Tips and Documentation
Building the State Data Center brand
One of our network goals is to build awareness of the great population analysts, demographers, and data pros working at State Data Centers around the country. As opportunities arise, we’re presenting State Data Center products and materials alongside those of the Census Bureau. And we’re publicizing the SDC brand.
Government leaders are an important audience right now. States, counties and cities, tribal governments and regional agencies all have a stake in the 2020 Census, and the broader collection of Census products.
This fall, the Steering Committee has been in contact with the National Association of Regional Councils and the National Conference of State Legislatures. Both organizations wanted to hear about preparations for 2020 and partnerships between states and Census programs. We were happy to fill out their agenda, matching these organizations with state demographers who could address their national meetings. (Thank you, Lloyd Potter, Texas State Demographer, and Jeff Hardcastle, Nevada State Demographer, for representing the SDC network at these meetings!)
We are looking for similar opportunities — other national meetings and associations interested in the State Data Center network story. If you have a connection to the program committees or boards of other national groups, please contact Todd Graham, or any SDC Steering Committee member. We want to make use of those connections.
We’re building the SDC brand in small ways as well. At our annual training conference in 2016, we distributed a new logo for everyone’s use. (Thank you, Montana Department of Commerce, for this in-kind contribution to the network!) Many States are now using that logo.
The SDC Program does expect that each State Lead agency maintain a webpage identifying your role as a State Data Center, and identifying how the public can make contact and access more information. We recommend using the SDC logo alongside your own. Also, the State Lead’s webpage should include a list of Coordinating and Affiliate agencies in your State network, with contact information.
Expectations for Coordinating and Affiliate agencies are more flexible, and vary by state. SDC Coordinating and Affiliate agencies are welcome to use and publicize the SDC logo, brand, and online resources.
2018 will be a busy year for Census partners. Keep up the good work, everyone!
States’ Preparations for the 2020 Census: Findings
The 2020 Census is just two-and-a-half years away. The Census Bureau is setting up field operations and data capture systems, address lists, geographic data, and more. States and State Data Centers are partners in some of this preparation. States share an interest in the Census’s goal of a complete and accurate count of the nation’s population.
To assess readiness and identify needs, the State Data Center Steering Committee conducted a survey in September 2017 of states’ early-stage preparations and plans for participation in 2020 Census programs and support. Responses were received from 66 agencies in 52 states and territories. Forty-nine of these agencies are SDC State Leads; the remaining respondents are Governor’s Liaisons to the Census or FSCPE participants in agencies separate from the SDC State Leads. (In many cases, the FSCPE participants are SDC coordinating agencies.)
This report summarizes the state’s answers and status of preparations as of September 2017. These answers will change over the next 1-2 years, particularly with respect to upcoming program activities that are expected but will not formally begin until 2018 or beyond.
Question: Does your SDC or State government have plans for 2020 Census outreach, engagement, or promotion? If so, please describe.
- 5 states responded “No.”
- 46 states responded “Yes” and provided details. The most frequent answers are as follows:
- Outreach and promotion, including creation of new websites (n= 11)
- Complete Count Committee development (10)
- LUCA training, information sessions, and outreach (7)
- Events – Workshops, Annual conferences (7)
- Connections with other agencies, governments (5)
- Connections with other organizations, i.e. nonprofits, libraries (4)
- Still in planning: details not provided (12)
- 4 states did not participate in the survey.
- 1 state skipped this question on the survey.
Question: Does your SDC or State government have plans for LUCA? Choose one (or more) statements that best describes plans.
- 35 states have agencies (including 26 SDC State Leads) registering for LUCA data review.
- 21 states (and 21 SDC State Leads) are providing outreach and promotion, or hosting meetings.
- 17 states (including 14 SDC State Leads) are providing technical expertise or consultation.
- 8 states (including 5 SDC State Leads) are providing validation data resources to local LUCA participants.
- 7 states (and 7 SDC State Leads) indicated they were considering the LUCA program and had not reached a decision at the time of survey.
Question: Does your SDC or State government plan to participate in OTHER 2020 Census preparations? If so, please describe.
- 40 States responded “Yes.” States were invited to provide open-ended descriptions of their plans. Thus the tallies here are likely to be incomplete. The most frequent answers are as follows:
- Outreach, promotion, and engagement (9)
- Whatever we can/whatever is included in our MOU (7)
- Participant Statistical Area Program (PSAP) (6)
- Redistricting in the state (6)
- FSCPE – Count review (6)
- FSCPE – Group quarters (5)
- Plan still being developed (5)
Question: Does your SDC or State government have (or plan to have) DEDICATED FUNDING for any of the 2020 Census activities discussed above?
- 4 states answered “Yes, my SDC or agency has dedicated funding.”
- 11 states answered “Not yet, we will request (or have requested) such funding.”
- 12 states answered “Don’t know, or still to be determined.”
- 25 states answered “No, our state has no dedicated budget for 2020 Census.”
Question: If you answered ‘Yes’ or ‘Not Yet’ to the previous question, please provide budget details.
- California – $10 million
- Massachusetts – $190,000
- Minnesota – $190,000
- Michigan – 2 FTE
- North Carolina – $1 million (requested, not yet finalized)
- Virginia – $115,000 (requested, not yet finalized)
- Other states were in the process of requesting funding, but did not indicate an amount
Question: What are your SDC or agency’s roles in 2020 Census? Check all that apply.
- 35 states have agencies (including 26 SDC State Leads) registering for LUCA data review
- 19 states have agencies (including 17 SDC State Leads) that will staff state-level Complete Count Commissions
- More states are likely to become involved; these numbers will likely rise.
- 18 states have agencies (including 17 SDC State Leads) that will be involved in redistricting at the state-level
- More states are likely to become involved; these numbers will likely rise.
Question: Does your SDC need any advice in preparing for 2020 Census? Please describe your greatest concern or need.
- 21 states responded “No.”
- 30 states responded “Yes.” The most frequent answers are as follows:
- Help from Census Bureau – including prioritized list of needed state input, calendar outline of important programs, Complete Count Committee process and details (5)
- What other states are doing – including their budgets, operations plans (5)
- “All of us are new, so any advice is welcome!” (4)
- How to create a plan with no new funding or staff (3)
- Ideas and best practices, sharing promotional materials across SDC network (2)
- How to improve outreach, reaching Hard to Count populations (2)
- Coordination and resources needed for all the activities/programs (2)
- Coordination with Island Areas Branch – everything is planned by IAB (2)
- 4 states did not participate in the survey.
- 1 state skipped this question on the survey.
Question: What were your SDC or agency’s roles in 2010 Census programs? Check all that apply.
- 26 states (including 21 SDC State Leads) participated in LUCA (2007-2008).
- 23 states (including 19 SDC States Leads) staffed Complete Count Commissions (2008-2010).
- 16 states (including 15 SDC States Leads) participated in PSAP (2008-2009).
- 26 states (including 25 SDC States Leads) participated in PUMA areas delineation (2011).
- 35 states (including 33 SDC States Leads) were involved in outreach and promotion of 2010 Census.
- 11 states (including 9 SDC States Leads) had a role in post-2010 redistricting.
This survey was administered by Metropolitan Council, a government agency in Minnesota, as a service to the Census SDC steering committee. The information collected here is public data, per the disclosure notice provided to respondents, and per Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 13.
Collected data is available to SDC agencies and Census Bureau staff.
This summary report was prepared by Mallory Bateman, Utah SDC, and Todd Graham, Metropolitan Council (Minnesota).
Comments and corrections can be directed to Todd Graham, SDC Steering Committee.
Census Bureau’s partnership with states and territories
The US Census Bureau has multiple efforts that involve states and territories. Five permanent, ongoing partnerships are State Data Centers, the Federal-State Cooperative for Population Estimates, the Cooperative for Population Projections, the Governors’ Liaisons Network, and the Redistricting Data Program. These partnerships enable the Census Bureau to reach state leaders and stakeholders, transmit data to the states, improve data collection, and extend expert guidance and access to Census data and products throughout the decade.
| Partnership program | Scope of partnership |
| State Data Centers | Extension of Census products and data to reach state and local data users |
| FSCPE | Production of state and local population and housing unit estimates |
| FSCPP | Advance techniques and methods of state population projections |
| Governors’ Liaisons List | Communication on decennial census preparations |
| Redistricting Data Program | Preparation and specification of data tabs for legislative districts and geographic units |
State Data Centers
- Established in 1978 for data assistance to state and local governments and the general public throughout the decade.
- 56 State Leads, representing each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and US Island Areas.
- Supported by 1,600 coordinating agencies and affiliates, which include local governments, university research centers, libraries and nonprofits.
- Members are premier partners who extend Census’s reach and provide Census products, data, and training resources to interested audiences and the general public.
- Support various Bureau programs including BAS, LUCA, Building Permits, and Census of Governments.
- Provide feedback on data users’ needs and operational issues.
- At the Census Bureau, the SDC program is coordinated by the Customer Liaison and Marketing Services Office.
- A steering committee representing the states works with Census Bureau staff to identify priorities and coordinate activities.
Federal-State Cooperative for Population Estimates
- Established in 1967 to assist the Census Bureau with state and local population and housing unit estimates.
- 56 members representing each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and US Island Areas.
- Members are demographers and population analysts who provide their local knowledge and insight to the Population Estimates Program, the media, and the public.
- FSCPEs supply vital statistics, information about group quarters (such as college dorms or prisons), and housing unit components.
- FSCPEs support efforts to improve the accuracy and timeliness of Census Bureau estimates by reviewing and providing comments on the population and housing unit estimates and methodology.
- Participate in Decennial Census preparations and Count Review.
- At the Census Bureau, the FSCPE program is coordinated by the Population Division.
- A steering committee representing the states works with Census Bureau staff to identify priorities and coordinate activities.
Federal-State Cooperative for Population Projections
- Established in 1979 to advance techniques and methods of population projection, and to provide a forum for discussion and exchange between federal and state population projections specialists.
- State members representing each state and the District of Columbia.
- FSCPP members work in cooperation with Census’s Population Projections Branch to exchange technical information on subnational population projections. This exchange is facilitated by an annual meeting focused on new developments in the field of population projections.
- The State members produce independent state and local area projections using methodology and techniques that meet their specific needs.
- At the Census Bureau, the FSCPP program is coordinated by the Population Division.
- There is an annual meeting of FSCPP participants.
Governors’ Liaisons List
- Staff or appointees of governors, representing the governors of most states, Puerto Rico, and US Island Areas, /and the District of Columbia.
- During the 2020 Census cycle, the Governors’ Liaisons are a conduit for official communications. Communications include news of upcoming phases of preparation and Census activities in states, as well as discussions of state participation in 2020 Census partnership programs and geographic programs.
- Throughout the decade, Census Bureau keeps the Governors’ Liaisons informed of the planning and implementation of the Economic Census, the Census of Governments, and major household surveys.
- At the Census Bureau, the Governors’ Liaisons List is coordinated by the Intergovernmental Affairs Office.
- There is not an annual meeting nor a steering committee of participants.
The roles of State Data Centers, FSCPEs, FSCPPs, and Governors’ Liaisons may be overlapping. In some states, a single office may participate in two or three of these roles.
Redistricting Data Program
- State officials responsible for legislative apportionment or districting in each state and Puerto Rico.
- During the 2020 Census cycle, this geographic designation program receives the geographic bounds of legislative districts, voting districts, and other areas needing tabulations of population. The specification, transmittal and receipt of tabulations is a nonpartisan process that follows states’ political decisions concerning legislative and voting districts.
- The US Census Bureau will deliver the specified 2020 Census tabulations to Governors and public bodies (Legislatures or Commissions) immediately following the availability of the decennial Redistricting Data files.
- The Redistricting Data Program continues throughout the decade. State participants have a biennial opportunity to specify changes to legislative districts.
- At the Census Bureau, the Redistricting Data Program is administered by the Redistricting Data Office.
- There is not an annual meeting nor a steering committee of participants.
Plan to Plan for the 2020 Census: Part 1 webinar
Aside Posted on Updated on
New from North Carolina SDC
Plan to Plan for the 2020 Census: Part 1 webinar
The “Plan to Plan” webinar series will provide sessions on specific 2020 Census programs and operations. Numerous state-based partners are involved, and the series will discuss the possible roles of SDCs and their state networks. Webinar from December 13, 2016.
Find it here: https://census.webex.com/census/ldr.php?RCID=6bc0d001423c92205eee344eae2bbdee