panel workshop 121310
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THE USE OF ACS GROUP QUARTERS DATA AT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL
Robert ScardamaliaRLS Demographics, Inc.
RLS Demographics, Inc. December 13, 2010
RLS Demographics, Inc.
INTRODUCTION
Research Task Survey Respondents How are Group Quarters Data
Used Legal and Regulatory Use in
New York Observations
December 13, 2010
RLS Demographics, Inc.
RESEARCH TASK
Assess the overall importance of group quarters data in the ACS.
Who uses GQ data from the ACS?
What is it used for? Are there legal/regulatory
requirements for the data?
December 13, 2010
RLS Demographics, Inc.
SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE Assess use of population components
GQ Pop, HH Pop, Total How are the data used?
Allocate funds, provide data, program admin & development, research
Geographic levels needed National down to tract
89 Survey recipients (25% response) 62 Federal agency (9 – 15%) 11 State agency (7 – 64%) 6 Local/County/Regional (4 – 67%) 8 Academic (2 – 25%) 2 Not-for-Profit
December 13, 2010
RLS Demographics, Inc.
USE OF HOUSEHOLD OR GROUP QUARTERS DATA FROM THE ACS
December 13, 2010
Household Data Only Frequently Sometimes NeverAllocation of Funds 2Provide Data 8 3Policy or Program Admin 7 2Policy or Program Devel 9 3Scientific Research 7 5Group Quarters Data Only Frequently Sometimes NeverAllocation of Funds 1Provide Data 5
Policy or Program Admin 1 4Policy or Program Devel 1 7Scientific Research 2 6Total Population Universe Frequently Sometimes NeverAllocation of Funds 2 1Provide Data 7 3Policy or Program Admin 6 3Policy or Program Devel 8 4Scientific Research 5 4
RLS Demographics, Inc.
USE OF GROUP QUARTER TYPES AND GEOGRAPHIC LEVELS
December 13, 2010
Group Quarters Type Yes NoCorrectional Facilities for Adults 7 5Juvenile Facilities 5 6Nursing Facilities 8 3Other Health Care Facilities 6 4College/University Student Housing 7 2Military Group Quarters 5 4Other Non-Institutional Facilities 5 4
Geography Yes NoNation 8 1State 11 1Cong. Dist. 4 3Metro Area 10 1County 9 2Place/Subcounty 8 3Tract 5 4
RLS Demographics, Inc.
USE OF GROUP QUARTERS TYPE BY TYPE OF ORGANIZATION
December 13, 2010
Group Quarters TypeLocal Govt
State Govt
Federal Govt Academic
Correctional Facilities for Adults 1 2 3 1Juvenile Facilities 2 3Nursing Facilities 1 3 3 1Other Health Care Facilities 2 3 1College/University Student Housing 1 5 1Military Group Quarters 4 1Other Non-Institutional Facilities 2 3
RLS Demographics, Inc.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE GROUP QUARTERS POPULATION
Age (young and old) Frailty/disability Developmental disability Race/ethnicity Income
Geographic location Family and marital status Country of birth Educational attainment Occupation
December 13, 2010
Do you use ACS group quarters characteristics data?Yes - 10 No - 2
Important to note that these characteristics are not reported for the GQ population at all geographic levels – only as a component of the total population
RLS Demographics, Inc.
GROUP QUARTERS USE IN THE FUTURE
Pop estimates and projections Distinction between institutional vs non-institutional GQ type Commuting Local redistricting (prison issue) Program development/need (school, social service) Housing market analysis (nursing homes, colleges) Will only use if ACS data are reliable
December 13, 2010
Future Use Yes NoDo you expect to use in the future? 19 1Need GQ characteristics in the future? 13 5Need GQ type in the future? 17 2
RLS Demographics, Inc.
OTHER SOURCES OF GROUP QUARTERS DATA
American FactFinder decennial tables State and federal administrative records Calls to specific facilities Dept. of Corrections Dept. of Justice surveys Various – DOD, BJS, GED testing service,
IDEA database (?) Field work for population estimates program
December 13, 2010
RLS Demographics, Inc.
USE OF VARIOUS OF POPULATIONS CHARACTERISTICS
December 13, 2010
FactFinder Subject TableAllocation of Funds
Provide Data
Program Admin
Program Devel
Scientific Research
Aging (total population) 2 9 5 6 4Commuting (workers 16+) 1 7 3 3 3Education (total population) 1 6 3 4 4Poverty (PFWPSD) 3 9 4 7 5Disability (civ. Non-inst) 1 6 4 5 5Veterans (civ. Pop 18+) 1 6 3 5 5Employment (working age 16+) 2 7 4 4 4GQ Characteristics (GQ pop) 1 7 3 3 4Health Insurance (civ. Non-Inst) 2 7 4 4 3
Note: population universe for characteristics may include different components of the group quarters population
RLS Demographics, Inc.
USE OF THE CENSUS IN NEW YORK STATE LAW AND PROGRAMS
Search New York State Laws for “census” keyword Eligibility thresholds Defining poverty populations Defining distressed areas
NYS Catalog of State and Federal Programs Aiding Local Governments Program eligibility Funding allocations
December 13, 2010
RLS Demographics, Inc.
NEW YORK STATE LAWS
210 Citations
December 13, 2010
General Municipal Executive Environmental State Finance Tax Public Health
Education Town and County Elections Labor Real Property
181 (86%) Use ONLY Population Count from the Census
RLS Demographics, Inc.
NEW YORK STATE LAWS
29 Citations Require Population Characteristics to determine eligibility or define distress
December 13, 2010
Age Household or Family
Income Ability to Speak
English
Language Spoken at Home
Poverty Rate Unemployment Rate
9 Laws require data at the TRACT level using income, poverty, and/or unemployment
RLS Demographics, Inc.
NEW YORK STATE PROGRAM USES OF CENSUS DATA
20 Programs Identified that Require Census Data for Eligibility or Funding – State and
Federal (pass through) Funding
December 13, 2010
Dept. of Education Housing and
Community Renewal Office for the Aging Dept. of Health
Dept. of Labor Office of Mental Health Office of Temp. and
Disability Assistance
RLS Demographics, Inc.
PROGRAM SERVICES
December 13, 2010
Academic Achievement Special Education Reading First Housing Vouchers Weatherization Senior Support Services Nutritional Services Older Americans Health Services Family Caregiver Support Immunization Lead Poisoning Prevention
RLS Demographics, Inc.
SOURCE AND SIZE OF FUNDING
December 13, 2010
Flow of Funds Federal StateFederal to StateFederal to State to Local $2.4 billionState to Local $13.0 million $37.7 millionState to Not-for-Profit $62.9 million
RLS Demographics, Inc.
POPULATION UNIVERSE AND CHARACTERISTICS
December 13, 2010
Universes Total Population Population by Age (under 6, 55+, 60+, 75+) Children in Poverty Total Poverty Population Disabled Population
Characteristics Ratio of income to poverty Family income Overcrowding Race
RLS Demographics, Inc.
IMPACT OF NOT HAVING GROUP QUARTERS DATA
Would prohibit providing relevant data to clients
Cannot accurately measure where older adults are living, impact on caregivers, population needs
Impacts development of survey sampling frame
Distortion of socio-economic characteristics for communities with large facilities
December 13, 2010
RLS Demographics, Inc.
OBSERVATIONS ON THE USE OF THE DATA
If idea is to do away with GQ, need explore other options to get college students
If not collected, we would need to use old data, less reliable data sources, or simply guess – none of which are good options
Will not use GQ data by itself, only as part of the total population
Most important program service issues: aging, disability, physical/mental health, substance abuse, correctional issues
December 13, 2010
RLS Demographics, Inc.
OBSERVATIONS ON THE QUALITY OF THE DATA
Reliability is questionable – MOE’s are often larger than the estimates
The current strategy for collecting GQ data is woefully inadequate. We would not recommend use to others
Unless sampling and weighting methods are improved we will recommend using only 2010 Census
December 13, 2010
RLS Demographics, Inc.
SUMMARY
Are the Group Quarters data used? Yes, though not often by itself. More often as a
component of the total population universe. Are the Group Quarters data important?
Yes, particularly where impacts are localized and for program planning and development
Are there legal and regulatory requirements? Yes, though few relate specifically to the group
quarters population Can ACS Group Quarters data be replaced?
Counts – yes; Characteristics - no Are the Group Quarters data accurate?
Not in its current form.December 13, 2010
RLS Demographics, Inc.December 13, 2010
RLS DEMOGRAPHICS
P.O. Box 160
Rensselaerville, NY 12147
(518) 703-0724 (cell)
(518) 797-3163 (home)