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United States Census Bureau | An official website of the United States Government Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data: What Users of Data for American Indians and Alaska Natives Need to Know March 2021 Suppose a tribal planner needs current information about the local population to plan for future economic development, a Commission on Indian Affairs in a southeastern state wants to improve access to health services for tribal members, or a policy analyst at a federal agency wants to measure the effectiveness of programs that fund critical health care services to American Indian and Alaska Native populations nationwide. Where could they turn for this information? The U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) provides a detailed portrait of the social, economic, housing, and demographic characteristics of America’s communities, including information about the characteristics of American Indians and Alaska Natives and the areas where they live. ACS data are important to tribal government officials, federal funding agencies, state government agencies, and nongovernmental organizations that provide services to improve the well-being of tribal populations. When American Indian and Alaska Native respondents complete the ACS, they are helping [/con tent/ dam/ Cens us/lib rary/ publi catio ns/20 21/ac s/acs _aian _han dboo k_20 21.pd f] Understa nding and Using American Communi ty Survey Data: What Users of Data for American Indians and Alaska Natives Need to Know [15.7 MB] American Community Survey to ensure that the best statistics are available to their communities to inform future decisions. This handbook provides an overview of the ACS to help tribal data users and others understand the basics of the survey, how the data can be used, how to judge the accuracy of ACS estimates, and how to access ACS data on the Census Bureau’s Web site. It also includes some recent case studies that show how ACS data are being used to help address important policy and program issues facing American Indian and Alaska Native populations. Links to additional ACS resources, including technical documentation for more advanced users, are included throughout this handbook. Download by Section 1. Understanding the ACS: The Basics [<1.0 MB] [/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2021/acs/acs_aian_handbook_2021_ch01.pdf] American Community Survey 2. The Geography of American Indian and Alaska Native Areas [<1.0 MB] [/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2021/acs/acs_aian_handbook_20 21_ch02.pdf] American Community Survey 3. Understanding and Using ACS Single-Year and Multiyear Estimates [<1.0 MB] [/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2021/acs/acs_aian_handbook_ 2021_ch03.pdf] American Community Survey 4. Making Comparisons with ACS Data [<1.0 MB] [/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2021/acs/acs_aian_handbook_2021_ch04.pdf] American Community Survey 5. Accessing ACS Data [<1.0 MB] [/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2021/acs/acs_aian_handbook_2021_ch05.pdf] American Community Survey 6. Case Studies Using ACS Data [11.2 MB] [/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2021/acs/acs_aian_handbook_2021_ch06.pdf] American Community Survey 7. Understanding Error and Determining Statistical Significance [<1.0 MB] American Community Survey [/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2021/acs/acs_aian_handbook_20 21_ch07.pdf] 8. Calculating Measures of Error for Derived Estimates [<1.0 MB] [/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2021/acs/acs_aian_handbook_2021_c h08.pdf] American Community Survey 9. Differences Between the ACS and the Decennial Census [<1.0 MB] [/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2021/acs/acs_aian_handbook_2021 _ch09.pdf] American Community Survey 10. Using Dollar-Denominated Data [<1.0 MB] [/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2021/acs/acs_aian_handbook_2021_ch10.pdf] American Community Survey 11. Measures of Nonsampling Error [<1.0 MB] [/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2021/acs/acs_aian_handbook_2021_ch11.pdf] American Community Survey 12. Glossary [<1.0 MB] [/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2021/acs/acs_aian_handbook_2021_ch12.pdf] American Community Survey Others in Series Publication What ACS Public Use Microdata Sample File Users Need to Know February 2021 This guide helps data users learn how to access PUMS files, create PUMS tables, and measure accuracy and margins of error. [/programs-surveys/acs/guidance/handbooks/pums.html] Publication What Congress Needs to Know June 2020 This handbook helps congressional staff use ACS data to respond to constituent inquiries, draft floor/press statements, conduct legislative research, and more. [/programs-surveys/acs/guidance/handbooks/congress.html] Publication What the Business Community Needs to Know October 2020 This handbook helps business data users learn how to access and use ACS data and provide concrete examples of how ACS data can answer real-world questions. [/programs-surveys/acs/guidance/handbooks/business.html] VIEW ALL [/PROGRAMS-SURVEYS/ACS/LIBRARY/HANDBOOKS.HTML] Related Information American Community Survey Resources for AIAN [/programs-surveys/acs/information-for/aian.html] Race, Ethnicity, Ancestry and American Indian & Alaska Native Tables [/programs-surveys/acs/data/race-aian.html] Page Last Revised - May 1, 2025