Census centers offer assistance

Residents of Aiken County can receive a helping hand in filling out forms until April 14

Web posted March 31, 2000

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By Greg Rickabaugh
South Carolina Bureau

Though South Carolina residents seem to be taking their time in filling out Census 2000 forms, Aiken County is attempting to answer questions and address language barriers.

Through April 14, assistance centers are available throughout the county so volunteers can provide answers to filling out the forms or offer special language assistance, according to Joan Wilson of the Aiken County Administrator's Office. The U.S. Census Bureau requested help from all counties, so Aiken County got several volunteers to undergo training to assist residents.

At all of the centers, non-English-speaking respondents can get a language guide in any of the 37 languages that will let them see the question in their own language. There also will be an English guide in large print available at the assistance centers.

Language-assistance guides in an additional 12 languages will be available at selected assistance centers, based on language needs, Ms. Wilson said.

The assistance centers were created because of problems with participation during the previous census.

``Because of the 1990 Census, they realized they needed to do something to help people because response rates were decreasing,'' Ms. Wilson said. ``When they don't send it in, it's harder on the census people to go door to door.''

Census statistics show that South Carolina respondents have among the slowest response times thus far. Although 42 percent of households nationwide have returned their forms, only 34 percent of people in the Palmetto State have sent theirs in.

Census data are confidential and by law may not be shared with other agencies, law enforcement organization or the courts.

Census help

The locations and operating hours of the assistance centers in Aiken County are:

Today: 4 to 8 p.m., Second Providence Baptist Church, 1643 Summerhill Road, North Augusta

Saturday: 9 a.m. to noon, New Holland Fire Department, 2462 New Holland Road, New Holland

Monday: 10 a.m. to noon, Monetta Head Start, 298 Academy St., Monetta

Tuesday: 1 to 4 p.m., Jackson Town Hall, 106 Main St., Jackson

Wednesday: 10 a.m. to noon, VOICE, Old Bath Mill, Bath; 5 to 7 p.m., Stiefeltown Baptist Church, 146 Springwood Loop, Warrenville

Thursday: 1 to 5 p.m., Aiken Electric Cooperative, 2790 Wagener Road, Aiken

April 7: 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Community Ministries, 105 E. Buena Vista Ave., North Augusta

April 8: 9 a.m. to noon, Beech Island Fire Department, 1565 Sand Bar Ferry Road, Beech Island; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Second Providence Baptist Church, 1643 Summerhill Road, North Augusta

April 10: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Aiken County Head Start, 203 Beaufort St., Aiken

April 11: 2 to 5 p.m., Aiken Council on Aging, 159 Morgan St., Aiken

April 12: 10 a.m. to noon, VOICE, Old Bath Mill, Bath; 5 to 7 p.m., Stiefeltown Baptist Church, 146 Springwood Loop, Warrenville

April 13: 1 to 5 p.m., Center Fire Department, Columbia Highway, Aiken

April 14: 2 to 5 p.m., Jackson Town Hall, 106 Main St., Jackson

Today-April 14: 9:30 to 11 a.m., Our Lady of the Valley, 2446 Augusta Road, Warrenville; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., New Ellenton Town Hall, 200 Main St., New Ellenton

Associated Press reports were used in this article.

Reach Greg Rickabaugh at (803) 279-6895.