Outreach work

Project manager: Gregor Burkhart

Outreach work is rather a specific intervention method to reach and to involve risk groups that are not in contact with services. Outreach work as a technique is used in selective prevention as well as in the harm reduction field, i.e. for very different target groups.

Describing outreach work in the European Union

The EMCDDA has gathered information on definitions, experiences and models in the field of outreach work presented in the EMCDDA's Insights publication Outreach work among drug users in Europe (Insight n° 2). The study reveals that the most urgent needs of the projects themselves seem to be to improve the actual practice of outreach work. To download the executive summary of the study, click here.

Evaluating outreach work

In October 1999 the EMCDDA launched a follow-up study to assess the evaluation of outreach work. CHADS (Edinburgh) and the University of Amsterdam were commissioned to develop evaluation guidelines for outreach work, in line with the EMCDDA strategy to provide assistance tools for demand reduction professionals. Evaluating outreach work involves special requirements, which makes it necessary to adapt existing EMCDDA tools as well as complementing them with new instruments. The project aimed to facilitate data-collection methods, develop evaluation guidelines and tools, and create training and cooperation opportunities. These guidelines have been published in the EMCDDA Manuals Series. The publication entitled 'Guidelines for the evaluation of outreach work: a manual for outreach practitioners' is available in PDF format (377KB). The printed version is available on request from the EMCDDA.