Dictionary

A form of unstructured data that do not conform with the formal structure of data models but contain tags, metadata, or markers to separate semantic elements and to enforce hierarchies of records and fields within the data. Examples include XML (extensible markup language) data and JSON (JavaScript Object Notation).

A catalog or inventory of the local supply of services and benefits, both public and private, is updated on a periodic basis.

Provision of social or labor services to individuals, families, or households—either as individual services or as integrated service packages.

An architectural style based on the use of services to produce interoperable, modular systems that are easier to use and maintain. These services carry out a small function such as data validation that can be reused by software applications or combined with a number of other services to provide the functionality of a large software application.

Intangible acts, activities, or works provided to, or with the participation of, beneficiaries as a contribution to their well-being (such as to reduce poverty, provide opportunities, enhance employability, reduce social risks, etc.). They may be administered by public agencies or outsourced to third parties using government funding. See also definitions of employment services, active labor market programs, and social services.

Dossier of information about a person that is shared by all agencies involved in the multi-disciplinary intervention, and that allows for keeping track of the different supports. The dossier should allow for alerts in terms of attention and case management. It requires a joint agreement among agencies about the way information is shared and updated, and it does not substitute for the specific registries that agencies keep internally for management.

Social safety net programs that are noncontributory transfers in cash or in-kind and are usually targeted to the poor and vulnerable but may also support other groups (such as the long-term unemployed, disabled, etc.). Some programs are focused on improving chronic poverty or providing equality of opportunity; others more on protecting families from shocks and longstanding losses they can inflict for the unprotected poor. These programs, also known as social welfare, include cash transfers (conditional and unconditional), in-kind transfers, such as school feeding and targeted food assistance, and near cash benefits such as fee waivers and food vouchers.

Composed of programs that minimize the negative impact of economic shocks on individuals and families. They include publicly provided or mandated insurance schemes against old age, disability, death of the main household provider, maternity leave and sickness cash benefits, and social health insurance. Social insurance programs are contributory, and beneficiaries receive benefits or services in recognition of contributions to an insurance scheme.

Social assistance (noncontributory) benefits paid to categorical groups of the population, such as the elderly or disabled. They may be universal (paid to all in that category) or targeted (paid to those in that category who are also poor).

Systems that help individuals, families, and households, especially the poor and vulnerable, cope with crises and shocks, find jobs, invest in the health and education of their children, and protect the aging population.

The transfer of cash or near cash to social protection program recipients (whether contributory or noncontributory programs). They include government-to-person (G2P) and personto-government (P2G) payments.

The operating environment for implementing social protection (including labor) benefits and services, including the implementation phases and processes along the delivery chain, main actors (people and institutions), and enabling factors (communications, information systems, and technology).

Information systems that support the processes of outreach, intake and registration, and assessment of needs and conditions to determine potential eligibility for social programs. They maintain information on all registered households regardless of whether they eventually benefit from a social program. As such, we do not refer to households in social registries as “beneficiaries” but as “registered households.

A wide variety of programs made available by public or private agencies to support individuals or families in addressing their particular risks and improving their overall well-being.

Within the United States, social worker refers to an individual who possesses a baccalaureate or master’s degree in social work from a school or program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Although all 50 states and the District of Columbia license or certify social workers, licensure and certification laws vary by state. Each social worker should be licensed or certified, as applicable and required, at the level appropriate to her or his scope of practice in the practitioner’s jurisdiction(s).

Information with a high degree of organization, such that it can be stored in a relational database and is readily searchable using algorithms or operations. An example is data in spreadsheets.