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This Week's Facts:

  1. Halloween Safety Tips from the FCIC

  2. Agency Connects Volunteers to Service Opportunities

  3. Help Promote Drug-Free Workplaces this Week

Ten More Ways We Rely

on the U.S. Census (31-40)

  1. Helping community foundations identify the size and nature of their service areas

  2. Product planning

  3. Locating factory sites & distribution centers

  4. Evaluating risk and investment planning

  5. Setting community goals

  6. Producing economic & demographic reports about the U.S. & its people

  7. Standardizing public & private sector surveys

  8. Scientific research

  9. Comparing progress between different geographic areas 

  10. Developing interactive maps for government and business

Please see Indiana’s Census 2010 website for the complete list of 50 ways we rely on the U.S. Census.

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 Friday Facts is a production of the Indiana State Library

Friday Facts Editorial Team:

Katharine Springer
State Data Center Coordinator

Elisabeth O’Donnell
Federal Documents Librarian
&
 Kim Brown-Harden
State Documents Coordinator

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Halloween Safety Tips Available from the FCIC

FCIC Halloween Safety TipsJust because Halloween celebrates scary things doesn’t mean you want any safety scares of your own. With a little bit of planning and these five tips from the Federal Citizen Information Center, you can ensure your ghouls and goblins have a frightfully fun time this year.

  1. Look up your local trick-or-treating time and rules (See if yours is listed on the USA.gov Halloween page), then plot out a map of safe neighborhoods for trick-or-treating. Let older children take the map with them if they’re trick-or-treating on their own.

  2. Stick reflective tape on dark costumes—it will help drivers see you. And make sure your kids can see clearly. Face paint may work better than a mask when it comes to visibility. Read about applying face paint safely in the Federal Citizen Information Center’s FED-INFO Newsletter.

  3. Pick a perfect pumpkin for carving. It should be sturdy, not soft, with a flat bottom so it doesn’t topple over. If you’re worried about carving accidents, encourage your kids to paint creative faces on their pumpkins instead.

  4. Consider using a glow stick or battery-powered lights instead of candles to light the way for trick-or-treating or in jack-o-lanterns, especially around little kids who could get burned or drapery that could catch fire.

  5. Screen candy before your kids eat it. Toss out anything with opened or damaged wrappers and homemade treats, unless you know the giver personally.

Agency Connects Volunteers to Service Opportunities

Volunteers.IN.govHave you been interested in offering your spare time to an organization or service agency, but don’t know where to begin?  Volunteer.IN.gov is Indiana’s portal on all things volunteer related in Indiana. From 2003 to 2005, Indiana citizens gave over 500 million hours of their time to their communities!  Hoosiers working together can accomplish great things in our community. 

Now is the best time to volunteer your time and talents as budgets decrease and community needs increase.  If you want to know where your time is needed, click here to find out volunteer opportunities in your community. Please check out the frequently asked questions page of the volunteer website for more information about volunteering and service opportunities.  

Help Promote Drug-Free Workplaces this Week

National Alcohol and Drug Free Workplace WeekThis week is National Drug-Free Work Week, sponsored by the Working Partners for an Alcohol and Drug-Free Workplace of the U.S. Department of Labor. Featured on the webpage is a tool box with articles, talking points, press releases, and other educational materials (in English and Spanish) for recognizing this important week. As part of the planning ideas for future Drug-Free Work Weeks, the website suggests it is a good time to remind employees about your organization’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) or Member Assistance Program (MAP). These services offer free, confidential help with substance abuse issues. In addition, free, confidential helplines are available for those who have, or know someone who has, a problem with alcohol or drugs. The website also links users to National and State resources and workplace- related substance abuse laws for all states.

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