2020 Post-Census Group Quarters Review

2020 Post-Census Group Quarters Review (PCGQR)

2020 PCGQR provides governments the opportunity to ask the U.S. Census Bureau to review 2020 Census group quarters population counts.

The 2020 Post-Census Group Quarters Review (PCGQR) provides a mechanism for governmental units in the United States and Puerto Rico, or their designated representatives, to request that the Census Bureau review their population counts of group quarters in a block they believe were undercounted on April 1, 2020. If the review process finds errors in these population counts, the errors will be corrected, and the revised group quarters population will be provided to the Population Estimates Program for incorporation into the base population for upcoming vintages of estimates and will be included in the next possible population base as the production schedule allows. The estimates developed from the updated population base will also be used by the American Community Survey and the Puerto Rico Community Survey. Governmental units include tribal, state, and local officials or their designated representatives.

Please note that the 2020 PCGQR does not collect new data or conduct a recount for the 2020 Census. For example, 2020 Census data products and counts delivered to the President for apportionment, or the 2020 Census Public Law 94-171 Redistricting Data Files and Geographic Products will not be updated as a result of the 2020 PCGQR.

A group quarter (GQ) is a place where people live or stay in a group living arrangement that is owned or managed by an entity or organization providing housing and/or services for the residents. These services may include custodial or medical care as well as other types of assistance, and residency is commonly restricted to those receiving these services. This is not a typical household-type living arrangement. People living in group quarters are usually not related to each other. Group quarters include such places as college/university student housing, residential treatment centers, nursing/skilled-nursing facilities, group homes, correctional facilities, and workers’ group living quarters and job corps centers.

Governments may use revised counts for future programs requiring official census data.

If the Census Bureau makes corrections the revised counts will be provided to the Population Estimates Program for incorporation into the base population for upcoming vintages of estimates and will be included in the next possible population base as the production schedule allows. Corresponding changes to demographic characteristics will be incorporated into subsequent rounds of estimates. The estimates developed from the updated population base will also be used by the American Community Survey and the Puerto Rico Community Survey.  The Census Bureau will not incorporate revised counts into any 2020 Census data or data products.

2020 PCGQR participants will not see the actual population counts a specific census block because they are subject to privacy protections.

2020 Census data, including population counts associated with individual census blocks, are subject to disclosure avoidance methods. For more information on Census Bureau disclosure avoidance methods and efforts to ensure individuals' privacy, visit

<www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade/2020/planning

-management/process/disclosure-avoidance.html>. These measures are taken to protect the privacy of the individuals who live in housing units and group quarters. Therefore, 2020 PCGQR participants will not see precise counts of people below the state level in published data or in corrected data. If corrections are warranted regarding the group quarters population counts, the Census Bureau will send a letter with the decision to the highest elected official of the governmental unit.

Schedule

2020 PCGQR occurs between

June X, 2022, and September 30, 2023.

After the Census Bureau notifies the highest elected or appointed official in each tribal, state, and local government in May 2022, it accepts cases for the 2020 Post-Census Group Quarters Review (PCGQR) between June X, 2022, and June 30, 2023. The review concludes on September 30, 2023, after which revised group quarters population will be provided to the Population Estimates Program for incorporation into the base population for upcoming vintages of estimates and will be included in the next possible population base as the production schedule allows.

For more information about 2020

PCGQR, please visit <website>.

For additional assistance, please contact the Census Bureau by e-mail at

<dcmd.pcgqr@census.gov>or by telephone at TBD.

The Census Bureau will respond to all 2020 PCGQR requests and notify all affected governments of any corrections to official counts.

The Census Bureau will respond to all cases, even if the case is considered ineligible for 2020 PCGQR and will notify all affected governmental units of any corrections to their official population counts resulting from a 2020 PCGQR decision in the form of a determination letter.

2020 PCGQR Case Types

Group quarters population cases - request a Census Bureau review of population counts for valid group quarters by block to correct potential error(s) that occurred while processing 2020 Census counts PCGQR can only review group quarter that existed and available for occupancy on April 1, 2020. Corrections submitted should be consistent with the 2020 Census Residence Criteria and Residence Situations and additional guidance provided by the Census Bureau due to the COVID-19 pandemic <weblink>.

Submitting a 2020 PCGQR Case

Governmental units must submit their cases electronically using the Census Bureau's Secure Web Incoming Module (SWIM). The template for data to support your case, participant guide, and other supporting materials are available free for download from the 2020 PCGQR website.

The Census Bureau will only accept cases that initiate from the highest elected or appointed official of tribal, state, and local governmental units, or their designated representative.

Example Scenario and Outcomes of a 2020 PCGQR Investigation

A town representative reviews the population counts of group quarters for individual census blocks and believes the population count for one census block is lower than it should be because there is a large student housing facility in that block. The town’s designated 2020 PCGQR representative can provide evidence of the population on April 1, 2020. Possible outcomes include:

• The town representative submitted evidence provided by the student housing administrator that proves the population count for the 2020 Census is incorrect. Census Bureau staff provide updated group quarters population counts for the affected blocks to the Population Estimates Program for incorporation into the base population for upcoming vintages of estimates. Updated data will be included in the next possible population base as the production schedule allows. Similarly, updates to total group quarters population counts may be incorporated before corresponding changes to demographic characteristics. The estimates developed from the updated population base will also be used by the American Community Survey.

• Evidence provided by the town representative indicates a group quarter in the census block is new and did not exist on April 1, 2020. This should not be included in an updated group quarters population for use by the Population Estimates Program.

Eligible Participants

The following active, functioning governmental units are eligible to participate:

• Tribal areas, including federally recognized American Indian tribes with reservation and/or

off-reservation trust lands, Alaska Native Regional Corporations, and Alaska Native villages.

• States and equivalent entities (District of Colombia, Puerto Rico)

• Counties and equivalent entities.

• Minor civil divisions (e.g., townships).

• Consolidated cities.

• Incorporated places (e.g., villages, towns, cities).