American Community Survey: Advocacy for Neighborhood-Level Data

Florencia GutierrezNNIP Conference

May 13, 2011

Overall Rational

• Data-driven decision-making= improved outcomes for children and families

• Support neighborhood based human services and community change initiatives

• ACS primary source for neighborhood-level data

Preserving the ACS

• Interest to undermine/eliminate ACS– Invasion of Privacy– Target for funding cuts

• July 2010: Congressional briefing• March 2011: Congressional Briefings

Increasing Sample Size

• Inadequate sample size– Neighborhood data quality compromised– Unable to accurately measure impact and need

• 2011: Census Bureau’s budget: sample size• 2011: Budget negotiations: Cuts made• May 2011: Hope increase maintained

ACS User Feedback

• June 2011: ACS user feedback meeting– Challenges using 5-year estimates– How 5-year estimates are used– Ideal use of tract level data

• Findings shared with the Census Bureau• Goal: Establish feedback loop

Contact Information

Florencia GutierrezResearch Associatefgutierrez@aecf.org

410-223-2953