The American Community Survey and Its Benefits to the 2010 Census Frank A. Vitrano

1. Conference of European Statisticians Organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and Eurostat The American Community Survey and Its Benefits to the 2010 Census Frank A. Vitrano Associate Director for 2020 Census US Census Bureau Geneva, Switzerland May 24, 2012

3. Introduction • From 1940-2000, the U.S. Decennial Census included both a short form (to collect basic characteristics from everyone) and a long form (to collect detailed characteristics from a sample of people) • Basic characteristics needed for Congressional apportionment and redistricting • Detailed characteristics data mostly used for distribution of federal funding • Although data collection driven by the needs of the federal government, state, local, and tribal governments, businesses, media, academia, and others also rely on these data.

4. Introduction of the American Community Survey • To meet growing demands for more timely and frequent data on population and housing, the Census Bureau developed the American Community Survey • 2010 Census collected only basic demographic data from everyone—no long form sample • ACS began collecting detailed socioeconomic data in 2005

5. Topics in the American Community Survey • Name, contact information, #of people at address, date* Class of worker, food stamps benefit, health insurance coverage, income, vehicles available, work status last year, industry, journey to work, occupation, place of work, labor force status. • Age, sex, Hispanic origin, race, relationship* Acreage, agricultural sales, bedrooms, house heating fuel, kitchen facilities, plumbing facilities, telephone service available, rooms, units in structure, vehicles available, year moved into unit, year structure built. Ancestry, citizenship, disability, educational attainment, fertility, grandparents as caregivers, language spoken at home, marital history and status, military service, place of birth, school enrollment, residence 1 year ago, undergraduate field of degree, veteran status, VA service-connected disability rating, year of entry. Business or medical office on property, cost of utilities, condominium fee, insurance, mobile home costs, mortgage, real estate taxes, rent, tenure, value of property. • *Also asked on 2010 Census form 5

6. History of the American Community Survey First data released for nation and areas 250,000+ First 5-yr. est. released for areas of all sizes First 3-yr. est. released for areas more than 20,000 First 1-yr est. released for areas more than 65,000 Demonstration Period: evaluated operational feasibility and survey quality Expanded to full sample of HUs in all counties in 50 states, DC & PR GQs added Implemented new and modified content to meet emerging need. 6

8. Benefits of Removing Long Form from the 2010 Census • Lower respondent burden • Improved mail response rate (63.5% in 2010 compared to 53.9% in 2000)

9. Benefits of Removing Long Form from the 2010 Census • Allowed mailout of bilingual (English/Spanish) questionnaire

10. Benefits of Removing Long Form from the 2010 Census • Major reductions in printing and mailing • Simplified data collection operations • Reduced data capture workload and equipment needs

11. ACS Data Used for Planning the 2010 Census Used ACS data to identify geographic areas to receive the bilingual questionnaire

12. ACS Data Used for Planning the 2010 Census Used ACS data to identify geographic areas to receive the bilingual questionnaire

13. ACS Data Used for Planning the 2010 Census Used ACS data to: • Select the five primary non-English languages and an additional 45 languages that might need language assistance in 2010 Census. • Determine which households would receive a Direct Mail postcard that contained contact information in non-English languages for our Telephone Questionnaire Assistance Centers. • Plan workload estimates and staffing needs for Telephone Questionnaire Assistance Centers in each of the five primary non-English languages.

14. 2010 Census Language Program

15. Other ACS Data Used for Planning the 2010 Census 2010 Census Field Logistics and Enumeration Planning: • To assist our regional and local offices, we created a Planning Database • Initially contained Census 2000 data • Later updated with ACS data • Planning Database used to identify hard-to-enumerate areas and areas with low mail response rates.

16. 2010 Planning Database (ACS Data)

17. ACS Data and the 2010 Census Communications Program • The 2010 Census Communications Campaign needed to know: • What are the characteristics of the hard-to-count populations? • What are the obstacles to counting these populations? • How do research results translate to the 2010 Census Communications Campaign? • Data from Census 2000 and ACS provided direct evidence about who responds and who doesn’t • Information used to plan campaign messages and to determine where to direct those messages.

18. 2010 Census Communications Program

19. 2010 Census Communications Program

20. Other ACS Data Used for the 2010 Census Data Capture and Processing: • Used ACS data to impute missing information on 2010 Census questionnaires • Used the ACS processing system infrastructure to support the Island Areas data processing

21. Other ACS Data Used for the 2010 Census • Experimentation Program: • The 2010 Census Experimentation Program included an alternative questionnaire experiment to test some potential content changes • Used ACS data for stratification to ensure sufficient oversampling of specific race and Hispanic Origin groups

23. Using ACS Data to Assist with the 2020 Census Field Logistics and Planning: • Annual 5-year ACS estimates at block group level provide more current information on variables for planning local strategies and other 2020 Census efforts Facilitate Testing: • Systems used by the ACS and other demographic surveys prior to the 2020 Census should help us develop well-tested production systems for the 2020 Census

24. Using ACS Data to Assist with the 2020 Census Tailoring Response Modes: • ACS data will provide us with valuable information on trends with self-response and response modes, and help us plan appropriate approaches for different demographic and geographic groups. Reusing ACS Data: • We plan to use pre-existing data sources, including ACS data, to support 2020 data collection. Developing Organizational Solutions: • We hope to lower costs and reduce risks by creating corporate solutions for the ACS and other programs that can be tested and used in production prior to the 2020 Census.

25. New ACS Questions on Broadband Usage

26. Conclusion • The elimination of the long form sample from the 2010 Census simplified census planning and implementation. • The ACS is releasing timely information on an annual basis providing data users with much more and timely information than they ever had from the decennial census. • ACS data were useful in planning components of the 2010 Census, especially with programs, such as the Language Program and communications efforts, that require different approaches at local levels • The ACS will provide additional opportunities to simplify and improve the efficiency of the 2020 Census.

27. Thank you!