U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

(HHS), Administration for Community Living (ACL): 

Data Restructuring Project

Final Project Summary

March 2019
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Purpose and Objectives

The purpose of the Administration for Community Living (ACL) Data Restructuring Project was to review 

existing ACL and Census data sets; identify practical, efficient, and statistically sound approaches for linking 

those data sets; and create an operational approach that will allow for linking additional data sets in the 

future. The project was conducted from September 29, 2017 to March 28, 2019 with support from aging 

and disability researchers, data scientists, and systems development staff from New Editions Consulting

and IMPAQ International. The primary objectives of the project were to:

 Develop an approach and timeline for the project.

 Propose structure for curating data sets for cross-data set analysis.

 Test the proposed data structure and approach.

 Prepare a workplan and timeline for restructuring all data sets.

Key Accomplishments

The project team produced a range of deliverables contributing to several key accomplishments of the 

project. The Project Accomplishments section provides a detailed description of project accomplishments

for each objective.

 Technical Advisory Group (TAG): Recruited a 10-member TAG consisting of aging and disability 

expert stakeholders from state and federal government, academia, and private companies. 

Presented five (5), 90-minute webinars to describe project activities, explain recommendations for 

data restructuring, and discuss/incorporate TAG member input.

 Summary Data Structure Package: Developed three Summary Data Structure Packages, one for 

each group of data sets included in the project (i.e., ACL aging data sets, Census data sets, ACL 

disability data sets). The documents describe each data set (i.e., purpose, population, data 

structure, feasibility of merging), appropriate linkages between datasets, and use cases illustrating 

cross-data set analyses. Each document is accompanied by a metadata table providing complete 

variable level details for each data set. Combined, the Summary Data Structure Packages total 

roughly 85-pages and cover 10,487 variables from 16 separate data sets.

 Testing Phase: Built a SQL testing database including a total of 57 data files from three-years (i.e., 

2013-2015) of the ACL SPR and Title VI data sets. Demonstrated proof of concept for the new data 

structure through multiple levels of validation and association testing. Developed 13-page Testing 

Phase document, which provides detailed explanations of the testing approach and findings.

 Data Restructuring Workplan and Timeline: Developed 20-page Workplan and Timeline document 

describing key tasks, timeframes, personnel, and level of effort for a multi-year plan to expand ACL 

data linkages and build a next generation, web-based platform to provide ACL data users with new 

ways to navigate and analyze aging and disability data sets.

Next Steps

ACL intends to build on the efforts of the Data Restructuring Project in several ways. These efforts may 

include continued improvement and preparation of the “back-end” data structure. For example, improving 

data documentation of ACL data sets, expanding the testing database to include new years and data sets, 
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aligning common measures across ACL data sets, and designing alternative ways for ACL data users to 

navigate aging and disability data sets other than the data set-specific search methods currently available 

on the AGing Integrated Database (AGID) platform. 

Further development of the “back-end” will help advance ACL toward the vision for a new platform to 

replace AGID, including advanced and intuitive features that allow for meaningful cross-data set analyses. 

Future efforts to build this new “front-end” would include activities that span the full systems 

development life cycle. For example, defining all requirements, developing wireframes, building and 

testing the system, as well as delivering and maintaining/operating the system.

Project Accomplishments

Objective 1: Develop and Approach and Timeline for the Review of ACL Data Sets

Project Deliverable Description

Technical Advisory Group (TAG) Recruited 10-member TAG for the purpose of obtaining stakeholder 

input throughout the course of the project.

First TAG Webinar Held a 90-minute webinar on November 21, 2017. The project team

provided TAG members descriptions of the data sets on AGID and a 

summary of interview data collected about AGID prior to the start of 

the contract. TAG members provided feedback on these materials 

and insight into the types of analyses they would like to be able to 

conduct with ACL’s aging and Census data.

The Approach and Timeline for 

the Review of ACL Data Sets

10-page document that describes the project team’s plan and 

timeline for reviewing ACL aging and Census data sets hosted on 

AGID.

Objective 2: Propose Structure for Curating Data Sets for Cross-Data Set Analyses

Objective 2a. Review Aging Data Sets Hosted on AGID (i.e., SPR, Title VI, NSOAAP, and NORS)

Project Deliverable Description

Summary Data Structure 

Package Document – Aging 

Data Sets

24-page document that describes the data set, appropriate linkages, 

use cases, and visual schema for each ACL aging data set hosted on 

AGID.

Metadata Table – Aging Data 

Sets

Excel file with 3,339 proposed variables and 14 variables to omit in

new data structure.

Second TAG Webinar Held a 90-minute webinar on June 5, 2018. The project team

presented the new data structure for aging data sets with use cases 

to demonstrate examples of possible cross-data set analyses. TAG 

members asked questions and provided feedback.

Objective 2b. Review Census Data Sets Hosted on AGID (i.e., ACS PUMS, ACS Special 

Tabulations 2011-2015, Population Estimates, Decennial Census 2010, and Decennial Census 

2010 Special Tabulations)
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Project Deliverable Description

Technical Advisory Group (TAG) Recruited 10-member TAG for the purpose of obtaining stakeholder 

input throughout the course of the project.

Summary Data Structure 

Package Document – Census 

Data Sets

22-page document that describes each data set and the 

recommendation to include ACS PUMS as the only Census data set 

for cross-data set analysis in the new data structure. Describes 

appropriate linkages, use cases, and visual schema ACS PUMS.

Metadata Table – Aging and 

Census Data Sets

Excel file with 4,996 proposed variables and 14 variables to omit in

new data structure.

Third TAG webinar Held a 90-minute webinar on August 23, 2018. The project team

presented the new data structure for aging and Census data sets

with use cases to demonstrate examples of possible cross-data set 

analyses, emphasizing Census data. TAG members asked questions 

and provided feedback.

Objective 2c. Review Selected ACL Disability Data Sets (i.e., AT, DD Councils, UCEDDs, PADD, 

PAAT, CIL, and ILS)

Project Deliverable Description

Summary Data Structure 

Package Document: Disability 

Data Sets

39-page document that describes the data set, appropriate linkages, 

use cases, and visual schema for each ACL disability data set.

Metadata Table – Aging, 

Census, and Disability Data Sets

Excel file with 10,487 proposed variables and 14 variables to omit in

new data structure.

Fourth TAG Webinar Held a 90-minute webinar on November 16, 2018. The project team 

presented the new data structure for aging, Census, and disability 

data sets with use cases to demonstrate examples of possible crossdata set analyses, emphasizing disability data. TAG members asked 

questions and provided feedback.

Objective 3: Test the Proposed Structure and Approach

Project Deliverable Description

Technical Advisory Group (TAG) Recruited 10-member TAG for the purpose of obtaining stakeholder 

input throughout the course of the project.

Testing Database Built a Microsoft SQL Server database with SPR and Title VI data for 

2013, 2014, and 2015. Performed validation testing to verify the 

integrity and accuracy of the data after importing it into Microsoft 

SQL Server. Performed association testing to verify that proposed 

technical and conceptual linkages between SPR and Title VI data are 

operational.

Testing Phase Document 14-page document that provides detailed descriptions of the testing 

approach and findings.
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Project Deliverable Description

Fifth TAG Webinar Held a 90-minute webinar on January 9, 2019 with ACL staff and one 

TAG member who served as a data science expert on the TAG. The 

project team demonstrated the testing database using a range of use 

cases. Participant asked questions and provided feedback.

Objectives 4 and 5: Prepare Workplan and Timeline for Restructuring all ACL Data Sets

Project Deliverable Description

Workplan and Timeline

Document

20-page document that describes the project team’s recommended 

next steps to build on the efforts of the Data Restructuring Project. 

The document includes key tasks, timeframes, personnel, and level 

of effort for a multi-year plan to develop the “back-end” and “frontend” of a next generation, web-based platform to replace AGID.