View all text of Subchapter I [§ 12511 - § 12657]
§ 12639a. Civic Health Assessment and volunteering research and evaluation
(a) Definition of partnership
(b) In general
The partnership shall facilitate the establishment of a Civic Health Assessment by—
(1) after identifying public and private sources of civic health data, selecting a set of civic health indicators, in accordance with subsection (c), that shall comprise the Civic Health Assessment;
(2) obtaining civic health data relating to the Civic Health Assessment, in accordance with subsection (d); and
(3) conducting related analyses, and reporting the data and analyses, as described in paragraphs (4) and (5) of subsection (d) and subsections (e) and (f).
(c) Selection of indicators for Civic Health Assessment
(1) Identifying sources
The partnership shall select a set of civic health indicators that shall comprise the Civic Health Assessment. In making such selection, the partnership—
(A) shall identify public and private sources of civic health data;
(B) shall explore collaborating with other similar efforts to develop national indicators in the civic health domain; and
(C) may sponsor a panel of experts, such as one convened by the National Academy of Sciences, to recommend civic health indicators and data sources for the Civic Health Assessment.
(2) Technical advice
(3) Updates
(d) Data on the indicators
(1) Sponsored data collection
In identifying the civic health indicators for the Civic Health Assessment, and obtaining data for the Assessment, the partnership may sponsor the collection of data for the Assessment or for the various civic health indicators being considered for inclusion in the Assessment, including indicators related to—
(A) volunteering and community service;
(B) voting and other forms of political and civic engagement;
(C) charitable giving;
(D) connecting to civic groups and faith-based organizations;
(E) interest in employment, and careers, in public service in the nonprofit sector or government;
(F) understanding and obtaining knowledge of United States history and government; and
(G) social enterprise and innovation.
(2) Data from statistical agencies
(3) Sources of data
To obtain data for the Civic Health Assessment, the partnership shall consider—
(A) data collected through public and private sources; and
(B) data collected by the Bureau of the Census, through the Current Population Survey, or by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in accordance with paragraph (2).
(4) Demographic characteristics
(5) Other issues
In obtaining data for the Civic Health Assessment, the partnership may also obtain such information as may be necessary to analyze—
(A) the role of Internet technology in strengthening and inhibiting civic activities;
(B) the role of specific programs in strengthening civic activities;
(C) the civic attitudes and activities of new citizens and immigrants; and
(D) other areas related to civic activities.
(e) Reporting of data
(1) In general
The partnership shall, not less often than once each year, prepare a report containing—
(A) detailed data obtained under subsection (d), including data on the indicators comprising the Civic Health Assessment; and
(B) the analyses described in paragraphs (4) and (5) of subsection (d), to the extent practicable based on the data the partnership is able to obtain.
(2) Aggregation and presentation
(3) Submission
(f) Public input
The partnership shall—
(1) identify opportunities for public dialogue and input on the Civic Health Assessment; and
(2) hold conferences and forums to discuss the implications of the data and analyses reported under subsection (e).
(g) Volunteering research and evaluation
(1) Research
(2) Impact research and evaluation
The partnership shall sponsor an independent evaluation of the impact of domestic and international volunteering, including an assessment of best practices for such volunteering, and methods of improving such volunteering through enhanced collaboration among—
(A) entities that recruit, manage, support, and utilize volunteers;
(B) institutions of higher education; and
(C) research institutions.
(h) Database prohibition
(Pub. L. 101–610, title I, § 179A, as added Pub. L. 111–13, title I, § 1608(a), Apr. 21, 2009, 123 Stat. 1534.)