The University of Guam Cooperative Extension and Outreach and the Bureau of Statistics and Plans (BSP) are working in collaboration with the U.S. Census Bureau to conduct the 2018 Compact of Free Association (COFA) Enumeration.  The information will be used to obtain estimates on the number of migrants from the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau (collectively known as the Freely Associated States, or FAS). 

What are is a enumerator and what are they doing?

Enumerators are survey workers walking the streets within the village to conduct the survey. 

If you are unsure whether the individual at your door or front gate is a COFA enumerator authorized to conduct the survey, please know that every survey worker is equipped with a 1) University badge that identifies the survey worker name and a unique Field Representative (FR) code; 2) Green reflector vest that displays the University’s logo; and a 3) COFA vehicle signage that is visibly marked on the vehicles.   

How was I selected for this survey?

Actually, we selected your housing unit, not you personally, for this survey. We scientifically selected approximately 5,000 housing units acrossGuam and the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) to represent the entire population. If you should move away before your housing unit is visited for the survey, we would interview the new residents that move in.

Do I have to participate?

The survey is voluntary, and there are no penalties for not participating.We expect the interview to take about 20 minutes. Your interview may besomewhat shorter or longer than this, depending on your circumstances.

Will information I provide be confidential?

The U.S. Census Bureau is required by law to keep your information confidential (Title 13, United States Code, Section 9). The Census Bureau is not permitted to publicly release your responses in a way thatcould identify you or this household. Your information may only be shared with other Census Bureau staff for the work-related purposes identified and as identified in the Privacy Act System of Records Notice COMMERCE/ Census-3, Demographic Survey Collection (Census Bureau SamplingFrame).