ACS Program Review Briefing

American Community Survey
Program Review

The American Community Survey
• The U.S. Census Bureau’s American
Community Survey (ACS) is an
ongoing survey that provides
population and housing characteristics
updated every year.
• The statistics produced by the ACS
are available as 1-, 3-, and 5-year
estimates for the nation
nation, states
states,
counties, cities, and communities, and
are used for planning of programs,
products, goods, and services.

In December 2010, the ACS released its first-ever 5-year data products, an important
milestone for the program.

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ACS Program Review Milestones
The ACS is collecting input from stakeholders on ACS program components as part of an
overall Program Review to ensure continued effectiveness.
• The Census Bureau’s director commissioned a team to plan and implement the ACS
Program Review assessment.
• ACS Program Review Team formed and planning initiated.
• Outreach to Census leadership for input to ACS program components.
• Strategy formed for external stakeholders to provide input to ACS program review.
• Outreach to external stakeholders for input to ACS program review components.
• Feedback shared with a National Research Council Panel.
• Planned release by the Panel of recommendations for ACS program optimization.

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Today’s
Today
s Objectives
Objectives:
• Review program components
• Describe scope of the program review
Discussion:
• Opportunities to engage with the ACS Program
• Our
O plans
l
tto share
h
what
h t we learn
l
• Developing an effective strategy for building on this process after
the Program Review is officially complete

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ACS Program Review Components
External Review
Communications and Stakeholder
Management Review

Feedback on engagement and outreach strategies with
stakeholders.

Methodological Review:

Input on the current ACS survey design and methods, as well as
potential alternatives to improve the quality of the ACS data.

Research and Evaluation Review:

Thoughts on language tools and testing of translations as well as
targeted messaging (as methods to improve mail responses)
responses).

Data Products Review:

Input on ACS data products and their uses.

FYI - Internal Review only
Strategic Re
Review
ie

Feedback on foundational strategic documents,
documents which provide
vision, goals, objectives, and linkages to ACS work.

Program Management Process
Review

Input on governance and program management processes and
structures to strengthen and support the ACS program.

Systems Engineering and
Integration Process Review

Input on selected systems engineering processes and structures to
technically strengthen and support the ACS program.

Business Process Improvement
Review

Improve the efficiency and flexibility of the ACS business
processes/operations.

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Communications and Stakeholder
M
Management
R
Review
i
Objective: Develop a Strategic Communications and Stakeholder Management Plan.

•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Briefed new members of Congress
Identified stakeholders
Conducted stakeholder analysis
Prototype an overall ACS program communications approach using
program review template
D
Develop
l C
Communication
i ti and
d St
Stakeholder
k h ld M
Managementt Pl
Plan ffor
ongoing program
Establish data users group
Interchange with Census Advisory Committees
Obtain input from other stakeholders

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Methodological Review
Objective: Examine the current survey design and methods, as well as identify
potential alternatives to improve the quality of the ACS data.

• Established Design Baseline
• CNSTAT Panel – started Fall 2011
• Interchange with CSAC and REAC
–
–

Specifically
p
y Internet Data Collection
Generally, responses to questions

• Obtain input from other stakeholders

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Research and Evaluation Review
Objective: Develop a program level Research and Evaluation Plan that aligns with
program vision, goals, objectives, and strategies.

• Inventory research projects
• Align
Ali with
i h strategic
i plan
l
• Interchange with Advisory Committees
– Specifically Internet Data Collection
– Generally, responses to questions
• Obtain input from other stakeholders

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Data Products Review
Objective: Determine whether the current approach of generating 1-, 3-, and 5-year
products on an ongoing basis is cost effective.

•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Interviewing federal data users
Population Reference Bureau workshop with data users
Census workshop with federal data users
Conducting CNSTAT Workshop with non-federal
non federal data users
Engagement with Association of Public Data Users
g with Census Scientific Advisory
y Committee
Interchanges
National Research Council panel review

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Discussion
• Opportunities
pp
to engage
g g with the ACS Program
g
• Our plans to share what we learn
http://www.census.gov/acs/www/about_the_survey/acs_program_review/

• Developing an effective strategy for building on this
process after the Program Review is officially complete
• Contact Us: ACS.Program.Review@census.gov
g
@
g

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