CERTIFIED RESOURCE SPECIALIST PRACTICE ANALYSIS
This Document represents a delineation of the tasks (T) performed and knowledge (K) and skills (S) applied by Certified Resource Specialists in the practice of their profession in accordance with the AIRS Standards for Professional Information & Referral. Applying their problem-solving and research skills, they create, update and maintain databases of nonprofit, government and for-profit resources that provide the critical links between client needs and community services.
(50%)Domain I - Database Development & Maintenance
T-1Obtain initial information on those human service organizations that meet resource database inclusion criteria and are needed to ensure the database continues to meet community needs. (5%)
The effective performance of this task requires knowledge of:
K-1Information gathering techniques
K-2Sources of human service information
K-3Community human service needs, including unmet needs
K-4Resource database inclusion/exclusion criteria
K-5Documentation techniques
K-6Information gathering tools
K-7Structure of the overall human services sector
K-8Resource database structure
K-9Geographic and demographic understanding of the service area
K-10 Database updating policies
T-2Establish contact with and obtain detailed information about the programs and services provided by human service organizations. (16%)
The effective performance of this task requires knowledge of:
K-4Resource database inclusion/exclusion criteria
K-5Documentation techniques
K-6Information gathering tools
K-7Structure of the overall human services sector
K-8Resource database structure
K-10 Database updating policies
K-11Communication techniques and protocols
K-12Interviewing techniques
K-13Resource database fields and elements
K-14Validation of information sources
K-15General structure of individual human service organizations
T-3Make final database inclusion/exclusion decisions and inform the service provider. (5%)
The effective performance of this task requires knowledge of:
K-3Community human service needs, including unmet needs
K-4Resource database inclusion/exclusion criteria
K-5Documentation techniques
K-7Structure of the overall human services sector
K-8Resource database structure
K-11Communication techniques and protocols
T-4Enter resource database information in accordance with internal style guide, index in accordance with Taxonomy rules for internal consistency and hierarchical levels, review and edit information to ensure clarity, concision and accuracy. (20%)
The effective performance of this task requires knowledge of:
K-5Documentation techniques
K-7Structure of the overall human services sector
K-8Resource database structure
K-10 Database updating policies
K-13Resource database fields and elements
K-15General structure of individual human service organizations
K-16Taxonomy
K-17Style guide
K-18Confidentiality policies, practices and requirements
K-19Principles of clear written language
T-5Confirm the accuracy and completeness of the resource database information with the service provider. (4%)
The effective performance of this task requires knowledge of:
K-5Documentation techniques
K-7Structure of the overall human services sector
K-8Resource database structure
K-10 Database updating policies
K-11Communication techniques and protocols
K-12Interviewing techniques
K-13Resource database fields and elements
K-14Validation of information sources
K-15General structure of individual human service organizations
K-20Resource database reports
(12%) Domain II - Communication
T-1Communicate database additions and updates with both internal and external database users. (9%)
The effective performance of this task requires knowledge of:
K-3Community human service needs, including unmet needs
K-5Documentation techniques
K-10Communication techniques and protocols
K-18Confidentiality policies, practices and requirements
K-20Resource database reports
T-2Disseminate database additions and updates to ancillary documents, additional databases, other media, etc. (3%)
The effective performance of this task requires knowledge of:
K-5Documentation techniques
K-11Communication techniques and protocols
K-18Confidentiality policies, practices and requirements
K-20Resource database reports
K-21Ancillary documents and other media (e.g. information brochures, directories, social media)
(18%) Domain III - Quality Assurance
T-1Review and evaluate database records with respect to the use and application of the agency style guide; Taxonomy indexing; completeness of data elements; the use and application of database inclusion/exclusion criteria; and the timeliness of database additions and updates. (18%)
The effective performance of these tasks requires knowledge of:
K-3Community human service needs, including unmet needs
K-4Resource database inclusion/exclusion criteria
K-5Documentation techniques
K-7Structure of the overall human services sector
K-8Resource database structure
K-9Geographic and demographic understanding of the service area
K-10 Database updating policies
K-13Resource database fields and elements
K-16Taxonomy
K-17Style guide
K-19Principles of clear written language
K-20Resource database reports
(10%) Domain IV – Reportingand Analysis
T-1Query the database to obtain the information needed for reports (e.g. out-of-date records, community needs, agency referrals, mapping of services). (6%)
The effective performance of this task requires knowledge of:
K-7Structure of the overall human services sector
K-8Resource database structure
K-9Geographic and demographic understanding of the service area
K-13Resource database fields and elements
K-16Taxonomy
K-20Resource database reports
T-2Prepare and review reports to determine the impact on the database, specialized publications, directories, guides, etc. (4%)
The effective performance of this task requires knowledge of:
K-1Information gathering techniques
K-3Community human service needs, including unmet needs
K-4Resource database inclusion/exclusion criteria
K-5Documentation techniques
K-7Structure of the overall human services sector
K-8Resource database structure
K-13Resource database fields and elements
K-16Taxonomy
K-18Confidentiality policies, practices and requirements
K-20Resource database reports
K-21Ancillary documents and other media (e.g. information brochures, directories, social media)
(6%) Domain V – Trainingand User Support
T-1Train and support database users (e.g. resource specialist trainees, I&R specialists, funders, human service agencies, the public) to retrieve information from the database. (4%)
The effective performance of this task requires knowledge of:
K-8Resource database structure
K-11Communication techniques and protocols
K-13Resource database fields and elements
K-16Taxonomy
K-22Basic training and user assistance techniques
T-2Train and support staff from human service organizations to effectively submit new information and to update existing information on their own agency profiles. (2%)
The effective performance of this task requires knowledge of:
K-4Resource database inclusion/exclusion criteria
K-5Documentation techniques
K-7Structure of the overall human services sector
K-8Resource database structure
K-11Communication techniques and protocols
K-13Resource database fields and elements
K-16Taxonomy
K-22Basic training and user assistance techniques
(4%) Domain VI - Professional Issues, Ethics and Development
T-1Certified Resource Specialists practice their profession in a manner consistent with the AIRS Principles of Information and Referral (2%)
The effective performance of this task requires knowledge of:
K-18Confidentiality policies, practices an requirements
K-23AIRS Principles of Information and Referral
T-2Certified Resource Specialists engage in professional development activities in an effort to continuously improve the quality of the work they perform and the services they provide. (2%)
The effective performance of this task requires knowledge of:
K-24Professional development and continuing education activities
SKILLS
The skill set listed below is critical to the performance of Certified Resource Specialists.
S-1Data entry
S-2Information gathering
S-3Interviewing
S-4Oralcommunication
S-5Documentation
S-6Computer use (Intermediate level) including specialized I&R software
S-7Internet use (e.g. web search, email, social networking)
S-8Research
S-9Taxonomy searching
S-10Taxonomy coding
S-11Editing
S-12Proofreading
S-13Structuring information
S-14Analysisof database situation and needs
S-15Decision-making
S-16Database querying
S-17Trainingand support
S-18Writing
S-19Attention to detail
S-20Time management
S-21Outreach
KNOWLEDGE STATEMENT SUMMARY
K-1Information gathering techniques
K-2Sources of human service information
K-3Community human service needs, including unmet needs
K-4Resource database inclusion/exclusion criteria
K-5Documentation techniques
K-6Information gathering tools
K-7Structure of the overallhuman servicessector
K-8Resource database structure
K-9Geographic and demographic understanding of the service area
K-10 Database updating policies
K-11Communication techniques and protocols
K-12Interviewing techniques
K-13Resource database fields and elements
K-14Validation of information sources
K-15General structure of individualhuman service organizations
K-16Taxonomy
K-17Style guide
K-18Confidentiality policies, practices and requirements
K-19Principles of clear writtenlanguage
K-20Resource database reports
K-21Ancillary documents and other media (e.g. information brochures, directories, social media)
K-22Basic training and user assistancetechniques
K-23AIRS Principles of Information and Referral
K-24Professional development and continuing education activities
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