211 Advancing the provincial consolidated system The Taxonomy

211: Advancing the provincial consolidated system The Taxonomy Project

Towards a pan Canadian bilingual Taxonomy of Human Services Report on the initial phase of the Taxonomy initiative, funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation and Citizenship and Immigration Canada through 211 Ontario Deb Woods, Project Manager deborahwoods@rogers. com Clive Jones, English Language Editor, clivejones@sympatico. ca

What is the AIRS/INFO LINE Taxonomy of Human Services? Taxonomy: "In a human service context, a taxonomy is a classification system that allows you to index and access community resources based on the services they provide and the target populations they serve, if any. It provides a structure for your information and it tells people what is in your information system and how to find it. " (from 211 LA County web site www. 211 taxonomy. org )

Why this Taxonomy? • Inform. Canada task force 2003 -04 surveyed 152 I&R practitioners • 80% of respondents are willing to adopt a new classification system if it is pan Canadian and bilingual • Reviewed various classification systems in use, including intensive comparison between the Taxonomy and the Inform. Ontario Thesaurus • Recommended using the AIRS/INFO LINE Taxonomy of Human Services as the basis for a pan Canadian, bilingual Taxonomy • An essential building block for a coordinated 211 system across the country and a professional standard for all I&R providers

Builds on existing use • Calgary and Edmonton have used and contributed to the Taxonomy for several years • Montreal has adapted parts of the Taxonomy for their use • Community Care Access Centres in Ontario have used a version for their databases

Overview of the AIRS/INFO LINE Taxonomy of Human Services www. 211 taxonomy. org • Alliance of Information and Referral Systems (AIRS) and United Way of America endorse this Taxonomy • 211 standard in the U. S. • INFO LINE of Los Angeles owns and operates • Same editor for 24 years, Georgia Sales • Growth through collaboration but single editorial process •

Benefits of the AIRS/INFO LINE Taxonomy • ISO compliant • Firm architecture but flexible development • Detailed definitions for precise searching • 8300 terms help bridge the gaps between service sectors, encouraging collaboration • Hierarchical structure facilitates easy comparison of referral statistics • Existing Canadian users, input • Support and training available

What Canadian Experts are Saying about the 211 Taxonomy "Awesome breadth and depth and a rigorous methodology, “ Deane Zeeman, Lead, Catalytic Initiative, Library and Archives Canada "The taxonomy is a well-structured and rich controlled vocabulary for human services, “ Dr. Ali Shiri, School of Library and Information Studies, University of Alberta "The most complete, almost encyclopedic taxonomy I've encountered covering a subject domain. It shows how a well developed taxonomy can enable learning and guide searchers to unforeseen, yet highly relevant topics, “ Linda Farmer, MLS, Information Consultant, Second Knowledge Solutions “. . I do believe that the taxonomy would enhance open access to government as navigating through it is very intuitive and straight forward, “ Andrew Lefrancq, Metadata Analyst, Ministry of Government Services, Government of Ontario

11 Taxonomy Categories at Level 1 • Basic Needs • Consumer Services • Criminal Justice & Legal Services • Education • Environmental Quality • Health Care • Income Support & Employment • Individual & Family Life • Mental Health Care & Counselling • Organizational/Com mun-ity/International • Target Groups

5 Levels of the Taxonomy Code B Basic Needs (1 st level) Code BH Housing/Shelter (2 nd level) Code BH-180 Emergency Shelter (3 rd level) Code BH-180. 850 Homeless Shelter (4 th level) Code BH-180. 850 -10 Bad Weather Shelters (5 th level)

Emergency Food (BD-180) Term Emergency Food Code BD-180 Definition Programs that provide a limited amount of food for individuals or families during times of personal crisis, or for people who have no food or cannot afford to purchase food at retail costs. Created 3/10/92 Changed 11/3/03 Use References Food Aid Programs, Food Assistance, Food Distribution Programs See Also References Christmas Baskets (TF-300. 150 -12), Emergency Food Clearinghouses (BD-185), Federal Food ESF (TH-150. 180 -23), Federal Mass Care ESF (TH-150. 180 -50), Food Collection Volunteer Opportunities (PX-240. 200), Food Sorting/Packing Volunteer Opportunities (PX-240. 230), Post Disaster Food Services (TH 260. 645), Soup Kitchens (BD-0. 830), Thanksgiving Baskets (TF-300. 85085) External Classification Terms Food Distribution (NPC K 03. 02), Food Banks & Pantries (NTE K 31) Related Concepts Emergency Services

Customization of Taxonomy • All Taxonomy users customize the Taxonomy to their own local needs by deactivating some terms (which can be reactivated later) • Canadian “Starter” Taxonomy experience showed: – 65% of terms required no change – 30% required Canadian definition or spelling adjustments but same term was used – 5% are terms unique to Canada • Subscribers to Canadian version will use many shared terms with US but Canadian definition will appear first, include terms unique to Canada, omit US only terms

211 Ontario: 2005 Project Deliverables l Agreement between Inform. Canada & 211 LA County (aka INFO LINE) l “Starter” Taxonomy in English l Scoping and contacts established for French version l Business plan, contacts and proposals developed for funding overall initiative l Technical platform in Community Information Online Consortium software (CIOC)

1. Agreement between Inform. Canada and 211 LA County • 3 members of Inform. Canada Board as Negotiating Team • Pro bono support from Mc. Carthy Tétrault, Montréal • Will recognize ownership/copyright//long term investment by 211 LA County in the Taxonomy • Inform. Canada will sub license from LA, administer subscription process for Canadian users, share subscription revenues, help promote and market in Canada • Will recognize Canadian investment, enable ongoing use in unlikely event LA no longer provides

2. Complete “Starter Taxonomy” in English • Goal to create a practical and usable English version of the Taxonomy that has been completely filtered through a Canadian lens • Editorial Committee (most of the 211 Ontario Information Resources Working Group), led by English language Editor, Clive Jones, in consultation with US Taxonomy Editor, Georgia Sales, generated draft terms • National Review Group provided oversight and more geographic insight • Conferred by listserv and teleconference

2. Complete “Starter Taxonomy” in English cont’d. • All 8300 Taxonomy terms analyzed in 7 step process, minus “see also” connections • Reviewed Inform. Ontario Thesaurus terms, particularly those used by the three 211 call centres • Full Thesaurus/Taxonomy crosswalk guide by mid February • Approximately 7000 “starter” terms, most of which were added directly at www. 211 taxonomy. org , some of which need further programming before being added

3. Scoping and Contacts Established for the French Version • Francophones on the Editorial, National Review Groups, and Advisory Group • French work is a top priority of remaining initiative • Search for potential French language Editor, members of Editorial Group underway • French language Editor position description, FAQ available in French

4. Develop business plan, contacts, proposals for funding overall initiative • Scope of Work document was reviewed by many informants, Advisory Group, Inform. Canada Board, used in proposals for further funding • Implementation issues for 211 Ontario have been discussed but timing dependent on funding • Business plan by end February that can be adapted to other proposals • Federal, Ontario government contacts, presentations and demos

5. Develop Technical Platform in CIOC • Community Information Online Consortium software (database management in 211 Ontario) • Programmer Kate Lambacher completed first two steps: business requirements, high level design document with costs • CIOC Working Group gave input • Ready to program interface when activities resume with additional funding

Next steps • 2 -3 years further development and national implementation • Estimate $1. 8 million, mostly for local support • Estimate $80, 000/year for maintenance • Before conversion: – Complete English and French starter versions – Interface in CIOC & findhelp software complete – Becomes a national standard (Accreditation, licensing for 211) – Training completed shortly before conversions start

Training and Support • Funding proposals include English and French version training and support – Analyze training needs, develop & document training – Support regional Taxonomy trainers & workshops – Create online assistance, listserv – Create help desk during business hours for 6 -9 months intensive implementation

Maintenance • Inform. Canada will be the official “custodian and steward” for the Canadian Taxonomy • A full-time bilingual or a part-time English and part-time French editor will work directly with the Canadian Editorial Group(s) and 211 LA County • This work will be supported by subscription revenues and revenue from special contracts • Note that the current 211 LA County subscription is $500 USD for 5 years • Eventual goal of 211 LA County is to create endowment and put Taxonomy into public domain

What to do until the Taxonomist Arrives • Familiarize yourself with the Taxonomy (www. 211 taxonomy. org where you can register to evaluate the entire structure) • If not using CIOC, review material on how to create a Taxonomy interface in your software in Resources section (“Criteria for Full Installation”) • Review Taxonomy Project documents at www. 211. ca (Ontario) • If you collaborate with other data partners, begin to discuss timing of conversion • Discuss impact of Taxonomy on your publications, web sites

Conversion can be Fun • Meet new people (Taxonomy trainers will be a great bunch) • Clean up those messy corners of your database you’ve been meaning to get to • Take comfort knowing that you’re on the leading edge of enhanced standards for 211 and I&R in Canada; 4 out of 4 Canadian experts believe the Taxonomy is – – “awesome” “encyclopedic” “intuitive and straight forward” “a rich controlled vocabulary”

Thank You This presentation has been brought to you by: