Taxonomy of Human Services

InformCanada, a national association of information and referral providers, is currently undertaking a pilot project to implement a bilingual, pan-Canadian classification system based on the AIRS/INFO LINE Taxonomy of Human Services developed and maintained over the last 20 years by 211 LA County, formerly known as INFO LINE of Los Angeles. 211 is an easy-to-remember three-digit dialing code that enables a caller to access over 28,000 health and human service programs throughout Los Angeles County 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. The Taxonomy of Human Services is endorsed by the Allianceof Information and Referral Services (AIRS) and the United Way of America. It is now a designated standard for indexing 211 databases in the US.

A 211 service has been in development in Canada since 2001. The AIRS/INFO LINE Taxonomy was recently chosen as the common classification system for the databases used by the network of 211 call centres in Ontario and other provinces. InformCanada and an editing committee are working closely with Georgia Sales of 211 LA County to incorporate concepts related to Canadian services into the Taxonomy and to add French language equivalents for the terminology.