U.S. Census Bureau

The U.S. Census Bureau organization in CKAN centralizes data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau—including the American Community Survey (ACS)—to support the Child Poverty Action Lab’s (CPAL) core focus areas of maternal health, housing, safety, benefits delivery, and criminal justice. By compiling demographic, social, and economic data in one place, CPAL can better integrate federal statistics into local projects, enabling more precise analyses and data-driven interventions.

Contents and Coverage

American Community Survey (ACS) Data

  • Annual or multi-year estimates with granular demographic, income, and housing information

  • Special topic tables that provide context for maternal health, poverty levels, and other social factors

Topical Census Extracts

  • Focused datasets relevant to CPAL’s priority domains (e.g., maternal health statistics, housing occupancy, safety-related community measures)

  • Summaries of benefits usage, workforce participation, and other indicators that inform policy and program design

Historical Data and Trends

  • Older Census or ACS files allowing for comparisons over time

  • Data that captures shifts in demographic or socioeconomic indicators pertinent to CPAL’s ongoing research

Supplementary Documentation

  • Data dictionaries, methodology notes, and technical guides to support correct usage and interpretation

  • Links to relevant external sources and community research collaborations

Data Sources

  • U.S. Census Bureau: Direct downloads of ACS datasets and other Census products

  • Collaborative Research Efforts: Projects or partnerships involving CPAL and academic or non-profit institutions, often resulting in curated census-based insights or integrated datasets

Intended Audience

  • CPAL Researchers and Analysts: Professionals who require federal data to enrich local-level studies and program evaluations

  • Community Organizations and Stakeholders: Groups seeking demographic and economic context to guide interventions in maternal health, housing, or public safety

  • Policy Makers and Advocates: Individuals leveraging federal statistics to shape evidence-based policy proposals within CPAL’s focus areas

  • Academics and Data Scientists: Scholars looking to incorporate ACS and Census Bureau indicators into broader data models or comparative analyses

Usage and Guidelines

  • Data Formats: Most resources are provided in formats such as CSV, Excel, or machine-readable file types (e.g., JSON) for easy integration and analysis

  • Update Frequency: Datasets are refreshed in alignment with U.S. Census Bureau releases—annually for ACS data or according to other official reporting schedules

  • Licensing and Access: Unless otherwise noted, data from the U.S. Census Bureau is considered publicly available; users should reference each dataset’s metadata for any specific citation requirements

  • Contact and Support: For questions regarding dataset selection, interpretation, or additional technical support, reach out to CPAL’s data team or refer to U.S. Census Bureau documentation