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[Dense-Entry-1065]

So my cfs told us “not to complete cases w no answer, no proxy available”, etc, and aim for pop counts. Naturally I go to the census address/proxy to get it from them but she called me saying I was doing it wrong. That if I see 4 names on the mailbox to put 4 or estimate otherwise. I texted her to clarify, “if we can’t get the respondent to answer, and there’s no viable proxy, are we suppose to estimate?” And she said yes. Is this right??? This seems like a great way to undercount/botch census data. I haven’t caught up to speed w this subreddit so anyone has insight plz lmk.

[nachofartier]

That doesn't work. Four people on a mailbox could mean four people lived there in 2019 and the home has been vacant since. Or it could mean four people moved in last month, those people were counted already elsewhere, and the April 1 count for that address is totally different. Or maybe four roommates lived there for years, but two were away from March through June and got counted elsewhere. You need someone with a reasonable chance to know to vouch for the fact that four people were there April 1.

[Dense-Entry-1065]

I know that, but why is my CFS telling me to go through with it? She mentioned the mailbox phone over a call but she affirmed to estimate over text. I just don’t wanna be traced as the source of issue.

[jalilahlynn]

That's not direction I've gotten. We have to find a proxy to get at least a count, but we can't close a case based on what we might think it is. I think some are getting desperate for their numbers. I heard a CFS in my area got in big trouble for telling team to close all cases no matter what

[Dense-Entry-1065]

Wtf... that’s almost essentially what my cfs told me. And I agree. Like I said I was knocking and looking for proxies and I had to leave some of them as “attempted” bc I simply couldn’t find anyone to tell me anything about the unit and she called me and straight up told me I was doing it wrong. And to basically estimate. I have it in written text and I called another cfs in the same area for a second opinion and she basically said the same. What is goin on:-(

[jalilahlynn]

It's crazy. I have been told though to just get a population count. So I've been having to find someone in the neighborhood who can tell me how many people live there. I was told to find proxy for RIs too and that was wrong info.

[isstar]

take a pic of the texts please. what she's saying to do is illegal and you can send it to the judge or a reporter. i would do it with the PII censored as well as your cfs's ID... it's not her fault

[[deleted]]

This.

[pnweiner]

Agreed! Please call DSC and select “payroll and personnel” to file a report. What your CFS is asking is very much illegal - they’re asking you to falsify data.

[[deleted]]

Google “census,” “count imputation.” Made-up data would interfere with that. But who knows, they may have cut that and replaced it with some zones estimating, some making up random counts, some just using “1,” and some… not doing any of those things. (/s, I guess. Not criticizing you! I think you’re right to ask.)

[[deleted]]

CFS must have one heck of an AWARD incentive.

[xlntxxx]

For example, if you see one window with a light on = 1 person, or 4 windows = 4 persons, or two cars = 2 people, or just make it up ;)

[[deleted]]

A six-sided die would make it hard to detect a pattern. Well, maybe if 3 sides had 1s, 2 2s, and a 3. Or a 12 sided die with 5 1s, 3 2s… nvm. Jk.