Meeting Youth Where They Are: Trust‑Centered Approaches in Outreach Social Work

How do we reach young people who are not reached by conventional support services?

This workshop focuses on outreach social work as an approach to reaching young people in vulnerable life situations who are outside the ordinary service system. Drawing on recent research and experiences from the Nordic countries, we highlight what actually works in practice – and why.

Aina Michalsen and Anna Owusu Stenersen (KORUS) will present an updated overview of the knowledge base in Norway: What do we know about what works, and how is outreach work organized and carried out in municipalities? This will be followed by a panel discussion led by Henning Pedersen (KORUS Oslo), featuring experienced practitioners from across the Nordic region, exploring similarities, differences, and key lessons learned.

The workshop provides concrete examples of how outreach work can build trust, lower barriers to accessing support, and contribute to early intervention – while also addressing challenges related to resources, organization, and ethical dilemmas.

You will gain:

• Insight into the key characteristics of effective outreach practice
• Examples from Nordic outreach work
• Reflections to apply in your own professional context