CENSUS' IMPORTANCE STRESSED DEPORTATION FEARS KEEP MANY FROM REGISTERING.

Byline: Dominic Berbeo Staff Writer

VAN NUYS - Hoping to avoid undercounting Latinos and other minorities in the 2000 Census, workers from the U.S. Census Bureau and nonprofit groups are reaching out to them in unprecedented ways.

On Friday, a group of Latino immigrant parents gathered at Valerio Street School in Van Nuys to listen to outreach workers from the Census Bureau and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund to stress the importance of cooperating with census workers.

``Did you know that there were about 55,000 LAUSD students and their families that weren't counted in the last census?'' a census outreach worker asked the group.

``An accurate count means more money for schools, for parks, for housing and job programs,'' said MALDEF's Luisa Ollague. ``But also it means standing up and declaring that you are there, you exist, and you are important.''

Of the estimated 837,000 Californians missed in the 1990 Census, the Census Bureau believes nearly half were Latinos, mostly immigrants from the Los Angeles area.

As a result, the state estimates it lost as much as $2.2 billion in federal funding and possibly two seats in the House of Representatives.

Among the dozens of parents at Friday's informational talk was Arnulfo Herrera. The El Salvador native was the only one in the group present for the last census, in which he participated.

``At first I was scared like everyone else that my residency could be affected by taking part,'' he said. ``But nothing happened, I'm still here.''

The fear of deportation and lack of a familiar Spanish voice explaining the census was what kept many from participating in the 1990 count, Ollague said.

``The people need to know that the census process is confidential and secret,'' Ollague said. ``It is illegal for their personal information to be given out.''

At least one parent was persuaded by Ollague to take part in the coming census.

``I have neighbors and co-workers with lots of kids,'' said Francisca Garcia of Mexico. ``I'm going to tell them to participate because otherwise they can't complain later when there's not enough schools or parks.''

To help boost participation among Latinos, MALDEF has launched a public awareness campaign called HAGASE CONTAR!, or Make Yourself Count! Among the organization's targeted communities are Pacoima and Van Nuys, where only 49 percent of residents participated in the 1990 census. Nationwide, the average response rate was 65 percent.

To ensure an accurate nationwide count this year, MALDEF has doubled its funding to $1 million and staff to 11 full-time census outreach workers.

Government agencies also are spending an unprecedented amount of money and resources on public outreach efforts to ensure an accurate population count.

The city of Los Angeles is spearheading a $1.2 million effort to encourage census participation. Toward that end, the city has hosted a series of meetings with hundreds of community-based groups during the last two years. The city has invested so much time and effort because a great deal is at stake, officials said.

``The bottom line reason is that when all levels of government look to invest taxpayer dollars in local programs, it's based on census,'' said City Councilman Alex Padilla, who represents the northeast Valley. ``We can't bring the money back to the people if they're not counted.''

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo: (1) Luisa Ollague of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund explains the functions of the census to a group of parents at Valerio Street School.

(2) Arnulfo Herrera, center, of El Salvador participated in the 1990 census despite his qualms. Loren Serrano, right, listens to Friday's presentation.

Charlotte Schmid-Maybach/Staff Photographer