Making Data Count for State Legislators and Constituents

Ina Cernusca, North Dakota Compass

Karen Olson, North Dakota KIDS COUNT

2019 IMPACT SUMMIT,Oct. 10-11, 2019Denver, Colorado

Making Data Count for State Legislators and Constituents

In North Dakota

Guinness World Record8,962 snow angels

In Feb 2007

NORTH DAKOTA

• 19th largest state in area (70,761 sq.mi)

• 4th smallest state in population (760,077)

RECENT TRENDS in NORTH DAKOTA

12%

Median age (in years)North Dakota and U.S., 2000-2018

Percentage increase in population of color (2010-2018)

Population change(2010-2018)

Population increase Becoming younger Increased diversity

United States

North Dakota

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North Dakota Compass providesand promotes the use of reliable, accurate, and unbiased demographic, economic, and socio-economic data to support informed decision making and community engagement in North Dakota.

By providing policymakers and citizens with benchmarks of child well-being, North Dakota KIDS COUNT seeks to enrich local and state discussions concerning ways to secure a better future for all children.

NO

RTH

DAK

OTA

KID

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NORTH DAKOTA LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS

PROFILE DEVELOPMENT• Select key indicators

• Reliable data source• Available at district level• Comparable with ND and U.S.• Updated yearly• Update all indicators around the

same time• Group key indicators in categories• Include indicator definition and data

sources• Create a template for easy update

POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS• Total Population• Median Age• Ages 0 to 17• Ages 65 and older

HOUSEHOLD CHARACTERISTICS• Total Households• Average Household Size• Householders Living Alone• Average EITC Credit

SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS• Associate's Degree or Higher• Moved in the Past Year• Ages 3 and 4 Enrolled in Early

Education• People with a Disability

ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS• Median Household Income• Low Income, Below 200% of

Poverty• Children

• U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (for 15 out of 16 indicators).

• The Brookings Institution, Earned Income Tax Credit Interactive and Resources feature (for Average EITC Credit).

DATA SOURCES

PROFILE DESIGN

PROFILE DESIGN

DISTRIBUTION/PROMOTION•Upload on the ND Compass and ND KIDS COUNT websites•Email to legislators•Social media•Newsletters•Deliver in person •At the beginning of the legislative session•Preceded by a postcard (in 2017)•Printed on heavy paper•Personalized envelopes (in 2019)

•Printed all profiles in a booklet

NEW in 2019!INTERACTIVE

MAPS

POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS

HOUSEHOLD CHARACTERISTICS

SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS

ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICSONLINE

https://public.tableau.com/profile/ina.cernusca#!/vizhome/2019NorthDakotaStateLegislativeProfiles/Story1

TIMELINE2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Targeted emails to legislators

Promoted on Social Media

Profiles on the website

Printed profiles in a booklet

Postcards

Hand delivered at the beginning of legislative session (2017 & 2019)

Personalized envelopes

Interactive maps

2017 ND Legislative District Profile Survey

FEEDBACK

Q1 - How often did you refer to your district profile throughout the legislative session? (N=39)

3%

13%

72%

13%

Daily

Weekly

Monthly

Never

Q2- How helpful were the profiles when making decisions regarding your district? (N=39)

33%

51%

15%

Very helpful

Somewhat helpful

Not helpful

2017 ND Legislative District Profile Survey

FEEDBACK

Q3 - In what way were the profiles helpful? (check all that apply) (N=33)

3%

24%

52%

55%

58%

70%

Other

Allocating funding according to populationdistribution

Prioritizing issues impacting my district

Understanding the strenghts and challengesof my district

Gaining insight through reputable data thatwould otherwise have been difficult to find

Understanding my constituents

"I found it to be a wonderful resource; it was very helpful for me to as a new legislator"(ND Senator)

"The information and data helped me better represent my constituents" (ND Representative)

"I used it and even referred to it every day of the legislative session to make sure the policy decisions I made were consistent with people who were in my district" (ND Senator)

"I will look even deeper into my district before I run for re-election. I know the data will be very helpful as I draft my message and develop my branding for re-election." (ND Representative) "Understanding the socio-economic

profile of my district helps me better communicate with my constituents" (ND Representative)

FEEDBACK

2 0 1 9 I M P A C T S U M M I T , O c t . 1 0 - 1 1 , 2 0 1 9D e n v e r , C o l o r a d o

Thank you!

I n a C e r n u s c a , N o r t h D a k o t a C o m p a s sm i h a e l a . c e r n u s c a @ n d u s . e d u

K a r e n O l s o n , N o r t h D a k o t a K I D S C O U N Tk . o l s o n @ n d u s . e d u

mailto:mihaela.cernusca@ndus.edumailto:k.olson@ndsu.edu