1. Background

Although outreach is gaining ground in practice[i] by rediscovering the real-life context of people, especially those in a vulnerable situation[ii], the same attention to this topic is not found in scientific research[iii]. Several authors denounce the lack of conceptualisation and methodology[iv]. Neither a common definition that can be used across sectors and target groups, nor a typology of different types of entering the real-life context of people is available, which means that outreach is used as a concept for all these different types of working in the real-life context[v]. One consequence is that comparative research into the effectiveness of these different types is hampered[vi]. It is also difficult to measure impact because there is no consensus on which objective belongs to which practice[vii].

This gap in research translates into similar problems in social work and educational practices. Practice is also characterised by a growth in various forms of 'outreach' work. We see this growth in outreach practices internationally[viii] but also at the Belgian[ix], Flemish[x][xi][xii] and municipal[xiii][xiv] levels. Current policy trends such as a focus on community based support[xv] and countering situations of the non-take-up of rights[xvi] guide these evolutions.

At the policy level, this lack of conceptualization and methodology leads to a dearth of tools to support choosing which type of ‘outreach work’ belongs to which objective[xvii]. For daily practice, where consultation and/or cooperation at case level between different 'outreach' workers are often desirable and/or necessary, this gap creates confusion in use of terminology and difficult demarcation of tasks and responsibilities.

By conceptualising a typology and defining different models of outreach work, this research aims to answer the following overall research question:

How can a qualitative outreach policy aimed at enhancing quality of life of people in a socially vulnerable living situation be organised on a practice and policy level.  

2. Research objectives

1. Gaining insight into the diversity of outreach practices in Flanders as a function of drawing up a typology, focusing on characteristics, objectives and trends that shape outreach practices
2. Researching and uncovering inspiring practices, including preconditions for elaborating a qualitative outreach policy at organisational, municipal, Flemish and/or federal level
3. Gaining insight into the impact of outreach practices at user level
4. Developing a reflection instrument on the qualitative deployment of outreach work at different policy levels

3. Methodology

To achieve these objectives, a mix of quantitative and qualitative research methods will be used.

Study 1: A literature study will be conducted on definitions and models of outreach work and other types of interventions in the real-life context of people.

Study 2: By means of an online survey distributed to 12 domains in Dutch-speaking Belgium, the objectives and characteristics of the different practices will be investigated. Via statistical processing and insights from the literature, we will look for various types of interventions in the real-life context of people. This will result in a first version of a typology.

Study 3: By use of minimal 6 and maximum 18 focusgroups with heterogeneous groups of professionals working in the real-life context of people in six different cities, we will further discuss and finetune the typology. Municipal, Flemish and federal policy makers will be interviewed about the objectives of their outreach policy with the intention of constructing a typology fit for research, policy and practice.

Study 4: In at least 3 cities, a learning network will be set up with different types of professionals working in the real-life context of people. By means of participatory action research, we will investigate and implement strategies to tackle the difficulties they experience in performing their job and collaborating with other types of workers in the real-life context of people. At the same time, a qualitative study (for example participatory observations and interviews) will be set up to get insight in the experiences and knowledge of the clients of these ‘outreach workers’ and their knowledge will be integrated in the learning networks. [xviii]

[i] Krabbe, J., Jiao, S., Guta, A., Slemon, A., Cameron, A. A., & Bungay, V. (2021). Exploring the operationalisation and implementation of outreach in community settings with hard-to-reach and hidden populations: Protocol for a scoping review. BMJ Open, 11(2)

[ii] Grymonprez, H., Roose, R., & Roets, G. (2017). Outreach social work: From managing access to practices of accessibility. European Journal of Social Work, 20(4), 461–471.

[iii] Fomiatti, R., Farrugia, A., Fraser, S., & Hocking, S. (2021). Improving the effectiveness and inclusiveness of alcohol and other drug outreach models for young people: A literature review. Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy, 1–1

[iv] Nsour, S., Anandan, V., Lindert,K., Karippacheril, T.G. (2020). Outreach in Lindert, K., Karippacheril, T. G., Rodríguez Caillava, I., & Nishikawa Chávez, K. (Red.). (2020). Sourcebook on the Foundations of Social Protection Delivery Systems. The World Bank.

[v] Macan, T., Cunningham, J., Lemming, M. R., & Calsyn, R. J. (2008). Case Management and Outreach: Similarities and Differences in Worker Tasks. Care Management Journals, 9(2), 51–62.

[vi] Moriarty, J., Manthorpe, J., & Cornes, M. (2015). Reaching out or missing out: Approaches to outreach with family carers in social care organisations. Health & Social Care in the Community, 23(1), 42–50.

[vii] Mackenzie, M., Turner, F., Platt, S., Reid, M., Wang, Y., Clark, J., Sridharan, S., & O’Donnell, C. A. (2011). What is the ‘problem’ that outreach work seeks to address and how might it be tackled? Seeking theory in a primary health prevention programme. BMC Health Services Research, 11(1), 350.

[viii] Jiao, S. (2022). Exploring the conceptualization, operationalization, implementation, and measurement of outreach in community settings with hard-to-reach and hidden populations: A scoping review. Social Science, 14.

[ix] Federale Overheid (2015). Gids naar een betere geestelijke gezondheidszorg door de realisatie van zorgcircuits en zorgnetwerken. Gedownload op 27 januari 2023 van https://www.psy107.be/files/Vlaanderen.pdf

[x] Vlaanderen (2019). GBO kompas. Een inspirerend werkdocument om aan de slag te gaan met geïntegreerd breed onthaal. Gedownload op 27 januari 2023 van https://publicaties.vlaanderen.be/view-file/31271

[xi] Vlaanderen (2021). Vroeg en nabij. Naar een geïntegreerd beleid voor kinderen, jongeren en gezinnen binnen welzijn, volksgezondheid en gezin. Gedownload op 27 januari 2023 van https://www.opgroeien.be/sites/default/files/documents/20211221%20-%20Vroeg%20en%20nabij%20-%20inspiratienota.pdf

[xii] Vlaanderen (2020). Vlaams Jeugd- en kinderrechtenbeleidsplan 2020-2024. Gedownload op 27 januari 2023 van https://www.vlaanderen.be/cjm/sites/default/files/2021-02/vlaams-jeugd-en-kinderrechtenbeleidsplan_2020-2024%20%282%29.pdf

[xiii] Gent (2021). Beleidsnota outreachend werken 2020-2025. Gedownload op 27 januari 2023 van https://stad.gent/sites/default/files/media/documents/Beleidsnota%20Outreachend%20Werken.pdf

[xiv] Kortrijk (2019). Meerjarenplan 2020-2025. Gedownload op 27 januari 2023 van file:///C:/Users/cwae383/Downloads/meerjarenplan-2020-2025-kortrijk1-1.pdf

[xv] Federale Overheid (2015). Gids naar een betere geestelijke gezondheidszorg door de realisatie van zorgcircuits en zorgnetwerken. Gedownload op 27 januari 2023 van https://www.psy107.be/files/Vlaanderen.pdf

[xvi] Vlaanderen (2018). GBO KOMPAS, Een inspirerend werkdocument om aan de slag te gaan met geïntegreerd

breed onthaal. Gedownload op 27 januari 2023 van https://www.vlaanderen.be/publicaties/gbo-kompas-een-inspirerend-werkdocument-om-aan-de-slag-te-gaan-met-geintegreerd-breed-onthaal

[xvii] Mackenzie, M., Turner, F., Platt, S., Reid, M., Wang, Y., Clark, J., Sridharan, S., & O’Donnell, C. A. (2011). What is the ‘problem’ that outreach work seeks to address and how might it be tackled? Seeking theory in a primary health prevention programme. BMC Health Services Research, 11(1), 350.