Human Services Connectivity Model - Domain Analysis Model (Jira PSS-2471)

The Human Services Domain Analysis Model (DAM) aims to create an informative reference artifact that explores and documents the domain of human services, specifically focusing on the process of matching families and households to appropriate human service programs. This project is designed to enhance the understanding and development of HL7 FHIR standards within the human services sector, which is critical for the equitable delivery of services and integration with clinical care.

Overview:

The human services domain is characterized by its complexity and the need for nuanced understanding to ensure equitable and efficient delivery of services. Unlike the clinical domain, many social services are delivered at the group level, commonly referred to as 'Family' or 'Household' levels, adding layers of complexity to service delivery. This DAM will provide high-level workflow diagrams and class diagrams to illustrate key processes and relationships within the domain, serving as an exemplar to guide future standards development. While capturing the workflows from subject matter experts, the project intends to manage a list of data and terminologies within this domain for the purpose of expanding the existing FHIR value-sets to ensure clear capture of meaningful data.

Background:

The focus of mainstream standards development has been clinical/healthcare specific, excluding the social service domains except where they directly cross the clinical/healthcare space. Recent trends emphasizing whole-person care and the importance of addressing Health-Related Social Needs (HRSN) highlight the necessity of integrating human services more effectively into broader health standards. The COVID-19 pandemic further underscored the importance of robust human services systems to support vulnerable populations. This activity is a crucial step toward improving outcomes, as there exists a significant body of research confirming social determinants significantly impact health outcomes.