The latest

Taxonomy updates.

We have some exciting news for you!

Welcome to the Indexer Express, a newsletter for all things Taxonomy.

Unveiling the New 211 HSIS Website:

A Fresh Look with a Familiar Taxonomy Structure! 

Welcome to the first edition of the Indexer Express, your one-stop hub for all taxonomy news and updates! This newsletter brought to you by 211LA will be your space to explore the latest Taxonomy updates, website enhancements, “taxonomy nerd” historical gems, and public health news—all tailored to the Taxonomy database.

This newsletter will also guide us as we transition from the current 211taxonomy.org website to the exciting January 2024 unveiling of the NEW 211 Human Services Indexing System (211 HSIS) website. 

Anticipating the Website Upgrade:

A Smooth Journey with Exciting Enhancements!

The new 211HSIS Taxonomy brand and website replaces static, quickly out-of-date XML files with an API connection for real-time taxonomy updates!

Sometimes, anticipating change comes with dreading extra work, but 211HSIS is not a change to dread! Here’s a quick rundown of what to expect:  

What’s Changing:

The most significant change is how your software accesses the Taxonomy. All the elements of the taxonomy you are familiar with and a continuation of its functionality as a tool that we all contribute towards improving remain the same. The 211 HSIS website will feature an improved recent changes navigation page and an advanced taxonomy search to help you quickly find the terms you need with an easier-to-navigate layout. Here’s a list of what’s coming:

• Advanced Keyword Search 
• Searching by Levels 
• Improved Recent & Past Changes Navigation
• Phasing out of XML access (*see API Transition FAQ for details) 

What’s Not Changing:

• Website Subscriber Pricing
• Taxonomy Structure 
• Taxonomy Elements

Join Us on the Dancefloor - We Want to Hear From You!

“The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.” - Alan Watts.

Many of the improvements being made to 211HSIS came from suggestions gathered from all of you. And there’s still time to be a part of that feedback! 

Please click on the link below to share how you use the current 211taxonomy.org website and suggest taxonomy search enhancements that could shape the future of the new and improved 211 HSIS platform.

Still, Have Questions?

Review the API Transition FAQ page for additional details, or email [email protected] for assistance. 

As we journey towards the unveiling of the NEW 211 HSIS website in January 2024, we invite you to be part of this exciting transition. Your valuable input has shaped our improvements, and we look forward to your continued feedback to make this platform even better. 

Thank you for being an essential part of our community, and let's keep dancing together through these positive changes!

Warm regards,

The 211LA Taxonomy Team

Public Health News

Social Determinants of Health

Have you been hearing the latest buzz about SDOH screening tools? Are you figuring out how to work with healthcare partners to connect patients to resources? Read up on the latest regarding this topic and how to get involved with our SDOH Stakeholder Project. 

What is It?

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medical Services Office of Minority Health (CMS OMH) defines the concepts of Health-Related Social Needs (HRSN) and Social Drivers/Determinants of Health (SDOH) as key data elements to capture health equity-related data. Screening to collect this data includes asking questions surrounding these 5 areas: 

• Food Insecurity
• Housing Instability
• Transportation Needs
• Utility Difficulties
• Interpersonal Safety (domestic violence, child abuse or elder abuse)

The goal of collecting this Sociodemographic data in a standardized way is meant as a tool to understand disparities across groups who are historically underserved and work towards designing policies and interventions that link together healthcare facilities and community-based organizations that can address those disparities. 

To learn more about how CMS defines Health Equity Data and its implementation approach, see the 2022 CMS Framework for Health Equity Report.  

Why is it Trending?

Starting in 2024 a new CMS measure will require screening for SDOH elements by hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, and home health agencies that use the Medicare hospital inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS). These new measures are voluntary for 2023 and health facilities have the option to use a screening tool or questionnaire of their choice as long as they include the measure’s data elements. 

How does the Taxonomy Index SDOH Concepts?

211 LA partnered with the United Way of Cleveland Ohio, Mediware, and a team representing several other 211s and United Ways to develop a crosswalk to map out an external system matching the 211LA Taxonomy to the Accountable Health Communities (AHC) Health-Related Social Needs Screening Tool. This screening tool developed by CMS includes a list of screening questions that examine the following areas:  

SDOH External System

Taxonomy Updates

Did you Know? 

Fun Taxonomy History Facts

Did you know? Prior to the Taxonomy being digitized, the first three published editions of the Taxonomy of Human Services were physical books! The first printed edition was published in 1987, followed by the second in 1991, and a third in 1994. 

The Taxonomy has undergone various editions and revisions, and it will continue to expand and evolve similarly to how our language will continue to grow and change. The Taxonomy is a living index system and a dynamic tool with a central goal of establishing a common language to index and describe the vast field of human services concepts and how they are delivered. 

The evolution of the Taxonomy is led by YOU, the users, with the support of 211LA’s continued research and consultation with subject matter experts. The 1994 Taxonomy edition acknowledged that: “ongoing feedback from users is a critical ingredient in our ability to maintain a structure that will continue to meet the broad-based needs of the field.” This edition also contained a “Taxonomy Review Form” at the back of the page to physically mail suggestions to the attention of the Taxonomy’s creator, Georgia Sales. 

Your ongoing feedback is needed today just as much as it was back in 1987 with the first edition of the Taxonomy. Your insight is important to us, and we want to hear from you! Email [email protected] to submit suggestions for new and revised terms or share a relevant resource to reexamine a term and its definition.

Oxford Comma

We received a great question from Teresa Paltzat from the Canadian Mental Health Association - Edmonton Region about our policy of whether or not to consistently use an Oxford Comma in taxonomy definitions.  

What is it?

Also known as a “serial comma,” the Oxford comma places a comma between the penultimate (2nd to the last) and last item in a list in addition to “and/or” to prevent ambiguity. 

October is National Bullying Prevention Month

October is National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month. Bullying is defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a form of youth violence that involves an observed or perceived power imbalance and is repeated multiple times or is highly likely to be repeated. Common types of bullying are: 

1. Physical: hitting, spitting, tripping, pushing 
2. Verbal: teasing, name-calling, inappropriate comments, verbal or written threats 
3. Social: excluding someone, spreading rumors, and making embarrassing comments 

The best tools to combat bullying is prevention and increased awareness on the types of bullying and where they can take place. Pacer.org’s National Bullying Prevention Center offers a variety of ideas to engage your community during National Bullying Prevention Month, including key messages with talking points and social media images.  

Support & Additional Resources 

• Bullying Helplines: 
• Boys Town National Hotline  
• Teen Line

• Bullying Prevention: 
• StopBullying.gov
• Not in Our Town
• Pacer’s National Bullying Prevention Center
• Cyberbullying.org 

• Resource Guides for Schools and Parents:
• Anti-Defamation League Bullying and Cyberbullying Resources 
• Not in Our Town School Resource Guide 
• Not in Our Town Parent Guide 
• Teen Line School & Classroom Printable Materials  

Help Reminders

211LA Taxonomy Library

Taxonomy Structure Questions and Change Requests: [email protected]

API Transition: [email protected]

Have a question? Contact us at [email protected]

Thanks for being part of our 211 HSIS Community!