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What is LOSU - the Norwegian
Association for Outreach Work With Youth?
The
Norwegian Association for Outreach Work With Youth is a non-profit lobby organisation
for outreach workers/field workers in
Norway. It represents most of the
country’s 60 outreach workshops, counting some 250 street educators.
Goals and
purpose of the organisation:
- Contribute
to professional development and increased competence within the field of
outreach work.
- Make
outreach work, and the various professional challenges experienced within the
youth community, visible and on the agenda.
- Contribute
to a good flow of communication between outreach workers and relevant
professional institutions and the society at large.
- Contribute
to establishment of contact between outreach workers on a local, regional and
national level.
- Provide
practical help and support to outreach workers at risk of financial cutbacks,
and/or organisational restructuring.
- Provide
information and help to counties wanting to establish an Outreach Service
locally.
- Contribute
to international cooperation with similar organisations world wide.
The nature of Outreach Work in
Norway:
Outreach
Workers work with secondary prevention amongst children and youth. The main principal
of the work method in use, is to actively reach out to youth in need of support
or help. These individuals are often not, or at an insufficient level, being
reached by other parts of the public support system. The intention is to
establish contact with the youth at the earliest stage possible, and motivate
them to alternative activities, help or counselling.
Outreach
Workers work amongst and within youth communities in the city streets, in
shopping malls, train and subway stations, gas stations, street food vendors
and wherever else youth spend time.
Outreach
Workers work in close cooperation with youth clubs, schools, child protection
services, school nurses, preventative police units, and the families of the
youth involved.
Outreach
Workers follow up youth on an individual basis, and coordinate various group
activities (examples; conversation groups, sports, art etc.).
Outreach
Workers councils youth, and directs them further to the appropriate service
provider when it is needed.
How
Outreach Workers work on a local level varies depending on the size of the
unit, resources and other local factors.
Topics that
youth bring up with Outreach Workers (or vice versa) varies to a great extent, and
could be the following:
- Family
and friends (conflicts, worries related to this).
- School,
education and work
- Racism
and discrimination
- Psychological
problems and conditions (eating disorders, anxiety, suicidal thoughts)
Good preventative work!
By applying
the principals of outreach work, the Outreach Workers establishes contact with
youth at risk at an early stage. Outreach Workers have a goal of being easily
accessible to youth, with strong focus on being unbureaucratic and flexible in
the way they are perceived.
Further
information:
Do you wish
to learn more about Outreach Workers or the Norwegian Association of Outreach
Work With Youth, please do not hesitate to contact us at:
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or:
Landsforeningen for Oppsøkende Sosialt Ungdomsarbeid
(The Norwegian Assosiation for Outreach Work With Youth)
Postboks 9331, Grønland
0135 Oslo
Norway
Phone nr: 0047 22 05 77 07
Mobile: (0047) 97 644 244 or (0047) 97 58 96 88
Visiting address:
Grønland 10
0188 Oslo
Norway
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