Beginning in June, U.S. Census Bureau field representatives will visit 45,000 randomly selected households nationwide to conduct the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP), a continuous survey launched more than 20 years ago.

     The survey typically tracks changes in the type of work people perform, the level of their education and whether they are actively looking for employment. Periodically, respondents also are asked questions on other topics such as participation in assistance programs, the well-being of children and child care arrangements.

     Since the survey is designed to measure change over time, the households chosen will remain in the survey through September 2006.

     “SIPP findings are invaluable because they help policymakers reach informed decisions that may affect many of us, such as working moms,” said George Grandy Jr., director of the Census Bureau’s Atlanta Regional Office.

     Households selected will receive a letter from Census Bureau Director Louis Kincannon informing them of the upcoming survey. As always, field representatives conducting interviews carry official photo identification cards. Most of the follow-up interviews are conducted by telephone. By law, all information that could identify survey respondents or their households is kept confidential.