BEST PRACTICES: 2005The Group Quarters Report

Katie WengertPopulation Estimates Branch

September 15, 2005

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Overview

• Why do we need group quarters (GQ) data?

• What is the goal of the GQ Team?• What GQ data do we collect?• How does the GQ Team process the

FSCPE GQ data?• What is the role of the FSCPE?

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Why do we need GQ data?

• Assumption that GQ population doesn’t migrate in the same manner as household population

• Annual customer requests for GQ population and civilian non-institutional population

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What is the goal of the GQ Team?

• To produce Census-consistent estimates of the GQ population at the state, county, and subcounty levels– Totals– By age, sex, race, and Hispanic origin– By institutional / non-institutional

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What GQ data do we collect?

• Annual facility-level counts of:– GQ population by primitive subcounty

geography and type from FSCPE– Military GQ population from Air Force,

Marines, and Navy– Veterans Affairs GQ population from Dept.

of Veterans Affairs

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How does the GQ Team process the FSCPE GQ data?• Review

– File format– Geographic codes– Population change over time– Duplicate military or DVA facilities

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How does the GQ Team process the FSCPE GQ data? (cont.)• Produce estimates

– Sum facility-level GQ population to primitive subcounty geography by type

– Apply year-to-year change from GQR to Estimates Base population

– Sum annual primitive subcounty estimates by type to county total estimates

– Divide county total estimates into under / over 65 years based on distribution in Estimates Base

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What is the role of the FSCPE?

• Collect and submit annual counts of GQ population in the specified format– Provide information on geographic or

name changes, openings/closings, etc.• Research primitive subcounty

geographic codes, when necessary• Review and comment on GQ totals as

a part of the county totals review

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FSCPE: Collection & Submission

• One member’s perspective on “GQ Best Practices”

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FSCPE: Collection & Submission (cont.)• Reference date• Geographic codes• Type• GQR ID• Line number• GQR name• Population• Comments

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FSCPE: Research & Review

• Use primitive geography file and other sources of information to research new facilities and those with non-primitive flag = 1

• Use change over time in GQR to review county GQ population estimates

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Contact Information

Katie Wengert301-763-2542Katrina.L.Wengert@census.gov