PRESENTED BY ALLEN L. BARNES Arizona State Data Center Coordinator OCTOBER 11, 2011
National State Data Center Organizational Structure Historical Highlights of the National State Data Center Network State Data Center Metrics SDC Annual Report
The statewide organization of the SDC Network varies from state to state, but usually involves a major state executive or planning agency, a major state university, and/or the state library. These organizations determine the exact structure of the individual state program. Administered by the elected State Data Center Steering Committee and the Customer Liaison Marketing Service Office (CLMSO). 54 State Data Centers throughout the United States and its territories. Each State Data Center has a lead agency, appointed by the state governor, and an affiliate network of agencies.
The affiliate network can comprise of Coordinating agencies, which are more statewide in scope and local Affiliate agencies, which could be a public library, or local planning agency, etc. In 1988 the Business and Industry Data Center (BIDC) Program expansion was designed to meet the needs of public and private sector decision-makers for economic statistics. The BIDC can be an expansion of the SDC or run parallel to the SDC, having a BIDC Lead agency and Coordinating and Affiliate agencies. In states where there is a lead BIDC, that lead is a Coordinating affiliate to the SDC Lead who is the primary lead organization for that state s SDC network.
The National State Data Center network was established in 1978 with the goal of establishing a lead agency in each state. Since the creation in 1978, the Census Bureau has pioneered significant changes in the areas of data collection, dissemination, and analysis; the SDCs have utilized these changes in the operation of their state networks. In the 1980 s, SDCs served as the primary access point for Census data. At that time, much of the data was only available in machine-readable formats. In the 1990 s, it was CD-ROM technology and the World Wide Web that made Census data more readily available to the public. This reduced distribution of data via machine-readable tape.
For Census 2000 and throughout the decade, the expanded role of the Internet made Census data even more widely available to the public. With interface applications such as the American FactFinder, Advanced Query, and various other Census products made available on compact disc, State Data Centers were able to advance their creation of customized programming and product development throughout their networks as well as integrate education and training of Census Bureau data. In 2005, the American Community Survey (ACS) was fully implemented. This survey, which replaced the decennial Census long form prior to the 2010 Census, has become a very vital source of annual demographic, social, economic, and housing characteristics for most communities throughout the nation.
These core competencies define a minimum level of state participation and insure effective operation of the program. Program Administration Data Dissemination Data Analysis, Technical Assistance, and Consultation Customized Programming/Product Development Education and Promotion of Censuses Training Assistance with Census Operation Internet Presence Participation in Mid-Year and/or Annual National Meetings
MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT (MOA) This document constitutes an agreement between the Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Commerce and the government of your state. In order to maintain the formal legal partnership with the Census Bureau, every SDC is required to have a current, signed MOA.
STATE DATA CENTER PARTNERSHIPS State Data Center and the CLMSO State Data Center and its Affiliate Network State Data Center and the Census Bureau Regional Offices State Data Center and the Local Census Office (During the years of active Census campaigns) State Data Center and the state and local communities of your state
Every SDC Lead is required to submit an Annual Report to the CLMSO. The Annual Report period usually starts sometime in the first quarter of the year, and the submission of reports to the CLMSO are usually expected by mid-may. The CLMSO provides a report form to the SDC Leads for the submission of their states Annual Report, and often, a form template for an SDC s affiliate network reports. Every SDC Lead is required to collect information from each of their affiliate network members and process results to produce one Annual Report to submit to the CLMSO. The report information collected from each SDC network is normally determined by CLMSO, and consists mainly of counting totals and types of requests handled, counting activities performed by the network and totaling funds spent and numbers of employees (FTEs).
The National SDC Annual Report is usually presented during the Annual Meeting held in October. The Annual Report is used by the CLMSO to evaluate the overall National State Data Center program. Results from the Annual Report can be used by the U.S. Census Bureau to inform other federal governmental entities of the value and effectiveness of the National SDC Network. The Annual Report is a very important document for the SDC Lead and CLMSO as it provides an annual benchmark to the progress of each State Data Center and the National State Data Center Program. Receipt of the SDC Lead s Annual Report gives the CLMSO insight into the completion of core competencies and thereby validating paid travel expenses to the National Annual SDC Meeting in October.
State Data Center Program Guidelines: http://www.census.gov/sdc/guideindes.htm State Data Center Program Website: http://www.census.gov/sdc/ State Data Center Clearinghouse Website: http://sdcclearinghouse.wordpress.com/
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