As the U.S. Census Bureau pushes forward in pursuit of a 100 percent count of the nation’s population, U.S. residents who missed the extended deadline to mail back their forms should prepare for a visit from a census worker. That includes American Indians living in urban areas, who are being asked by their tribes to go the extra mile to make sure they are counted.

“Tribes and Indian communities rely on accurate and complete data to participate in the distribution of over $400 billion in federal funds,” said American Indian/Alaska Native Partnership Program Manager for the 2010 Census Curtis Zunigha. “In past decades, Native Americans did not have the opportunity to speak with their own voice during the Census. Today we can say, as a matter of cultural pride and identity, that we exist, that we count as Indian people, and our information will empower us in the future.”

While some U.S. residents may dread a census worker’s knock on the door, this is an opportunity for American Indians who never got or haven’t returned their questionnaires to help tribal governments and urban Indian organizations get their fair share funding. If a census worker comes to your home, fill out the questionnaire and remember to mark your tribe on question No. 9, which asks your race and tribal affiliation.

“American Indians can list themselves by their race and even list themselves as more than one race,” Zunigha said. “There is no blood quantum or tribal documentation required. It is all self-identification. But if you don’t fill out the form, you won’t be counted.”

The U.S. Postal Service began mailing census questionnaires – which are among the shortest and easiest to fill out in history – to the nation’s 120 million households in mid-March. The initial deadline to mail back the forms was April 1, however, a lag in response caused the deadline to be extended to April 16. According to Census Bureau officials, every one percent increase in mail response saves between $80 million and $90 million in taxpayer dollars by reducing the bureau’s door-to-door workload. As of April 16, the national average mail-back rate of U.S. Census forms stood at about 68 percent.

Census workers, who are completing visits to American Indians living on most tribal lands and in rural areas, will start visiting the majority of American households, including American Indians living in urban areas, on May 1.

An official census worker can be identified by his or her official badge, handheld counting device and confidentiality notice. Workers may also carry Census Bureau canvas bags. Remember to always ask to see an I.D. and badge before answering any census worker’s questions, and never invite anyone you don’t know into your home. Do not give a census worker your social security number, credit card or banking information, and do not give out donations – even if asked to do so. Census workers may also contact you by phone but be aware that they do not contact you via e-mail – so if you get an e-mail inquiry, don’t answer it. If you still are not certain about a census worker’s identity, call the Los Angeles Regional Census Center at (818) 717-6700 or (877) 232-3385 to confirm that he or she is employed by the Census Bureau.

American Indian households who never got a questionnaire by mail or who need a replacement form can still get one by calling the Telephone Questionnaire Assistance Center at (866) 872-6868. For the hearing-impaired, dial TDD (866) 783-2010 during the times noted. The lines will be open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. (local time) seven days a week through July 31, 2010. Through July 30, 2010, residents can also give TQA agents their questionnaire information over the phone.