A New Directive, a New Opportunity:A New Directive, a New Opportunity:

How a New Policy How a New Policy Expands Communication at the Expands Communication at the

National Center for Health StatisticsNational Center for Health Statistics

Presented by Megan CoxPresented by Megan Cox

Public Affairs SpecialistPublic Affairs Specialist

National Center for Health National Center for Health StatisticsStatistics

First, who is NCHS?First, who is NCHS?

The National Center for Health The National Center for Health Statistics…Statistics…– A A federal statistical agencyfederal statistical agency

Part of the Centers for Disease Control Part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)…and Prevention (CDC)…

Part of the Department of Health and Part of the Department of Health and Human Services.Human Services.

What exactly do we do?What exactly do we do? Example:Example:

What is OMB Statistical Policy What is OMB Statistical Policy Directive Number 4?Directive Number 4?

The U.S. Office of Management and The U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB).Budget (OMB).

What do they do?What do they do?

What responsibilities does OMB have What responsibilities does OMB have regarding federal statistical agencies?regarding federal statistical agencies?– Ensures “the quality, objectivity, utility, and Ensures “the quality, objectivity, utility, and

integrity of information, including statistical integrity of information, including statistical information, provided to the public.” information, provided to the public.”

BackgroundBackground

The key to maintaining the credibility The key to maintaining the credibility of federal statistics is to ensure that of federal statistics is to ensure that the timing, dissemination, and the timing, dissemination, and quality control is the responsibility quality control is the responsibility solely of the federal statistical solely of the federal statistical agency releasing the data.agency releasing the data.

BackgroundBackground

The Public Affairs Forum for Federal The Public Affairs Forum for Federal StatisticsStatistics– Formed in late 1990s “to help public Formed in late 1990s “to help public

affairs specialists in the national affairs specialists in the national statistical offices deal with common statistical offices deal with common problems, learn from each other, advance problems, learn from each other, advance the field, and contribute to better policies the field, and contribute to better policies and practices in dissemination of and practices in dissemination of statistics”—Sandra Smith, National statistics”—Sandra Smith, National Center for Health Statistics.Center for Health Statistics.

Addressing IssuesAddressing Issues

Forum wanted to ensure that press Forum wanted to ensure that press releases and other statistical releases and other statistical products were not delayed or altered products were not delayed or altered for non-statistical reasons. for non-statistical reasons.

A work in progress…A work in progress…

Small working group received a Small working group received a positive response from OMB. positive response from OMB.

The group conferred with senior staff The group conferred with senior staff at federal statistical agencies.at federal statistical agencies.

Group relied on the National Group relied on the National Research Council’s 2005 Research Council’s 2005 Principles Principles and Practices for a Federal Statistical and Practices for a Federal Statistical Agency.Agency.

Success!Success!

In August 2007, the OMB published a In August 2007, the OMB published a draft of the directive in the draft of the directive in the Federal Federal RegisterRegister..– Sought comments from the public. Sought comments from the public. – All the respondents encouraged OMB to All the respondents encouraged OMB to

issue the directive, (several had issue the directive, (several had suggestions to bolster various provisions suggestions to bolster various provisions of the directive). of the directive).

Adopted March 7, 2008.Adopted March 7, 2008.

What this means…What this means…

OMB Statistical Policy Directive No. 4 OMB Statistical Policy Directive No. 4 mandates that the dissemination of mandates that the dissemination of federal statistical information be federal statistical information be characterized by characterized by integrityintegrity, , reliabilityreliability, , objectivityobjectivity, and , and accessibility—accessibility—this is this is the way to maintain the way to maintain credibility.credibility.

ScopeScope

The directive clarifies that it applies to The directive clarifies that it applies to all statistical products disseminated all statistical products disseminated by federal statistical agencies.by federal statistical agencies.

The directive emphasizes that federal The directive emphasizes that federal statistical agencies are directly statistical agencies are directly responsible for the content they responsible for the content they release. release.

HighlightsHighlights

What is a statistical press release?What is a statistical press release?– A “statistical press release” is an A “statistical press release” is an

announcement to the media of the announcement to the media of the release of a statistical product from a release of a statistical product from a statistical agency—it is produced by the statistical agency—it is produced by the statistical agency. statistical agency.

– It includes the name of the agency, key It includes the name of the agency, key findings, a summary of the information, findings, a summary of the information, and where the information can be and where the information can be accessed. accessed.

HighlightsHighlights

At NCHS, weAt NCHS, we– Coordinate with parent agencies by Coordinate with parent agencies by

sending press releases to them prior to sending press releases to them prior to release. release.

– Share information with our parent Share information with our parent agencies so that they will be aware of the agencies so that they will be aware of the information to be released and be able to information to be released and be able to prepare a separate statement prepare a separate statement commenting on the data.commenting on the data.

HighlightsHighlights

Who determines the timing of a Who determines the timing of a release?release?– The directive gives federal statistical The directive gives federal statistical

agencies responsibility for the timing of agencies responsibility for the timing of the release of statistical products.the release of statistical products.

– Per the directive, data should be Per the directive, data should be released by federal statistical agencies released by federal statistical agencies as soon as they are ready.as soon as they are ready.

HighlightsHighlights

NCHS…NCHS…

– Works closely to coordinate releases Works closely to coordinate releases with CDC but releases data when they with CDC but releases data when they are ready.are ready.

HighlightsHighlights

What is the benefit of pre-release What is the benefit of pre-release (embargo)?(embargo)?– Expansion of media outreach by federal Expansion of media outreach by federal

statistical agencies through early statistical agencies through early release. release. More time to prepare increases the More time to prepare increases the

likelihood of more accurate coveragelikelihood of more accurate coverage More interviews More interviews Wider disseminationWider dissemination

HighlightsHighlights

NCHS…NCHS…

– Uses the embargo process for its most Uses the embargo process for its most newsworthy reports.newsworthy reports.

– Results have been extensive coverage Results have been extensive coverage and increased interviews with and increased interviews with statisticians.statisticians.

HighlightsHighlights

Who’s responsible for notification of Who’s responsible for notification of releases?releases?

– The statistical agency is responsible for The statistical agency is responsible for providing the public with a schedule of providing the public with a schedule of release for regular or recurring release for regular or recurring statistical products (reports and public-statistical products (reports and public-use files).use files).

HighlightsHighlights

NCHS…NCHS…

– Collects a list of upcoming data releases Collects a list of upcoming data releases from each of its programs and from each of its programs and assembles a schedule that is posted on assembles a schedule that is posted on the Web.the Web.

HighlightsHighlights

Forums and strategies for Forums and strategies for information releaseinformation release

– Conferences, exhibits, presentations, Conferences, exhibits, presentations, workshops, electronic distribution lists, workshops, electronic distribution lists, and other media outreach such as news and other media outreach such as news conferences and media briefings are conferences and media briefings are encouraged.encouraged.

HighlightsHighlights

NCHS…NCHS…

– Uses the Internet extensively for disseminationUses the Internet extensively for dissemination—most searches for our information start —most searches for our information start there.there.

– The NCHS Office of Public Affairs attends The NCHS Office of Public Affairs attends conferences to further promote our products conferences to further promote our products and our services to the target audience—media and our services to the target audience—media professionals and other statistical professionals and other statistical communicators that may utilize our data.communicators that may utilize our data.

Summary - A Policy for Summary - A Policy for CredibilityCredibility

The OMB directive instructs federal The OMB directive instructs federal statistical agencies to reach out to statistical agencies to reach out to the public in a timely, equitable, and the public in a timely, equitable, and responsible manner, ultimately responsible manner, ultimately enhancing our reputation as a source enhancing our reputation as a source of credible data.of credible data.

ChallengesChallenges

The challenge of the directive is in The challenge of the directive is in the implementation; NCHS is still in the implementation; NCHS is still in the process of coordinating the the process of coordinating the details with CDC in some instances details with CDC in some instances because the directive represents a because the directive represents a departure from previous practices.departure from previous practices.

Useful Applications?Useful Applications?

U.S. federal statistical agencies are U.S. federal statistical agencies are diversified—we are not one unified diversified—we are not one unified agency but many agencies separated agency but many agencies separated by the subject matter we cover. Yet, by the subject matter we cover. Yet, we have uniformity under this policy. we have uniformity under this policy.

What does this mean outside the What does this mean outside the U.S.? It varies from country to U.S.? It varies from country to country.country.