U.S. Census Bureau Director Robert Groves (L) holds an operational press briefing about the 2010 Census at the National Press Club June 2, 2010 in Washington, DC.; Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

More than 100,000 young Latinos in California were not counted in the 2010 Census. 

A new report from the Child Trends Hispanic Institute shows that over 40,000 Latino children were not counted in the last 2010 census. 

“Of all the demographic groups, this demographic had the highest undercount of any other,” says Arturo Vargas. He’s executive director of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Educational Fund, which co-authored of the study.

“It’s time now to start preparing for the 2020 census, which is why we want to bring attention to this issue.” 

Vargas believes there could be several reasons for the undercount, among them the distrust some community members have toward the federal government. 

“This is the greatest challenge that the Census Bureau has,” says Vargas. “To convince the American public to fill out their census forms every 10 years and to trust them that the information will not be used against them.”

Undercounting could impact public services coming into the Golden State, such as early education and the Special Supplemental Insurance Program for Women, Infants and Children which benefit children.