Information and Referral (I&R) Specialists, Social Workers, Case Management Reviewers, Caregivers, Employers, and Independent Individuals all are involved in this task. There is currently no standard taxonomy widely used in the United States. Each organization and geographic group creates its own classification system from scratch. Most evolved over time with no formal analysis. Some organizations use key words to make sense of the vast array of services in thier community, others classify programs along defined target groups (e.g. seniors, children), still others organize based on services provided(e.g. food pantry, in-home-meals).

As an individual in an organization attempting to disseminate useful information to I&R professionals and the Public, I have found the proliferation of unique classification systems, an impediment to widely distributing information and to effectively enlisting the support of other organizations(for-profit and not-for-profit) into public-private cooperative efforts that help people locate the services or help they need.

The wide adoption of a standard taxonomy for new databases and to which existing databases could be cross-referenced would provide a solid foundation for more seamless I&R.

I have also found there are groups working to develop a standardized taxonomy into which organizations providing services to people can be placed. I will be providing information and assistance to these groups with the goal of placing in the public domain through the Internet as soon as possible, a usable classification system, available at no cost to facilitate the process of organizing and finding needed services for people, and creating the support system needed to maintain the taxonomy's integrity over time (so terms are used consistantly), and to train I&R professionals how to use it.