Time for a Shared Recovery Using the Census Data to Show the Harmful and Needless Needless Persistence of Poverty August 19, 2008 1
PART III continued 21
Getting the data on August 26: Go to www.census.gov at 10:00 a.m., eastern time. Follow the link to the report: Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2007. There will be an online webcast of a press conference you can listen in or just look at the data, which will be online by about 10:15 a.m. 3
Where, exactly? www.census.gov The Simplest Approach to National Data: Click on Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2007 starting August 26. Find the basic national tables in the report for U.S. poverty (in 2006 report, Table 4), income (in 2006 report, Table 1), and health insurance (in 2006 report, Table 6). For a simple survey of your state s poverty and income data, from www.census.gov, click on American Factfinder (on left); then, under American Community Survey, click on get data; then under 2007 American Community Survey, click on data profiles (on right); under geographic type, choose state, then select your state and click on show result. 4
But if you want to make comparisons back to 2001 in your state or locality You have to seek out tables online. For U.S. poverty and health insurance, we ll look in CPS. For state poverty for all and for children, and median income, we ll look at ACS. 5
Tables to make calculations easier, thanks to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities We will send you links to excel tables for state median income, and for total, family, and child poverty. The tables will tell you whether 1-year and 6-7- year changes are statistically significant that is, not just as a result of chance. Not so bad even for the math-phobic! 6
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For state poverty, click on American Factfinder then click on American Community Survey, get data then at ACS, 2007, click on detailed tables (on right). For geographic type, pick state ; then pick your state; click add and next scroll to B17001 hit add and show result Take figures for Total and Income in Past 12 months Below Poverty estimates and Margins of Error you ll enter these in the table provided. 9
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Total Poverty by State: ACS Data 11
For state child poverty, click on American Factfinder then click on American Community Survey, get data then at ACS, 2006, click on detailed tables (on right). For geographic type, pick state ; then pick your state; click add and next scroll to B17006 hit add and show result Take figures for Total and Income in Past 12 months Below Poverty estimates and Margins of Error 12
Similar deal for Family Poverty and Median Income For State ACS Family Poverty: go to detailed tables, B17010. Take figures for Total and Income in Past 12 months Below Poverty estimates and Margins of Error enter in the blue columns for your state. For State ACS Median Income: go to detailed tables, B19013. Mercifully, you will only see 2 numbers the median dollar amount and Margin of Error enter them in the blue columns for your state. 13
Finding the Number of Uninsured in Your State: At the Census Bureau homepage (www.census.gov) at People, click on Health Insurance Click on Health Insurance Coverage 2007 Click on Detailed Tables Click on Table H106 Find the Number and Percent for your state under Not Covered 14
Tie the Data to Upcoming Federal or State Decisions Make sure reporters and Members of Congress know that Congress can act in September to raise incomes/reduce hardship. Some issues worth highlighting: Child Tax Credit Economic Recovery Package 15
Child Tax Credit: September! Current law excludes families with children earning less than $12,050 too poor to qualify! Proposal: allow families with earnings of $8,500 or more to get a partial CTC. Would help 13 million children 3m who are now excluded altogether; 10m would get higher credit. Congress will work on tax cut bills; this should be included! 16
Economic Recovery Package: September! Between the recession and fires and floods, Congress may take up recovery measures. Should include: Temporary increase in Food Stamps, WIC, or other emergency food Home energy assistance (LIHEAP) More weeks of Unemployment Insurance Federal help to prevent Medicaid cuts 17
Details available about the need You can download: for these proposals Impact of Child Tax Credit improvement by state - CBPP Towards Shared Recovery CHN for info about recovery package items State data about unemployed, Food Stamp use, etc. 18
Spreading the Word Press release on Aug. 26. Letters to the editor after articles appear about the poverty data. Op-ed, or talk to columnists/editorial writers about your message. Send copies of your release, op-ed, or letter to your Senators and Rep. 19
To prevent missteps, what we ll This presentation, with all the step-by-step tips. Tables with blank columns for you to insert the 2007 data as it becomes available. Tables with state data re Child Tax Credit, unemployment, Food Stamp use. Press release outline (CBPP); letters to editor ideas. On Aug. 26 and beyond, we ll send you info and analysis. provide: 20
Don t be a stranger! For more information, contact Debbie Weinstein Coalition on Human Needs (202) 223-2532 x31; dweinstein@chn.org Let us know if you are planning to do a press release or event in connection with the August 26 release, and if we can share your contact info with other folks in your area. 21
Thanks! Your fruitful use of online Census data will help funding for anti-poverty programs to grow! 22