The SIPP is a longitudinal survey, one that collects data from the same individuals over an extended period of time and measures changes in characteristics like economic well-being, family dynamics, education, assets, health insurance, child care, and food security.
The U.S. Census Bureau recently announced the appointment of five new members to its Census Scientific Advisory Committee (CSAC). These distinguished professionals bring diverse expertise from fields like sociology, economics, disability research, and computer sciences to tackle critical challenges in census operations and data management.
Meet the New CSAC Members
The new appointees include:
Kristine J. Ajrouch: Research professor at the University of Michigan, focusing on group dynamics.
Sara Curran: Professor at the University of Washington with expertise in international studies, sociology, and public policy.
Andrew J. Houtenville: Economics professor and director of the Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire.
Bonnielin K. Swenor: Endowed professor of Disability Health and Justice and director of the Disability Health Research Center at Johns Hopkins.
Jonathan Ullman: Associate professor at Northeastern University's Khoury College of Computer Sciences.
These new members will help shape the future of census programs, policies, and operations.
CSAC’s insights influence many aspects of Census Bureau activities, ensuring data accuracy and operational efficiency.
A Rich History of Advisory Excellence
The Census Bureau’s advisory tradition dates back to 1994 with the formation of the Census Advisory Committee of Professional Associations (CACPA). Re-chartered as CSAC in 2010, the committee now comprises up to 21 members from diverse disciplines.
CSAC has been instrumental in guiding landmark Census Bureau programs, including the decennial census, demographic studies, and economic surveys. The committee’s recommendations have shaped data collection techniques, statistical accuracy, and the accessibility of information for public use.
Accessing Census Bureau Information
The Census Bureau values transparency and public engagement. Access key materials from past CSAC meetings, including agendas, minutes, public comments, and recordings, to learn more about their work and recommendations. Stay informed about future meetings of the 2030 Census Advisory Committee. Meeting dates, agendas, and materials are regularly updated on the Census Bureau website.
July and August are the hottest months of the year, with September not far behind here in the South. Extreme high heat can affect our outdoor activities, our electric bills, and our moods. But what effect does heat have on the most vulnerable communities and what is their resilience to this external pressure on them. According to the Census Bureau, “Community resilience is the capacity of individuals and households within a community to absorb the external stresses of a disaster.”
The United States Census provides data about the population in
numerous topic areas. Most recently
(July 16, 2024), they released their report on the 2022 Community Resilience Estimates (CRE) for Heat. The report
includes Quick Guide which can be used to understand and use the data available. The Bureau previously released data for 2019.
In general, the CRE reports the social vulnerability that
inhibits community resilience. The CRE for Heat (which is an experimental report) adds new components of social
vulnerability and information concerning exposure. For example, the report looks at which areas
(by geography, state, county, and census tract) have more than two days in a
row of temperatures over 90 degrees and what households in those areas do not
have air conditioning.
The CRE for Heat uses information from the American Community Survey and the Population Estimates Program.
The American Community Survey is conducted every month of every year and,
unlike the decennial census, is sent to a sample of addresses. The survey asks questions about topics not in
the regular census such as education, employment, internet access, and
transportation.
The Population Estimates Program annually produces reports
on the estimated changes in population and housing units for the nation,
states, counties, cities and towns and includes births, deaths, and
migrations.
Arizona State University’s Knowledge Exchange for Resilience collaborates with the Census Bureau to produce the CRE for Heat reports.
The data from the CRE for Heat is included in My Community Explorer which is a Census Bureau tool to identify underserved communities and
includes Census Bureau and Emergency Response datasets.
Beginning in 1810, the third census taken by the United States, the Census Bureau, a sub-agency within the Department of Commerce, understood that more information was needed about the public than the basic questions supplied. This information was needed by business owners and potential business owners, academics doing research, other government agencies, etc. Questions were added to the census covering various topics such as agriculture, industry, and commerce, as well as individuals' occupation, ancestry, marital status, disabilities, place of birth, and other topics. These questions became unwieldy for the overall population, so in 1940, the Bureau created the long-form census questionnaire, which was sent to a random sampling of citizens. More recently, the Bureau discovered that people need more up to date data than was provided by the decennial census. In order to collect social, economic, and housing data continuously, the Bureau implemented, in 2005, the American Community Survey (ACS) and the Puerto Rico Community Survey (PRCS). This survey eliminated the need for the long-form of the census.
Periodically, the Census Bureau tests the
questions to see if question wording, instructions, response categories,
and underlying constructs need to be changed.
They also make changes to current topics or add topics as needed. Current topics include household roster,
educational attainment, health insurance coverage, disability, and labor force
questions. Three new topics are proposed
for the 2025 census – solar panels, electric vehicles, and sewage disposal.
These changes and new topics will be available in the 2025 ACS/PRCS. The Department of Commerce/Census Bureau is seeking comments on these changes and additions as well as on the validity of how questions are asked and the methodology of gathering and analyzing the information. They are also asking for comments on how to make the survey less burdensome and more efficient for the respondents.
In order to read the document and make a comment, go to https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/10/20/2023-23249/agency-information-collection-activities-submission-to-the-office-of-management-and-budget-omb-for
Comments must be received on or before December 19, 2023.
The Census Bureau warns “comments that you submit in
response to this notice are a matter of public record. We will include, or
summarize, each comment in our request to OMB (Office of Management and Budget)
to approve this ICR (Information Collection Request). Before including your
address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information
in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal
identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you
may ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information
from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.”
COVID-19 pandemic's impact on births and deaths results in a record number of counties experiencing natural decrease
MARCH 24, 2022 — More than 73% (2,297) of U.S. counties experienced natural decrease in 2021, up from 45.5% in 2019 and 55.5% in 2020, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Vintage 2021 estimates of population and components of change released today. Natural decrease occurs when there are more deaths than births in a population over a given time period.
In 2021, fewer births, an aging population and increased mortality – intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic – contributed to a rise in natural decrease. The statistics released today include population estimates and components of change for the nation’s 384 metropolitan statistical areas, 543 micropolitan statistical areas and 3,143 counties.
Census Academy: New 2020 Census Redistricting Resources Available
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Redistricting Data, P.L. 94-171, was made available to the public on data.census.gov, on September 16, 2021. This includes data for all states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, down to the census block level. In this webinar session, participants will enjoy a live demonstration of various examples on how to navigate the data.census.gov platform to access and download 2020 Census redistricting data. We will also provide participants with links on where to find additional resources and technical documentation about Redistricting Data. |
Check out our interactive infographic timeline to see the race and ethnicity categories used in the U.S. Decennial Census from 1790-2020.
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Exploring Census Data Webinar Series: New Businesses StatisticsCensus Bureau’s subject matter experts will provide practical ways to use our business data from economic programs to dive into business expansions and contractions. Join UsThe session will explore several dimensions of births and deaths of businesses with highlights to include demographic components of new businesses. The webinar includes a segment on available resources and data tools with the opportunity for questions and answers. 
Event Password: census (If required, this password is only for users who join from a WebEx application or mobile app.) |
