Preparing for Census 2020 in Your Libraries

1. PREPARING FOR CENSUS 2020 IN YOUR LIBRARIESOctober 18, 2019Robert M. AdelmanDepartment of SociologyUniversity at Buffaloadelman4@buffalo.edu

2. How does the federal government use decennial census data to provide services to states? The U.S. decennial census is unique because it is an enumeration of the total population living in the United States instead of a sample. Census data are used to apportion multiple federal funding lines.In FY 2015, for example, census data determined the allocation of $675 billion across 132 programs. Source: https://econofact.org/why-does-the-census-matter-for-state-and-local-governments

3. How does the federal government use decennial census data to provide services to states? Because the complete count of the full population is only every ten years, federal funds are distributed based on annual population estimates. These are based on decennial census counts. Census data are used to calculate the rate at which federal funds match state spending on programs including Medicaid, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Source: https://econofact.org/why-does-the-census-matter-for-state-and-local-governments

4. How does the federal government use decennial census data to provide services to states? Census data feed into the U.S. Department of Education’s two largest elementary and secondary programs through Title I (compensatory education) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (special education).   The Highway Planning and Construction Program relies on annually updated census population estimates to distribute funding for the National Highway System. Source: https://econofact.org/why-does-the-census-matter-for-state-and-local-governments

5. How does the federal government use decennial census data to provide services to states? Many states have established their own, multi-million dollar census media and outreach campaigns to ensure that all of their residents are counted. The decennial census provides a uniquely comprehensive data source. Its accuracy affects not only political representation but whether adequate funding is disbursed to where it is needed the most in areas ranging from potholes to health insurance to education. Source: https://econofact.org/why-does-the-census-matter-for-state-and-local-governments

6. The Decennial Census versus the American Community Survey After the 2000 Census, the “long form” was replaced by the ACS (compare “short” and “long” forms: https://www.census.gov/history/www/through_the_decades/questionnaires/2000_2.html) Census: - Population count for congressional apportionment (required by the Constitution) and other programs; - Data collection concentrated in March and April (“usual residence on April 1”); - Full population count ACS: - Goal is to measure changing social and economic characteristics of U.S. population; - Ongoing data collection; • Sample of Americans in residence Source: https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2018/acs/acs_general_handbook_2018_ch09.pdf

7. Publicly-Funded and Private Users/Developers of Census Data (Social Sciences) Integrated Public Use Microdata Series: IPUMS USA @ https://usa.ipums.org/usa/ IPUMS NHGIS @ https://www.nhgis.org/ Social Explorer @ https://www.socialexplorer.com Data Planet @ https://www.data-planet.com/ (Mix of decennial census and ACS data)

8. Other Large Federal Datasets Current Population Survey (CPS): https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/cps.html Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP): https://www.census.gov/sipp/ National Longitudinal Surveys (NLSY; NLSY79): https://www.nlsinfo.org/content/cohorts/nlsy79 ICPSR (social science data archive): https://www.icpsr.umich.edu/icpsrweb/

9. PREPARING FOR CENSUS 2020 IN YOUR LIBRARIESQuestions?adelman4@buffalo.edu