Making Data Count for State Legislators and Constituents
Ina Cernusca, North Dakota Compass
Karen Olson, North Dakota KIDS COUNT
2019 IMPACT SUMMIT,Oct. 10-11, 2019Denver, Colorado
Making Data Count for State Legislators and Constituents
In North Dakota
Guinness World Record8,962 snow angels
In Feb 2007
NORTH DAKOTA
• 19th largest state in area (70,761 sq.mi)
• 4th smallest state in population (760,077)
RECENT TRENDS in NORTH DAKOTA
12%
Median age (in years)North Dakota and U.S., 2000-2018
Percentage increase in population of color (2010-2018)
Population change(2010-2018)
Population increase Becoming younger Increased diversity
United States
North Dakota
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North Dakota Compass providesand promotes the use of reliable, accurate, and unbiased demographic, economic, and socio-economic data to support informed decision making and community engagement in North Dakota.
By providing policymakers and citizens with benchmarks of child well-being, North Dakota KIDS COUNT seeks to enrich local and state discussions concerning ways to secure a better future for all children.
NO
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DAK
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KID
S CO
UN
T
NORTH DAKOTA LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS
PROFILE DEVELOPMENT• Select key indicators
• Reliable data source• Available at district level• Comparable with ND and U.S.• Updated yearly• Update all indicators around the
same time• Group key indicators in categories• Include indicator definition and data
sources• Create a template for easy update
POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS• Total Population• Median Age• Ages 0 to 17• Ages 65 and older
HOUSEHOLD CHARACTERISTICS• Total Households• Average Household Size• Householders Living Alone• Average EITC Credit
SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS• Associate's Degree or Higher• Moved in the Past Year• Ages 3 and 4 Enrolled in Early
Education• People with a Disability
ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS• Median Household Income• Low Income, Below 200% of
Poverty• Children
• U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (for 15 out of 16 indicators).
• The Brookings Institution, Earned Income Tax Credit Interactive and Resources feature (for Average EITC Credit).
DATA SOURCES
PROFILE DESIGN
PROFILE DESIGN
DISTRIBUTION/PROMOTION•Upload on the ND Compass and ND KIDS COUNT websites•Email to legislators•Social media•Newsletters•Deliver in person •At the beginning of the legislative session•Preceded by a postcard (in 2017)•Printed on heavy paper•Personalized envelopes (in 2019)
•Printed all profiles in a booklet
NEW in 2019!INTERACTIVE
MAPS
POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS
HOUSEHOLD CHARACTERISTICS
SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS
ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICSONLINE
https://public.tableau.com/profile/ina.cernusca#!/vizhome/2019NorthDakotaStateLegislativeProfiles/Story1
TIMELINE2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Targeted emails to legislators
Promoted on Social Media
Profiles on the website
Printed profiles in a booklet
Postcards
Hand delivered at the beginning of legislative session (2017 & 2019)
Personalized envelopes
Interactive maps
2017 ND Legislative District Profile Survey
FEEDBACK
Q1 - How often did you refer to your district profile throughout the legislative session? (N=39)
3%
13%
72%
13%
Daily
Weekly
Monthly
Never
Q2- How helpful were the profiles when making decisions regarding your district? (N=39)
33%
51%
15%
Very helpful
Somewhat helpful
Not helpful
2017 ND Legislative District Profile Survey
FEEDBACK
Q3 - In what way were the profiles helpful? (check all that apply) (N=33)
3%
24%
52%
55%
58%
70%
Other
Allocating funding according to populationdistribution
Prioritizing issues impacting my district
Understanding the strenghts and challengesof my district
Gaining insight through reputable data thatwould otherwise have been difficult to find
Understanding my constituents
"I found it to be a wonderful resource; it was very helpful for me to as a new legislator"(ND Senator)
"The information and data helped me better represent my constituents" (ND Representative)
"I used it and even referred to it every day of the legislative session to make sure the policy decisions I made were consistent with people who were in my district" (ND Senator)
"I will look even deeper into my district before I run for re-election. I know the data will be very helpful as I draft my message and develop my branding for re-election." (ND Representative) "Understanding the socio-economic
profile of my district helps me better communicate with my constituents" (ND Representative)
FEEDBACK
2 0 1 9 I M P A C T S U M M I T , O c t . 1 0 - 1 1 , 2 0 1 9D e n v e r , C o l o r a d o
Thank you!
I n a C e r n u s c a , N o r t h D a k o t a C o m p a s sm i h a e l a . c e r n u s c a @ n d u s . e d u
K a r e n O l s o n , N o r t h D a k o t a K I D S C O U N Tk . o l s o n @ n d u s . e d u
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]