Nearly 1 million children under age 5 were not counted in the national 2010 Census, according to the Census Bureau.
These population statistics are used by lawmakers to figure out how to distribute funds over the following decade.
The population of children can determine how much money is going toward special education programs, foster care, free or reduced-price lunches in schools, Medicaid and housing assistance to help a child's family. About $160 billion is funded federally toward these initiatives annually.
Latisha Turner, a partnership specialist with the U.S. Census Bureau, is working with East Ridge Counts, the city's effort to educate residents on the importance of the census and get them counted.
Children under age 5 are among the largest groups of undercounted people in the United States, said Turner.
"For some reason, we are not counting our children," she said.
More Info
In other business, the East Ridge City Council unanimously approved an intergovernmental agreement to return land at East Ridge High School to the Hamilton County Board of Education for a newly proposed field house and weight room. The agreement stipulates that the $25,000 tennis courts the city opened in August and the football field will remain open to the public.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau's research team, 25% of uncounted children under age 4 live below the poverty line, and about 31% of that group live in a household that receives public assistance.
In situations where children are split between households, parents and guardians are asked to list them among the household where they spend most of their time or where they are located on April 1, 2020.
"If we don't get it right now, then it's 10 years before we can get it right again," Turner said.
Jane Sharp is a volunteer with East Ridge Counts. As part of the group's efforts to raise awareness for counting children in the census, the group hosted a color contest to engage children and their parents about why the census matters. The contest award went to 2-year-old Gabriella Aguilar.
"This is our future," Sharp said as she handed Gabriella her prize.
Email Sabrina Bodon at sbodon@timesfreepress.com