Taxonomy Basics
This article will give a basic overview of what Taxonomy is and how its integrated within the CareSuite ecosystem.
What is Taxonomy?
Definition
Taxonomy in CS Resource refers to the 211 Human Services Indexing System (211 HSIS)—an industry-standard classification system used to categorize social services and human services resources consistently across the United States and Canada.
Purpose
Taxonomy provides:
Standardized Classification: A common language for describing services
Consistent Categorization: Ensures similar services are classified the same way
Improved Discovery: Enables accurate searching and filtering of resources
Interoperability: Allows different systems and organizations to share resource data effectively
Reporting & Analytics: Enables meaningful aggregation and analysis of service data
Taxonomy Basics
The Taxonomy is:
Hierarchical: Organized in a tree-like structure with parent-child relationships
Comprehensive: Covers thousands of service types across all domains of human services
Code-Based: Each term has a unique code for precise identification
Nationally Recognized: Used by 211 systems and I&R (Information & Referral) organizations nationwide
Regularly Updated: Maintained and updated by to reflect evolving service landscape
How Taxonomy Works in CS Resource
CS Resource integrates directly with the 211HSIS (211 Human Services Information System) Taxonomy
Where Taxonomy is Applied
Taxonomy is assigned to Services, not directly to Resources:
Important Points:
Taxonomy is a Service-level attribute
Each Service has ONE Taxonomy Term (required)
Each Service can have MULTIPLE Target Terms (optional)
Resources inherit taxonomy classification through their associated Service
Taxonomy Structure
Hierarchical Organization
The Taxonomy is organized hierarchically:
Code Structure
Taxonomy codes follow a pattern:
Letters: Indicate major category (e.g., "BH" = Behavioral Health, "BV" = Basic Needs)
Numbers: Indicate hierarchy levels (e.g., "BH-1800.1500" = Emergency Shelter)
Dashes and Sub-numbers: Indicate more specific classifications
Categories in Taxonomy
Major categories include:
BV: Basic Needs (food, clothing, shelter)
BH: Behavioral Health (mental health, substance abuse)
DF: Employment and Education
HL: Health Care
HO: Housing
IS: Individual and Family Life
JR: Justice and Legal
RP: Organizational and Community Services
TD: Transportation
YF: Youth Development
And many more...
Navigation in CS Resource
When selecting taxonomy in CS Resource, you can:
Browse Tree: Navigate through the hierarchical structure
Search: Find terms by name or code
Filter: Show only specific types of terms (e.g., target terms)
Expand/Collapse: Navigate through parent-child relationships
Taxonomy Term vs. Target Terms
Taxonomy Term
What it is:
The taxonomy classification for a service
The main category that best describes what the service does
Required for every service
Characteristics:
Single selection: Only ONE Taxonomy Term per service
Most important: This is the primary way the service is categorized
Search priority: Used for taxonomy term search and filtering
Required field: Cannot save service without it
Examples:
BH-1800.1500(Emergency Shelter)BD-1800.2000(Food Pantries)RP-5000.5000-250(Mental Health Counseling)
Target Terms
What they are:
Additional classifications that apply to the service and specify the population the service is intended for. They are specifically the entire Y-branch of the taxonomy and are often referred to as "Y-terms"
Provide supplementary categorization detail
Optional - service can have zero, one, or multiple Target Terms
Characteristics:
Multiple selections: Can select multiple Target Terms
Supplementary: Provide additional context beyond taxonomy term
Population-specific: Used for specific populations served
When to Use:
Service serves multiple populations:
Taxonomy: Emergency Shelter
Target: Youth Services, Family Services
Key Differences
Required?
✅ Yes (Required)
❌ No (Optional)
Quantity
One per service
Zero to Many
Purpose
Main service type
Populations served
Taxonomy and Resource Discovery
How Taxonomy Enables Discovery
Filtering by Taxonomy
Users can filter resources by taxonomy term
Find all services in a specific category
Narrow results to relevant services
Search Enhancement
Taxonomy terms improve search relevance
Services with matching taxonomy terms rank higher
Enables more accurate search results
Taxonomy Updates
How Taxonomy Changes
The Taxonomy is periodically updated to:
Add new service types
Modify existing terms
Reorganize categories
Reflect evolving service landscapes
Tracking Updates in CS Resource
CS Resource tracks taxonomy changes through:
Recent Changes View: See what taxonomy terms have changed
Update Notifications: Alerts about significant taxonomy updates
Sync with 211HSIS: Automatic updates from taxonomy API
Handling Taxonomy Updates
When taxonomy changes occur:
New Terms Added
Review if new terms are more appropriate for existing services
Update services to use new terms if they better fit
New terms available for future service classification
Terms Modified
Review services using modified terms
Determine if changes affect classification
Update services if needed
Terms Deprecated/Removed
Identify services using deprecated terms
Reclassify services with appropriate new terms
Update before terms are fully removed
Hierarchy Changes
Understand how parent-child relationships changed
Review affected services
Update classifications as needed
Best Practices for Updates
Review Regularly
Check for taxonomy updates periodically
Stay informed about changes
Review recent changes view
Update Proactively
Update services when better terms become available
Don't wait for deprecated terms to be removed
Maintain accurate classifications
Document Changes
Note why classifications were updated
Track changes for consistency
Communicate significant updates to team
Summary
Key Takeaways
Taxonomy is Essential
Required for all services
Critical for resource discovery
Enables consistent classification
Understand the Structure
Hierarchical organization
Taxonomy vs. Target Terms
Code-based system
Stay Updated
Monitor taxonomy changes
Update classifications when needed
Keep services properly classified
Remember
Taxonomy = Classification System: It's how we organize and categorize services
Applied to Services: Not resources directly, but through services
Required Field: Every service must have a Taxonomy Term
Enables Discovery: Proper classification helps users find what they need
Industry Standard: Taxonomy ensures consistency across organizations
Additional Resources
Taxonomy: Official taxonomy documentation and resources
211HSIS: Taxonomy API and documentation
Organizational Guidelines: Your organization may have specific taxonomy usage guidelines
Taxonomy is the foundation of effective resource curation. Understanding and using it correctly ensures that resources are discoverable, organized, and useful to those who need them.
Last updated
Was this helpful?