Data Sources to Inform State Needs Assessments

AUCD polled network members to identify data sources used for statewide needs assessment. A variety of primary sources and reference materials were identified and are noted on that page. Network members are encouraged to submit additional recommendations to be included.

* indicates the dataset includes data for states and Territories. Not all datasets include territorial data. Those datasets that do include territorial data may not include all territories

  • AGing Integrated Database (AGID) is an on-line query system based on ACL-related data files and surveys, and includes population characteristics from the Census Bureau for comparison purposes. The four options or paths through AGID provide different levels of focus and aggregation of the data - from individual data elements within Data-at-a-Glance to full database access within Data File
  • Aging Stats provides timely and relevant data related to older adults via infographics, reports, and access to numerous federal data resources
  • American Community Survey* is a census tool that samples a small percentage of the population every year -- giving communities the information they need to plan investments and services
  • Annual Disability Statistics Compendium, Annual Disability Statistics Supplement, and State Reports for County-level Data are web-based tools that pool disability statistics published by various federal agencies together in one place.
  • America's Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being features statistics on children and families in the United States across a range of domains, including family and social environment, economic circumstances, health care, physical environment and safety, behavior, education and health.
  • Child Trends DataBank: an online resource for indicators of child and family well-being and associated measures
  • City Health Dashboard features 37 measures of health, the factors that shape health and drivers of health equity for the 500 largest U.S. cities. This data helps local leaders develop a clearer picture of the challenges facing their communities and how to address them.
  • Data Resource Center for Child & Adolescent Health features results of the National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH) and the National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs (NS-CSHCN)
  • Disability and Health Data System provides instant access to state-level health and demographic data about adults with disabilities.
  • Disability Statistics: online resource for U.S. disability statistics
  • Early Childhood Longitudinal Studiesprovide statistical data on child development, school readiness, and early school experiences from the National Center on Education Statistics
  • Early Childhood Data Sources include links to national and state data on policies, performance, and initiatives related to early childhood care and education
  • Health Professional Shortage Areasare designated by HRSA as having shortages of primary medical care, dental or mental health providers and may be geographic (a county or service area), demographic (low income population) or institutional (comprehensive health center, federally qualified health center or other public facility).
  • Home and Community Based Services Instrument Database includes information on more than 130 commonly-used instruments assessing HCBS outcomes
  • IDEA Data Center* supports users to collect, report, analyze, and use high-quality Part B dataData to comply with IDEA, providing a general state data perspective
  • Kids Count Data Center* is Annie E. Casey Foundation's premier source for data on children and families
  • Medicaid expenditures and beneficiaries for Medicaid Long-term Services and Supports (LTSS), including institutional and non-institutional settings, by service category and state.
  • National Center for Health Statistics links to numerous health surveys and data collection systems, and data access
  • National Center for Education Statistics is the primary federal entity for collecting and analyzing data related to education
  • National Center for Special Education Research provides publications and data products from the Institute of Education Sciences' research programs
  • National Core Indicators are standard measures used across states to assess outcomes of services provided to individuals and families
  • National Information Center on Health Services Research & Health Care Technology provides links to numerous resources and datasets related to public health and health services
  • National Longitudinal Transition Study 2 (NLTS2) documents the experience of a national sample of students ages 13 to 16 in 2000 as they moved from secondary school into adulthood.
  • NIH Data Book* provides basic summary statistics on extramural grants and contract awards, grant applications, the organizations that NIH supports, the trainees and fellows supported through NIH programs, and the national biomedical workforce
  • Open Government is the federal government's open data site. Numerous states, cities, and counties have launched open data sites; searches on the Data.gov catalog will return relevant datasets from both federal and non-federal sources.
  • Poverty Guidelines* are updated annually, and referenced in the guidance for the core UCEDD grant application
  • Residential Information Systems Project (RISP) provides data, charts, profiles, reports and more from annual state IDD agency surveys on information about the settings in which LTSS recipients live, federal and state funding mechanisms used, residential setting type and size, age of recipients, and expenditures.
  • RSA Data* is available for customized queries against numerous RSA datasets
  • Social Determinants of Health Database* contains the beta version of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)’s database on Social Determinants of Health (SDOH), which was created under a project funded by the Patient Centered Outcomes Research (PCOR) Trust Fund. The purpose of this project is to create easy to use, easily linkable SDOH-focused data to use in PCOR research, inform approaches to address emerging health issues, and ultimately contribute to improved health outcomes.
  • State and Local Area Integrated Telephone Survey (SLAITS)* collects important health care data at State and local levels, supplementing current national data collection strategies
  • State of America's Children provides a comprehensive look at the status of America's children in 11 areas: child population, child poverty, income and wealth inequality, housing and homelessness, child hunger and nutrition, child health, early childhood, education, child welfare, juvenile justice and gun violence.
  • State of the States in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities provides access to nationwide longitudinal financial and programmatic trends in IDD services.
  • StateData.info offers publications that analyze critical issues and important findings in the area of employment of people with disabilities. National annual state data on employment of people with IDD
  • Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) from the US Census collects data and measures change for many topics including: economic well-being, family dynamics, education, assets, health insurance, childcare, and food security.
  • US Census* provides numerous products and tools to access US Census data.
  • US Adolescent Health data (national, state, and Puerto Rico) are available from the US Office of Adolescent health National and State Adolescent Health Data 
  • Vocational Rehabilitation Programs Core Data: Key data and download tables on basic Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) programs for each state agency
  • What Works Clearinghouse reviews existing research on education programs, products, practices and policies
  • Additional resources include:
    • Infants and Toddlers and other state early childhood data on diagnosis, demographics, and referrals
    • State Department of Aging data on disability and aging
    • State Department of Education - annual performance profile
    • State Department of Labor and Workforce Development for data and reports on your state's population, workforce, and its economy