Take Action Now To Support Data Equity
The Data Equity Bill (H.3115) is still in the MA Joint Committee on State Administration & Regulatory Oversight. The last day for bills to leave the MA Joint Committee is February 2nd.
We need your help to report H.3115 favorably out of committee! Help us by sending a pre-filled email to your state legislators. Just fill out the form with your name, email, and address. Send an email by 2/2/2022.
Asian and Pacific Islander Data Disaggregation
The Asian and Pacific Islander American community is the fastest growing group in the United States. It is estimated that the API population will double to over 47 million by 2060. Despite these numbers, our communities are among the most unheard and understudied racial and ethnic groups.
Data equity is a solution. Data equity increases our understanding of diverse populations and the particular challenges that various communities face.
The data equity bill (H.3115) in Massachusetts will allow state agencies to collect, organize, and assemble public data on major ethnic groups. For Asian Americans, this bill is a first step in combatting the harmful biases in data.
By breaking down data into subgroups for all racial groups, it creates more visibility for the diverse experiences within communities. Such visibility can develop and foster a deeper understanding of what each ethnic subgroup needs to work, live, and play.
Resources
Introduction to Breaking Down Data
This fact sheet debunks myths related to data disaggregation and provides recommendations for federal policymakers.
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Ethnicity data is critical to address the diverse needs of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
Accurate and detailed data collection is critical for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. Through detailed data, government agencies and lawmakers can better understand how to most effectively and efficiently provide services to a myriad of Asian American populations.
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Why Disaggregate? Disparities in AAPI Health
Currently, federal agencies are not required to count detailed data for Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Americans. In many cases, reporting by racial group can mask important differences among Asian and NHPI sub-groups. Thus, AAPI communities often remain misrepresented, under-funded, and left out of policy and program decision making.
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Why Disaggregate? Big Differences in Language Access
The census defines limited English Proficiency as those who do not speak a language other than English at home and speak English less than “very well.” Among Asian Americans, there is a wide range of variation with nearly 80% of Bhutanese limited English proficient compared to just 27% of Asian Indians.