PRB

PRB created The KIDS COUNT Data Resource Guide to facilitate the use of population data from the U.S. federal statistical system. Originally designed for the KIDS COUNT program on child well-being, the guide offers practical advice on how to use major data sources—from the Decennial U.S. Census to the National Vital Statistics System—that could be helpful to anyone who works with U.S. population data.

The guide includes an overview of each major data source, including what data are available, how to access that data, and some best practices for using each source. These sources provide up-to-date and reliable information that is comparable across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and, where available, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Data sources covered by the guide include:

• Decennial Census
• U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program
• American Community Survey
• Current Population Survey
• National Vital Statistics System
• National Survey of Children’s Health
• Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates
• Small Area Health Insurance Estimates
• National Center for Education Statistics
• And more

The KIDS COUNT Data Resource Guide also includes a brief overview of best practices that apply across data sources, such as assessing reliability, making comparisons, and disaggregating by race and ethnicity.