This case management system is intended to identify a youth’s areas of need and design a plan to prepare them for living independently, regardless of their current living arrangement. Youth in extended care can also participate in independent living services that are offered more broadly to all older youth in foster care. Officials in all five selected states reported offering services that support youth in extended care in their housing, education, financial literacy, and employment goals, as well as offering health education, mentoring, and training on daily living skills (e.g., grocery shopping and budgeting). Examples of types of services the selected states reported offering to all older youth include: Housing. Officials from Youth Villages described how their organization assists youth in Tennessee to learn to find and maintain stable housing. For example, Youth Villages specialists work with youth to search for affordable housing options, develop a housing budget, complete applications, and address background check issues. Specialists also help youth build and maintain relationships with roommates and landlords. Education. County officials in New York described how a local community college helps youth complete financial aid forms, and conducts college day simulations and resume-building workshops. Financial literacy. County officials in Maryland told us they offer classroom instruction on financial literacy which includes how to understand financial aid, good banking practices, and how to asses loans and grants. Employment. In California, county officials told us about several programs they offer to help youth meet their employment goals, such as a youth worker program in which 16- to 21-year-olds are hired to rotate through different county departments for 18 months. Health. County officials in Maryland told us they offer yoga classes and other stress reduction techniques, as well as outings to local clinics for youth to learn about family planning resources. Mentoring. County officials in California told us they host weekly social events to establish community connections between youth in care, and youth have regular meetings with supportive adults focused on building connections with family and friends. Daily living. Officials at a private agency in Illinois told us the youth in their housing programs have a set schedule to participate in different life skills activities, such as cooking, doing laundry, and other chores. Although officials in all five selected states said they offer a variety of training and supports to help youth in extended care develop independent living skills, officials in these states also said that youth may experience challenges using these skills. For example, officials said youth in private residences may have difficulty covering their living expenses, which can lead to evictions. A New York county official said some youth living on their own may struggle with the lack of structure and the amount of independence in making their own decisions and setting their schedule. For these youth, officials said the child welfare agency will increase the level of case management, and offer additional support or services. Selected States Reported Directing Youth in Extended Care to Services Based on Their Needs and Encouraging Participation with Financial Incentives To best support the development of independent living skills in youth in extended care, officials we spoke with in all five selected states said they use assessments such as the Casey Life Skills assessment, transition planning, or regular check-ins to determine youth goals, direct youth to services to meet their needs, and to measure their progress. A county official in New York described how private child welfare agencies use the Casey Life Skills assessment every 6 months for youth in care to target services to areas in which the youth needs to build skills. Through its Ready by 21 program, Maryland has yearly independent living benchmarks for youth, starting at age 14. Officials we spoke with said that caseworkers can use these benchmarks to assess a youth’s progress towards living independently, create an individual service plan based on their progress, and direct youth to additional resources as needed (see fig. 6). In addition, title IV-E requires that caseworkers assist youth with developing a transition planning document. According to state and local officials, youth periodically meet with their caseworkers to discuss their progress on their goals, and caseworkers may provide additional guidance and support as needed during these meetings. For example, a caseworker in Tennessee described providing youth funds for driver’s education classes and licenses, prom expenses, and extracurricular activities, based on conversations with youth about their needs. Officials we spoke with in all five states also discussed providing financial incentives to encourage youth to participate in independent living services. For example, according to officials in Illinois, if youth complete the financial literacy course offered by the state child welfare agency, they receive $1,200 when they exit care. County officials in Maryland described participating in the Jim Casey Opportunity Passport program. In this program, officials said, youth who complete financial literacy training are eligible for a matched savings program of up to $3,000 to purchase an asset, such as a car. In our discussion groups with youth in extended care, youth told us that they are responsible for taking the initiative to participate in services, but financial incentives are helpful. Youth told us that as a result of these incentives, as well as other supportive savings programs, some are able to exit care with substantial savings. Agency Comments We provided a draft of this report to HHS for review and comment. In response, HHS provided technical comments, which we incorporated as appropriate, but did not provide general comments on the draft report. As agreed with your offices, unless you publicly announce its contents earlier, we plan no further distribution until 30 days from its issue date. At that time, we will send copies of this report to interested congressional committees and to the Department of Health and Human Services. In addition, the report will be available at no charge on the GAO website at http://www.gao.gov. If you or your staff have any questions about this report, please contact me at (202) 512-7215 or larink@gao.gov. Contact points for our Offices of Congressional Relations and Public Affairs may be found on the last page of this report. GAO staff who made key contributions to this report are listed in appendix II. Appendix I: Youth in Extended Foster Care by Placement Type Figure 7 below presents the total number and percentage of youth in extended care by living arrangement (referred to as placement type) during states’ fiscal year 2017. Table 4 and Figure 8 present the number and percentage of youth in extended care by state and placement type during each state’s fiscal year 2017, respectively. Placement types include foster family homes with relatives or non-relatives, group homes or institutions, supervised independent living arrangements, and other types of arrangements. Figure 7, Table 4, and Figure 8 present information for 21 extended-care states. We excluded five of the 26 extended-care states we surveyed because they reported point in time data that did not reflect their entire state fiscal year 2017, or they reported data that were not reliable for the purposes of our analysis. To develop Figure 7, Table 4, and Figure 8, we assessed the information we collected in our survey of extended-care states on youth ages 18 to 21 for whom the state child welfare agency had responsibility for placement, care, or supervision during states’ fiscal year 2017. We administered the survey to state child welfare agencies in the 26 states approved by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to offer federally funded extended care as of February 2018. The survey was conducted between August and October 2018 and we obtained a 100 percent response rate. Specifically, we asked states to provide data on the number of these youth in care by placement type. In addition, we asked states to provide data on the number of youth under age 18 that were placed in supervised independent living or other independent living arrangements. To ensure the quality and reliability of the survey, we pretested the questionnaire with three extended-care states to check (1) the clarity and flow of the questions, (2) the appropriateness of the terminology used, (3) if the information could be easily obtained and whether there were concerns about the reliability of data that would be collected, and (4) if the survey was comprehensive and unbiased. We revised the questionnaire based on the pretests. We reviewed responses to assess if they were consistent and contained all relevant information, and followed up as necessary to determine that states’ responses were complete, reasonable, and sufficiently reliable for the purposes of this report; we excluded data where we had concerns about their reliability. Appendix II: GAO Contact and Staff Acknowledgments GAO Contact Staff Acknowledgments In addition to the contact named above, Sara Schibanoff Kelly (Assistant Director), Aimee Elivert (Analyst-in-Charge), Ada Nwadugbo, and Alexandra Squitieri made key contributions to this report. Also contributing to this report were Lucas Alvarez, Sarah Cornetto, Erik Gartland, Jean McSween, Mimi Nguyen, Jessica Orr, Jerry Sandau, and Almeta Spencer. Related GAO Products Foster Care: Additional Actions Could Help HHS Better Support States’ Use of Private Providers to Recruit and Retain Foster Families. GAO-18-376. Washington, D.C.: May 30, 2018. Foster Care: Most Tribes Do Not Anticipate Challenges with Case Goal Changes but HHS Could Further Promote Guardianship Assistance. GAO-16-625. Washington, D.C.: August 8, 2016. Higher Education: Actions Needed to Improve Financial Access to Federal Financial Assistance for Homeless and Foster Youth. GAO-16-343. Washington, D.C.: May 19, 2016. Foster Care: HHS Could Do More to Support States’ Efforts to Keep Children in Family-Based Care. GAO-16-85. Washington, D.C.: October 9, 2015. Foster Care: HHS Needs to Improve Oversight of Fostering Connections Act Implementation. GAO-14-347. Washington, D.C.: May 29, 2014. Child Welfare: States Use Flexible Funds, but Struggle to Meet Service Needs. GAO-13-170. Washington, D.C.: January 30, 2013. Foster Youth: HHS Actions Could Improve Coordination of Services and Monitoring of States Independent Living Programs. GAO-05-25. Washington, D.C.: November 18, 2004.


1. What is a "census"? A census, as distinguished from a survey, is intended to be a complete count of the population. A scientifically designed and conducted survey covers a sample of the population, and the results are generalizable to the whole population. 2. Why is a census necessary? The U.S. decennial census is, foremost, a constitutional requirement. The Enumeration Clause of the Constitution (Article I, Section 2, clause 3, as modified by Section 2 of the Fourteenth Amendment) mandates "counting the whole number of persons in each State" every 10 years in order to apportion seats in the House of Representatives. The first census occurred in 1790; 2020 marks the 24 th time the national count has taken place. The modern census is important for more than House apportionment. Decennial census data are used for within-state redistrictingâthe redrawing of legislative districts. Decennial census and related data are used in certain formulas that determine states' and localities' annual allocations of federal funds, estimated by the Census Bureau as of FY2015 at $689.3 billion and by an academic researcher as of FY2017 at $1.5 trillion. The decennial counts also are the foundation for estimates of current population size between censuses and projections of future size. Businesses, nonprofit organizations, researchers, and all levels of government are steady consumers of decennial and related data collected by the Census Bureau. 3. When will the census happen? April 1, 2020, is the official Census Day. The count starts before, and census activities continue beyond, April 1, however. On January 21, 2020, the Census Bureau began the enumeration by counting the population in remote Toksook Bay, Alaska. The bureau is to start making in-person visits to nonrespondents in May 2020. By law, the bureau must provide the official numbers for House apportionment to the President no later than December 31, 2020. Also by law, states that requested 2020 population counts for, as examples, American Indian areas, counties, cities, towns, census tracts, census block groups, census blocks, and "state-specified congressional, legislative, and voting districts," must receive the data no later than March 31, 2021. The final design of the file containing these data remains to be specified, but the file will include data on "voting age, race, ethnicity, occupancy status, and (new for the 2020 Census) group quarters." The rollout of other census products is scheduled to continue until 2023. 4. What has the Census Bureau done to promote awareness of the census and build support for it? The Census Barriers, Attitudes, and Motivators Study The Census Bureau has researched ways to engage the people who likely will be hardest to count in 2020. For example, the Census Barriers, Attitudes, and Motivators Study (CBAMS), also called the "2020 Census Planning Survey," was conducted from February 20 through April 17, 2018, with a nationwide sample of 50,000 households. It covered, according to the bureau, "a range of topics related to census participation and completion." Respondents could complete the survey in English or Spanish, online or by mail. "Approximately 17,500 people responded to the survey, which was then weighted to be representative of all householders in the United States ages 18 and older." The bureau focused on differences in responses "across race, age, gender, education, and country of birth." Qualitative information gathered from 42 focus groups in 14 locations nationwide from March 14, 2018, through April 19, 2018, supplemented the survey results. The bureau reported that the use of focus groups was "designed to help the research team understand the attitudes of small demographic groups or groups that were otherwise difficult to reach with the survey." The "chief barrier" to 2020 census participation identified in the survey and the focus groups was "a lack of understanding of the purpose and process of the census." The focus groups showed this lack to be "associated with several negative attitudes toward the census, including apathy, privacy concerns, fear of repercussions, and general distrust of government." The survey results indicated that "certain demographic characteristics, including low levels of education, being young, and being of racial or ethnic minority groups," were related to "low levels of intent" to respond to the 2020 census. The survey and the qualitative findings, however, "revealed common motivators" for answering the census. Despite "important differences" among demographic groups, "funding for public servicesâsuch as hospitals, schools, and roadsâis a key motivator across groups." The bureau observed that respondents resembling the people in the focus groups, especially, might understand "the importance and purpose of the census if they make the connection between completing a census form and the possibility of an increase in funding or support" for their communities. Communications Strategy The bureau used information such as gained from CBAMS to inform its $500 million communications strategy, developed by the bureau and its communications contractor, VMLY&R. Advertising As the bureau has explained, VMLY&R includes "multicultural advertising agencies, seasoned in reaching diverse audiences." An advertising campaign "in English and 12 other languages" will be part of the communications strategy. The languages are Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese), French, Haitian Creole, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese. As discussed under question 11, below, online questionnaires are to be available in the same languages. The bureau's schedule calls for paid advertising to begin running in January 2020, "across multiple platforms, including print and digital outlets, television and radio, billboards," and ads "at transit stations, grocery stores, and movie theaters." The two largest shares of the total paid media campaign budget are 39.0% for television and 29.1% for digital media. The campaign is expected to reach "99% of all households" nationwide, "particularly in multicultural and hard-to-count populations." The Partnership Program Another part of the communications strategy is the partnership program, which, in the bureau's explanation, "integrates two essential programs." The Community Partnership Engagement Program "employs the strengths of tribal, state, and local governments, as well as community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, schools, media, businesses, social services, ethnic organizations, and others." Much of the community partnership work is being "conducted by partnership specialists who are employed in the field leading up to and during" the census. The National Partnership Program "builds and strengthens relationships with businesses, industries and organizations with national reach." The two programs "are intended to be complementary" and draw on "the expertise of various Census Bureau employees to help maximize" census participation. The community partnership effort has, among other goals, the formation of Complete Count Committees (CCCs) in all 50 states, tribal areas, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and cities with at least 200,000 residents. A CCC, according to the Census Bureau, comprises "a broad spectrum of government and community leaders from education, business, healthcare," and other organizations. CCC members are to develop census awareness and encourage cooperation with the census "based upon their knowledge of the local community." Still being formed, CCCs are "identifying budget resources and establishing local work plans" for implementation in 2020. The bureau has compiled and posted on its website a guide for those interested in forming CCCs and an alphabetized list of existing committees, with any available contact information. An additional component of the partnership program is Statistics in Schools, which, in general, promotes statistical literacy for students from kindergarten through high school and, specifically, explains to students why the census is important. One goal is for students to bring this message home. A related goal is to make school-age children and the adults in their households aware of the need to count all children in a household, being sure not to miss any babies or other children under age five. They sometimes can be erroneously omitted from the list of household residents, as has happened in past censuses. The Response Outreach Area Mapper The Census Bureau has developed an application, the Response Outreach Area Mapper (ROAM), to facilitate identifying hard-to-count areas and provide socioeconomic and demographic profiles of these areas using American Community Survey (ACS) estimates. ROAM has helped the bureau, in its words, "create a tailored communications and partnership campaign" and inform "outreach activities and hiring practices across the country," in order to hire "an adequate number of staff and staff with the necessary language skills for a given area." One advantage of ROAM for census partners is that they can use it to identify specific areas most needing their attention. 5. How and when will people know that the census is underway? As the Census Bureau has explained, it will let most people know by mail. In March 2020, about 95% of U.S. households are to receive mailed "invitations" from the bureau to answer the census online. A household that does not respond is to receive reminders in the mail, then, in April, a paper questionnaire to complete. Almost 5% of householdsâincluding those who receive their mail at post office boxes and those recently displaced by natural disastersâare to have an invitation delivered by census workers. Not quite 1% of households are to be enumerated in person during the initial phase of the census. These households are in remote areas, like parts of Alaska and northern Maine and certain American Indian areas that have asked to be counted in person. 6. What questions will the census ask? The census form asks for the following basic information: the number of people living or staying in the respondent's home as of April 1, 2020; whether any additional people living or staying in the home were not counted; whether anyone in the home usually lives or stays somewhere else; whether the home is owned, with or without a mortgage, or rented; the respondent's telephone number (in case the Census Bureau needs to contact the person to clarify any responses); the name of each person in the household and the person's relationship to the respondent; each person's sex; the person's age and birthdate; whether the person is "of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin"; and the person's race. The bureau has emphasized that the census never asks a person for his or her Social Security number or bank or credit card account information, for any "money or donations," or for "anything on behalf of a political party." A form purporting to be a census form that requests such information is not from the Census Bureau and is not legitimate. 7. Some people expected the census form to include a Middle Eastern or North African (MENA) racial or ethnic category. WhyÂ doesn't it? The Census Bureau announced on January 26, 2018, that the form would not have a separate MENA category. A study the bureau released in 2017 noted that the "inclusion of a MENA category" in the 2015 National Content Test helped MENA respondents "more accurately report their MENA identities" and characterized the use of this category as "optimal." Later feedback, however, reportedly indicated the opinion of "a large segment" of the MENA population "that MENA should be treated as a category not for race but ethnicity," which "the bureau so far has not specifically tested." People of MENA background may continue to report themselves as "White." Two examples of "White" shown on the census form are Lebanese and Egyptian, both in the MENA category. The current Office of Management and Budget standards for federal reporting of race and ethnicity, which apply to the Census Bureau, designate "White" as "A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa." 8. The census form does not have a question about citizenship, despite the widespread public perception that it might. What happened? The 2020 census will collect only the basic data described under question 6, above. It will not ask people for detailed social, demographic, economic, or housing information, including about their legal, immigration, or citizenship status. A citizenship question was proposed, challenged, and ultimately not retained on the census form. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced on March 26, 2018, that the 2020 census form would include the current American Community Survey question on citizenship. The question is, as it has been in the ACS since before 2010, "Is this person a citizen of the United States?" A checkbox appears beside each of the following possible answers: "Yes, born in the United States"; "Yes, born in Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, or Northern Marianas"; "Yes, born abroad of U.S. citizen parent or parents"; "Yes, U.S. citizen by naturalizationâPrint year of naturalization"; and "No, not a U.S. citizen." The Department of Justice maintained that the census, not a survey like the ACS, was "the most appropriate vehicle for collecting" citizenship data "critical to the Department's enforcement of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act" and its "protections against racial discrimination in voting." Opponents of the citizenship question expressed concern that it might depress immigrants' census response rates or cause them to falsify data, especially if their status in the United States, or that of their friends or families, was illegal. Census Bureau fieldworkers in 2017 noted heightened anxiety about data confidentiality among certain foreign-born respondents and reluctance to answer questions, particularly about citizenship status. Six former bureau directors signed a January 26, 2018, letter to Secretary Ross, opposing the late-date introduction of a citizenship question that, at the time, had not been tested for the 2020 census. Multiple lawsuits were filed to block the question. Judge Jesse Furman, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, ruled on July 26, 2018, that a consolidated suit by the State of New York and others could proceed. The U.S. Supreme Court heard the case as Department of Commerce et al. v. New York et al. on April 23, 2019. The Court's decision, written by Chief Justice John Roberts and issued on June 27, 2019, found that the addition of a citizenship question did not violate the Enumeration Clause of the Constitution or the Census Act (Title 13, U.S. Code , Census ), but the Court held that Secretary Ross's decision violated the Administrative Procedure Act because his sole stated reason for adding the citizenship question was not the real reason for his decision. On July 11, 2019, the President issued an executive order stating that the ruling had "made it impossible, as a practical matter, to include a citizenship question on the 2020 decennial census questionnaire." The order, instead, directed "all executive departments and agencies" to give the department "the maximum assistance permissible, consistent with law, in determining the number of citizens and non-citizens in the country, including by providing any access" requested by the department to relevant administrative records. This action, the order continued, "will ensure that the Department will have access to all available records in time for use in conjunction with the census." On September 13, 2019, the organization LUPE and others filed a suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland against the Commerce Secretary, the Director of the Census Bureau, the Commerce Department, and the Census Bureau, seeking to block implementation of the executive order. The outcome of the suit remains to be determined. 9. Where are all the detailed socioeconomic and housing questions that some people say the census asks? The American Community Survey is occasionally confused with the decennial census. In past decades, through the 2000 census, the census consisted of a short form, with questions that applied to all U.S. residents, and a long form, which included the short form questions plus many more questions covering social, demographic, economic, and housing topics. The long form went to a representative sample of all U.S. residents, a 17% sample in 2000, and the results could be generalized to the whole resident population. The bureau discontinued the long form after 2000 and launched its replacement, the ACS, in 2005 and 2006. The bureau considers the ACS a part of the decennial census program but conducts it separately from the census. Although the census is administered once a decade, the ACS goes to a small sample of the population every month and, as did the long form, collects myriad data. ACS results are aggregated over time to produce one-year and five-year estimates. For the most populous areas, those with at least 65,000 people, sample data collected over just 12 months can be generalized to an area's whole population. For less populous areas, down to below 20,000 people, data have to be collected over five years to generate representative samples. All areas, however, receive new sets of estimates (either one-year or five-year estimates) every year. 10. What options will people have for responding? In 2020, for the first time, people will be able to answer the census online. Some people have heard or assumed that because they can answer online, they must answer online or the census will miss them. This concern is based on inaccurate perceptions. The bureau is emphasizing online responses because they can be quick and easy and because they can help control the cost of the census. Anyone who lacks internet access or simply prefers not to respond online, however, can fill out a paper questionnaire. People also will be able to submit their census answers by telephone, by calling Census Questionnaire Assistance centers. 11. How can people answer the census if they are not proficient in English or need language support? The Census Bureau will make the 2020 census questionnaire available online in 12 non-English languages: Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese), French, Haitian Creole, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese. The bureau will provide Census Questionnaire Assistance in the same languages and through a telecommunications device for the deaf. In addition, the bureau will make field enumeration materials available in Spanish and will provide bilingual (English and Spanish) paper questionnaires and related mailings. It also will provide language guides, language glossaries, and language identification cards in 59 non-English languages. The language guides will be available in video and print, including large print, and braille, as well as American Sign Language. 12. Can people ignore the census or refuse to answer it if theyÂ wish? Refusing or willfully neglecting to answer the census is illegal. Title 13, U.S. Code , Section 141, "Population and other census information," specifies that a decennial census is to be conducted. Section 221, "Refusal or neglect to answer questions; false answers," states, in full (a) Whoever, being over eighteen years of age, refuses or willfully neglects, when requested by the Secretary, or by any other authorized officer or employee of the Department of Commerce or bureau or agency thereof acting under the instructions of the Secretary or authorized officer, to answer, to the best of his knowledge, any of the questions on any schedule submitted to him in connection with any census or survey provided for by subchapters I, II, IV, and V of chapter 5 of this title, applying to himself or to the family to which he belongs or is related, or to the farm or farms of which he or his family is the occupant, shall be fined not more than $100. (b) Whoever, when answering questions described in subsection (a) of this section, and under the conditions or circumstances described in such subsection, willfully gives any answer that is false, shall be fined not more than $500. (c) Not withstanding any other provision of this title, no person shall be compelled to disclose information relative to his religious beliefs or to membership in a religious body. Title 18, U.S. Code , Crimes and Criminal Procedure , Sections 3559 "Sentencing Classification of Offenses," and 3571, "Sentence of Fine," effectively update the penalties for certain broad classes of offenses, without any specific mention of the census. Under this title and these sections, the possible penalty for the type of offense constituted by refusing or willfully neglecting to answer the census (13 U.S.C. 221(a)) is a fine of not more than $5,000. The possible penalty for providing any false census answer (13 U.S.C. 221(b)) is also $5,000. 13. Some people say that they filled out a census form in 2018 or 2019. Do they still have to answer the 2020 census? Yes. The Census Bureau did conduct limited 2020 census tests in 2018 and 2019. The 2018 test was the so-called dress rehearsal for the 2020 census, which the bureau described as "the last operational field test" before the actual census. The test was designed to "assess the readiness and integration of planned" 2020 "operations, procedures, systems and field infrastructure." It began in 2017 with address canvassing (explained under question 14. How will the Census Bureau know where people live so that it can contact them in 2020? , below) in Bluefield-Beckley-Oak Hill, West Virginia; Pierce County, Washington; and Providence County, Rhode Island. The enumeration phase of the test occurred in 2018 in Providence County only. As the bureau marked the "successful completion" of the test, a bureau official noted that work would continue through 2019 "to refine and scale" census systems "to ensure the best possible performance" in 2020. In 2019, the bureau selected a nationally representative sample of about 480,000 housing unit addresses to test how a proposed citizenship question might affect census response rates. The test did not involve nonresponse follow-up in the field. Although respondents' cooperation with these tests was helpful to the Census Bureau, the tests were not the actual decennial census. The 2020 census, the complete count of the U.S. resident population, is to occur only in 2020. Even if a person participated in a census test, the person still is obligated to answer the 2020 census questions and can be part of the census count only by doing so. 14. How will the Census Bureau know where people live so that it can contact them in 2020? Even though people will be able to answer the census online, an accurate Master Address File, with the addresses, geocodes, and other attributes of living quarters, will be, as in past decades, the foundation for contacting the public and conducting a good census. It will enable the bureau to notify the public about the census and, as necessary, send census forms and enumerators to nonresponding households. For the 2010 census, the bureau hired about 150,000 "address canvassers" to walk 11 million census blocks, updating addresses and maps as they went. In preparation for 2020, the bureau created Block Assessment, Research, and Classification Application software to compare satellite images of the United States at successive times. Using this software, the bureau could identify new housing developments, changes in existing houses, and other houses that were built after 2010. The bureau could compare, too, "the number of housing units in current imagery with the number of addresses on file for each block." Satellite imagery enabled the bureau to verify 65% of addresses without going into the field, leaving 35% for field verification. The bureau recruited and trained about 32,000 temporary workers to verify more than 50,000 addresses nationwide, covering about 1.1 million census blocks. On August 12, 2019, the bureau announced the start of this work, the first major field operation of the 2020 census. The operation ended on October 11, 2019. 15. What other census jobs are still available? The bureau expects to hire up to 500,000 temporary census field workers. Enumerators for the nonresponse follow-up operation, beginning in May 2020 and continuing through early July, are the main example. They will go door-to-door, collecting data from households that have not yet answered the census online, by mail, or by phone. Additionally, in certain remote areas, such as northern Maine and Alaska, visits from census-takers may be the only way for residents to report their census data. 16. Who can apply for these jobs, and when? According to a bureau official, "Recent high school graduates, veterans, retirees, military spouses, seasonal workers," and people who are bilingual are "highly encouraged to apply." Others are welcome, too. "It's important we hire people in every community in order to have a complete and accurate census," the official said. People are encouraged to apply now to be considered for positions in the spring of 2020. Recruitment has begun; paid training is to occur in March and April. 17. What are the requirements for temporary census workers? To qualify for temporary census employment, a person must be at least age 18, generally must be a U.S. citizen, must be proficient in English, must have a valid email address, and must complete an application that includes the applicant's Social Security number and answers to a set of assessment questions. For some positions, the applicant has to fill out a background questionnaire. Applicants must be fingerprinted, and their fingerprint images will go to the FBI to be processed and checked for criminal records, although a criminal record will not invariably disqualify an applicant. 18. What are the benefits of being a temporary census worker? Pay rates, which will vary according to where census jobs are located, will range from $13.50 to $30.00 an hour. Workers will receive paid training. They will be paid weekly, and their hours of work will be flexible. Veterans may be eligible for veterans' preference in hiring, and census employment has no upper age limit. 19. How can the public know that authorized census workers, not impostors or criminals, are in their neighborhoods and knocking on their doors? Every census field worker should have an identification badge (ID) that shows the worker's photograph, an expiration date for the ID, and a U.S. Department of Commerce watermark. Every respondent can check this identification and, if unsure about its authenticity, contact a regional census center to talk to a bureau representative. 20. The census form asks people to report sensitive personal information. How can they be sure that the confidentiality of these data will be protected? Legal protections for census data exist, and the Census Bureau also continues working to address cybersecurity vulnerabilities that have been, or are being, identified. Legal Protections Title 13, U.S. Code , both requires respondents to provide their data and provides for maintaining the confidentiality of data on individuals. Title 13, Section 9, "Information as confidential; exception," states, in part (a) Neither the Secretary, nor any other officer of employee of the Department of Commerce or bureau or agency thereof, or local government census liaison, may, except as provided in section 8 or 16 or chapter 10 of this title or section 210 of the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1998 or section 2(f) of the Census of Agriculture Act of 1997â (1) use the information furnished under the provisions of this title for any purpose other than the statistical purposes for which it is supplied; or (2) make any publication whereby the data furnished by any particular establishment or individual under this title can be identified; or (3) permit anyone other than the sworn officers and employees of the Department or bureau or agency thereof to examine the individual reports. No department, bureau, agency, officer, or employee of the Government, except the Secretary in carrying out the purposes of this title, shall require, for any reason, copies of census reports which have been retained by any such establishment or individual. Copies of census reports which have been so retained shall be immune from legal process, and shall not, without the consent of the individual or establishment concerned, be admitted as evidence or used for any purpose in any action, suit, or other judicial or administrative proceeding. Title 13, Section 214, "Wrongful Disclosure of Information," states, in full Whoever, being or having been an employee or staff member referred to in subchapter II of chapter 1 of this title, having taken and subscribed to the oath of office, or having sworn to observe the limitations imposed by section 9 of this title, or whoever, being or having been a census liaison within the meaning of section 16 of this title, publishes or communicates any information, the disclosure of which is prohibited under the provisions of section 9 of this title, and which comes into his possession by reason of his being employed (or otherwise providing services) under the provisions of this title, shall be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both. Under Title 18, Sections 3559 and 3571, the possible penalty for disclosing "any information, the disclosure of which is prohibited" (13 U.S.C. 214) is a substantially increased fine of not more than $250,000 or imprisonment of less than five years, or both. Cybersecurity The Census Bureau's operational plan has acknowledged the risk that "cybersecurity incidents," including data breaches and denial-of-service attacks, could affect its information technology (IT) systems, such as the online census questionnaires, "mobile devices used for fieldwork, and data processing and storage systems." Under the plan, "IT security controls will be put in place to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the IT systems and data," with the goal of preventing any such incidents from negatively affecting census operations. At a July 24, 2019, congressional hearing, Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham summarized the bureau's cybersecurity efforts for the 2020 census. He stated, in part A key feature of the security is encryption of data at every stageâin transit over the internet, at rest within our systems, and on the enumeration devices. Also, enumeration devices are secured with multiple credentials, and if a device is lost, it will be remotely disabled and have all its contents wiped. Our cybersecurity program is designed to adapt and respond to a changing threat landscape. We incorporate protections in our technology, have processes to continuously monitor systems, and have a team ready to respond immediately to any potential threat. The Census Bureau works with the Department of Homeland Security, the federal intelligence community, and industry experts to share threat intelligence, giving us the most visibility possible to enable immediate action to protect data. With this cooperation, we identify threats early so that we may proactively respond and improve security. Our developers and security engineers work together to integrate security into systems design and development. Our systems are independently assessed for cybersecurity before deployment, and ongoing testing of cybersecurity capabilities is conducted throughout the time systems are operational. Security staff monitor our systems for cybersecurity vulnerabilities with industry-leading tools. We continuously test for more than 100,000 known vulnerabilities, with thousands of new potential vulnerabilities added to the list on a regular basis. If a vulnerability is identified, or security enhancement required, the security team will act quickly to ensure the most effective security posture. At the same hearing, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) noted delays or gaps in the bureau's progress toward cybersecurity for 2020: The Bureau has established a risk management framework that requires it to conduct a full security assessment for nearly all the systems expected to be used for the 2020 Census and, if deficiencies are identified, to determine the corrective actions needed to remediate those deficiencies. As of the end of May 2019, the Bureau had over 330 corrective actions from its security assessments that needed to be addressed, including 217 that were considered "high-risk" or "very high-risk." However, of these 217 corrective actions, the Bureau identified 104 as being delayed. Further, 74 of the 104 were delayed by 60 or more days. According to the Bureau, these corrective actions were delayed due to technical challenges or resource constraints. GAO recently recommended that the Bureau take steps to ensure that identified corrective actions for cybersecurity weaknesses are implemented within prescribed time frames. GAO commended the bureau for working with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) "to support" its "cybersecurity efforts." During the past two years, as a result of these activities, the Bureau has received 42 recommendations from DHS to improve its cybersecurity posture. GAO recently recommended that the Bureau implement a formal process for tracking and executing appropriate corrective actions to remediate cybersecurity findings identified by DHS. Implementing the recommendation would help better ensure that DHS's efforts result in improvements to the Bureau's cybersecurity posture. The GAO testimony also called attention to a Commerce Department Office of Inspector General (IG) report identifying challenges in the bureau's "cloud based systems" supporting the census. The bureau "agreed with all eight" of the IG's recommendations concerning these systems and "identified actions taken to address them." In addition, recognizing that "many of the same digital and social channels" being used to promote the census can work against it as well, the bureau established a "trust and safety team" to combat "the spread of misinformation (incorrect information spread unintentionally) and disinformation (incorrect information spread intentionally)." According to the bureau, the team comprises "more than a dozen communications and social media experts under the executive leadership of career senior officials." It is coordinating the bureau's "efforts with external technology and social media platforms, partner and stakeholder organizations, and cybersecurity officials." Drawing on "best practices from the public and private sectors," the team is monitoring "all available channels and open platforms for misinformation and disinformation about the census." The bureau also has launched a "Fighting 2020 Census Rumors" page on its website and has asked members of the public to email [email address scrubbed] if they see any "resources," social media postings, or websites that they think contain incorrect information about the census. Noteworthy in this context is a December 19, 2019, press report of an announcement by the social media company Facebook that, starting in 2020, it "will remove posts, photos," and other contents "that mislead people" about the census, "aiming to prevent malicious actors from interfering" with the process. "Under the new rules, Facebook will ban posts from misrepresenting when and how the census occurs, who can participate and what happens to the personal information people submit to the government, company executives said." According to the article, "Facebook and other tech giants, including Google and Twitter, have huddled with government officials in recent months to prevent census disinformation." Other companies "have unveiled their own defensive measures: Google in December said it prohibited ads and YouTube videos that aim to misinform about the 2020 count. Twitter's rules, meanwhile, prohibit 'misleading information about how to participate in an election or other civic event'," which presumably could include the census.