HD27 - Race and Ethnic Classifications Within State Agencies


Executive Summary:
• House Resolution Number 77 directs the Secretary of Health and Human Resources to study race and ethnic classifications in data collection for state programs, including current demographic classifications, pertinent federal funding and reporting requirements, effects on service delivery and policy development, and financial feasibility of uniform classifications.

• Fourteen state agencies participated in this study, with the Department of Social Services taking the lead. Each agency gathered information on four demographic classifications -- race, ethnicity, national origin, and language.

• The federal government is in the process of modifying race and ethnic classifications which would be applicable for federally funded program reporting.

• Since most state systems receive federal funding, Virginia should not move forward with uniform classifications until such changes are known.

• Uniform and standard coding of classifications, categories, and labels between computer systems and state agencies is not possible at this time without standard classification definitions or systems at the federal or state level.

• Conclusions related to appropriate broad classifications coming from the study include:

* Race and ethnicity should be captured as separate elements to avoid misclassification and element definitions should distinguish a person's race independent of their ethnic background.

* For the purpose of collecting uniform state reports and evaluations, appropriate broad categories for race and ethnicity are:

Race:

American Indian or Alaskan Native
Asian or Pacific Islander
Black
White
Other
Unknown (to be used for reporting purposes only)

Ethnicity:

Hispanic and Non-Hispanic