KATULUOTSI OUTREACH YOUTH WORK IN HELSINKI Cross administrational and Multi-professional team

HISTORY Katuluotsi was begun as a project in August 1993 as cooperation between the City of Helsinki Youth Department, Social Services Department and Health Department Luotsi’s operational need came from idea that the Helsinki Central Railway Station area had become ”The Nordic’s largest youth center” The model was brought from Oslo Since 2002 Katuluotsi has been a regular work method

OUTREACH YOUTH WORK It is characteristic of the work that it is done outside offices and office-hours; it is done where young people hang around most of their spare time. The work is done in pairs Our objective is to find those young people who don't know how, are not able, or don’t want to use the present services. Our goal is to find troubled youth and youth in trouble Also the youth who spend a lot of their time on the streets is a target group

MULTI-PROFESSIONALISM From the beginning of the Luotsi project it was clear that team would be multi-professional Team is made up of a manager, 2 youth workers, a nurse and a social worker (nurses no longer since beginning of 2008) This way youth get the most help and guidance to their life problems

CONTACT AS A TOOL Luotsi’s workers monitor and observe youth groups and occurances on the streets Making and maintaining contact is the most essential tool Contact is made by e.g. noticing and greeting, chatting, photographing and various other methods

ON YOUTH’S OWN TERMS Youth may contact Luotsi’s workers anonymously Youth taking initiative regarding their affairs or problems is essential We are on the streets for the youth Discussion topics are up to the youth

GUIDANCE, COUNSELLING AND SUPPORT Luotsi’s workers guide and counsel youth in their problems If needed, youth are directed to further resources One of Luotsi’s work methods is on- hands support, e.g. accompany youth to various authorities Luotsi has a strong community network with various city authorities

INFORMING Luotsi’s workers share info with youth on various events, hobby possibilities, camps and courses Luotsi’s manager shares information with the youth department, social services, health department and various other organizations concerning youth related occurances, problems, and culture

WORK ENVIRONMENT Luotsi’s operational environment is downtown Helsinki: Railway Station, Kaisaniemi park and Kamppi Cooperative work is done in Ruoholahti with the local youth center and other local services Luotsi’s workers are on the street mainly from Friday night to Wednesday evening. Weekly meetings are on Thursday and Sundays are days off Normal working hours: weekdays weekends 15-24

REPORTING Luotsi’s workers report in writing daily events and discussion topics Reports are discussed within the team weekly. Difficult situations are gone through also in counselling Every six weeks workers plan the coming period and summarize the preceding period

CROSS ADMINISTRATIONAL COOPERATION Luotsi’s multi professional team works with 3 separate administrations The manager is included in local child welfare meetings and consults with health services The manager reports biannually to all 3 administrations on occurances (social reporting system)

THE YOUTH average age from entire Helsinki Metropolitan Area number of individual contacts was % were girls and 64.5% boys 34.9% had immigrant background number of cases were 760 supported youth was 113

COMMON YOUTH CULTURES 2007 Immigrant background (Kaisaniemi park) ”Fruittikset” (Kamppi Center and surrounding) ”Gootit” and ”punkit” – Goths and Punks (railway station area and Kaisaniemi park)

PHENOMENON IN 2007 Teen pregnancy / “baby on board” Escaped institutionalized youth Increased alcohol misuse Cannabis sales in Kaisaniemi park Shoplifting at Kamppi Center Decreased overall number of youth Discussion of violence and consequences

GUIDEANCE / COUNSELLING 2007 Intoxicants and sexuality related discussions Violence related discussions ”At home” related discussions School and studies related discussion Hobby / Free-time related discussions Direct guidance to different institutes (drugs, mental health)

Cooperation in 2007 Asemanseutu Olohuone –immigrant worker with Luotsi on the streets –multi cultural youth guided off the streets to ”Olohuone” Kaisaniemi Safe City Midnight Street Basket Common youth may be given support between Malmikatu partners

WHERE ARE THE YOUTH NOW? In the suburbs? On line? Partying at home? Doing hobbies? At youth centers? ???

FACTS Luotsi is now called KATULUOTSI Katuluotsi’s work units only have 2 youth workers, a social worker, and a manager Malminkatu 28 Project in IRC-gallery has begun New child welfare law has come into force

CHALLENGES in 2008 How do we use our resources more effectively? Youth work via the Internet (e.g. IRC- gallery - Netari) Outreach work on the Internet? How and where do we focus our work in 2008 and beyond? How do we effectively inform other services of the gaps in our services? How does the new child welfare law affect our work?