Smart Work 2026: “Phone calls are scary, text messages are too formal” – How to reach upper secondary school dropouts and make Outreach Youth Work better known?
The Smart Work page presents everyday innovations and success stories developed by the employees of the City of Hämeenlinna.
The development work originated from a concern that not all young people in the target group for Outreach Youth Work are being reached despite efforts. The work was carried out as a Master’s thesis (UAS), which involved interviewing Outreach Youth Work clients and collecting information from students in upper secondary educational institutions regarding how to reach young people.
During the project, information was gathered on the awareness of Outreach Youth Work and how young people experience being contacted by the service. An educational institution annual calendar was developed, and cooperation with upper secondary schools was strengthened.
The work continues by integrating the educational institution annual calendar into the structures of Outreach Youth Work and monitoring the impact of the work through the number of young people reached. The goal is to bring more marginalized young people, or those at risk of marginalization, into the sphere of support they need.
Further information:
Developers
Kukka Heiskanen and Maria Peltola, Outreach Youth Workers