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The American Community Survey: An Overview

Cheryl V. Chambers, Program Analyst

American Community Survey Office

October 9, 2007

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Purpose of the ACS

• Collect Detailed Decennial Census Sample Data Every Month Instead of Only Once Each Decade

• Release Tabulations of These Data on a Yearly Basis

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• Restructure and Simplify the 2010 Census

– Improve the accuracy of Census coverage

– Improve the relevance and timeliness of detailed data

– Reduce operational risk

– Contain cost

Purpose of the ACS

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Why is the ACS important?

• Many federal agencies set policy at the national and state levels using census data

• The ACS allows federal agencies to respond to trends in a timely manner by providing up to date data for use in allocation formulas

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ACS Facts

• Response is required by Title 13

• Respondents must answer all questions

• Estimates are “ok”

• Questionnaire assistance hotline

• Administered by the Regional Offices

• Multiple methods of data collection for non-responders

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• Three month data collection period

• Three modes of data collection

– Mail

– Computer Assisted Telephone Interview (CATI)

– Computer Assisted Personal Interview (CAPI)

• Data are confidential

ACS Operations

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Information collected in the ACS

• Age and relationship

• Grandparents responsible for grandchildren

• Disability

• Language spoken at home and English fluency

• Income

• Housing costs

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2006 ACS

Included Group Quarters for the first time

Group Quarters population is 2.7% of the total population– adding these data makes a difference

Caution when comparing 2006 ACS to earlier years

Comparable to 2000 Census

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What are Group Quarters?

Places where people live or stay that are normally owned or managed by an entity or organization that provides housing and/or services to residents

– Services may include custodial or medical care as well as other types of assistance

– Residency is commonly restricted to those receiving offered services

– People living in group quarters are usually not related to each other

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Institutional and Non-InstitutionalGroup Quarters

Group quarters are categorized into two groups

– Institutional

– Non-institutional

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Institutional Group Quarters

Includes facilities for people under formally authorized, supervised care or custody at the time of interview

– Adult Correctional Facilities– Nursing/Skilled Nursing Facilities– In-patient Hospice Facilities– Mental (Psychiatric Hospitals) – Group Homes for Juveniles– Residential Treatment Centers for Juveniles

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Non-Institutional Group Quarters

Includes facilities that are not classified as institutional group quarters

– College/University Housing– Group Homes Intended for Adults – Residential Treatment Facilities for Adults – Workers’ Group Living Quarters – Job Corps Centers – Religious Group Quarters

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Release Schedule for ACS Data Products

Data products are released in the year following the single-year or multi-year period in which data are collected.

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ACS Releases--2007

Aug. 28, 2007: – Income, earnings and poverty data

Sept. 12, 2007: – Social, economic and housing characteristics; demographic

and housing estimates; Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) File; data profiles; geographic comparison tables; ranking tables; narrative profiles

Sept. 27, 2007: – Selected Population Profiles; Workplace Base Tables;

Group Quarters Data Profiles

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For More Information

American Community Survey Office1-888-346-9682

cmo.acs@census.govwww.census.gov/acs/www

Cheryl V. ChambersCheryl.v.chambers@census.gov

301-763-3572

ACS Alerthttp://www.census.gov/acs/www/Special/Alerts.htm