Categories and classifications define the ratings for factors on an outcome plan. Categories are comprised of classifications, and are applicable to assessment factors only. They are provided to support multiple classification sets for assessment factors. For example education and shelter may be factors of type "need". Substance abuse and child care may be categorized as type "barrier", and each of these categories would have a different set of classifications. Administrators can define one or more categories for the configured assessment factors as part of outcome management administration.
Classifications allow the organization to define the results that an assessment will produce (for an assessment factor), or that the worker can select from (for an outcome plan factor). For example, a factor of Substance Abuse may have classifications of Vulnerable, Engaged, Progressing and Self-Sufficient. If Substance Abuse is configured as an assessment factor, the system will determine the factor classification based on the answers given in the assessment. If Substance Abuse is configured as an outcome plan factor, the worker can select the classification when adding the factor to the outcome plan.