Blog
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We’re pleased to announce the release of version 1.0 of the Human Services Data Specification (HSDS, also known as the Open Referral format). Read the specification here: Google Docs and Github. The purpose of HSDS is to make it easy for community resource…
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Open Referral in Action: the Purple Binder Platform
This is a guest post from Joseph Flesh, the co-founder of Purple Binder. We’re proud to announce one of the first instances of open, standardized community resource data in action. Purple Binder and mRelief — another emerging civic technology startup based in…
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Our Inaugural Year in Review
As we wrap up 2015, I’ve taken a moment to recap our launch and progress so far in an End of Year Report. The document is available for comment and download here. I’m including my own note of introduction here: Last…
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Year in Review: a lot to shout-out about
As the year winds to a close, I want to take a moment to give thanks to some of the people who have made the Open Referral Initiative possible so far. My first thanks should go to Bread for the…
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Final ‘Request for Comment’ period before version 1.0
[Update: Embedded video/notes from Assembly discussions on 12/5.] We’ve just posted version 0.8 of the Human Service Data Specification. Check it out here. See an example CSV package here, and SQL examples here. Among various other changes, the model now…
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Human Service Data Spec updated, now in spreadsheet form, with sample package
Currently in version 0.4, the Human Service Data Specification (HSDS) is under development by our technical lead, the Ohana Project’s Sophia Parafina, who is busy incorporating feedback from our workgroup, workshop, and public comments. While Sophia’s work is underway, you can now…
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A look inside the DC Open211 project
Over at Code for DC’s blog, the DC Open211 team reports back from the kickoff of the ‘Rebuilding Re-entry’ social lab. At this event, a number of groups explored the various challenges facing people who return from prison — and one…
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Developing a Visual Vocabulary for Open Referral
This may seem obvious, but it bears repeating: the community resource directory data problem is complex, and complex things can be hard to understand. During my work as lead organizer of the DC Open211 project, I’ve seen that there are…
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Version 0.2 of Human Services Data Specification: what’s new, what’s ahead
UPDATE: Version 0.2 Version 0.4 of the Human Services Data Specification (i.e. the Open Referral model) is posted! While working through the ‘alpha’ specification (v0.1) we received in-depth feedback and suggestions from a great cross-section of perspectives, including community…