Officials with the 2010 census have entered a new phase in census compliance: quality assurance.

Census workers are looking over a small percentage of census forms and double-checking the information by making follow-up calls, verifying vacant and new-home addresses, and comparing recorded addresses with actual addresses.

Households are being asked the exact same questions as on the form, said Rebecca Robinson, a spokeswoman with the bureau’s Dallas Regional Office.

When the bureau’s non-response follow-up ended in June, the quality assurance phase began in an effort to ensure that the information from the earlier phases was correct.

“We ask that everyone is welcoming and open to the census worker,” Robinson said, adding that census data is critical to how the government distributes $400 billion each year. “We are not harassing anyone, and we just want to ensure that everyone gets their fair share of federal funds.”

Robert M. Groves, director of the U.S. Census Bureau, announced on the 2010 census blog last month that the bureau had completed 99.6 percent of all non-response follow-up interviews across the country.

Yet, he added, “We will continue to conduct quality assurance re-interviews on a sample of the cases, to verify that field procedures were followed.”

Census officials said Denton County completed 74 percent of its census forms, which is above the national average of 72 percent. Dallas County had a 69 percent participation rate, and Tarrant County was at 72 percent.

“Denton County has an opportunity to improve,” Robinson said.

According to Robinson, quality compliance will continue until the beginning of September, with as many as 16,868 enumerators handling the region, which covers Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi.

When quality compliance ends, the bureau will analyze the data and prepare final results to present to the White House in December. Final results will be available to the public in the spring.

For residents who did not receive a census form, hotlines are still available.

The numbers are 1-866-872-6868 for English and 1-866-928-2010 for Spanish.

KARINA RAMÍREZ can be reached at 940-566-6878. Her e-mail address is kramirez@dentonrc.com .