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Written by: Robert Santos, Director
As we navigate the first quarter of the new year, I have been reflecting upon our collective journey to excellence. It?s a journey that features effective partnerships, continuous communication and working together to understand needs, leverage our strength and maximize productivity within recognized constraints.
Like federal statistical agencies across the nation (and the world!), the U.S. Census Bureau is charged with producing quality statistics in the face of declining survey response rates, rising costs and increasing complexities of data collection. Once data are collected, we then must address the intricacies of disclosure risks while preserving data utility/granularity. Plus, there?s the challenge of providing statistical data that meets the myriad needs of increasingly diverse communities of users.
Statistical data are only as good as their ability to provide the insight sought by federal agencies, tribal nations, policymakers, state and local governments, community organizations, businesses, scholars and other members of the public.
Yet I?ve always envisaged obstacles as fodder for opportunity. These challenges motivate our transformation into a 21st century federal statistical agency. They motivate our outreach to communities and stakeholders to provide public service represented by our statistical data.? And they motivate the importance of true partnerships ? travel partners, if you will ? on our journey to excellence.
Today, I want to talk about how we?re responding to those challenges and the opportunities that lie ahead for the Census Bureau. Continue reading...
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