Overview of Outreach Service Model

 

In order to meet the care needs of individuals living with unstable housing, substance use, and addiction or mental health challenges, it is important to not only improve access to existing services, but also to “rethink how health care delivery systems can be designed to better meet the needs of people living in these situations”. (1) This means determining how barriers to services can be removed, but also considering different approaches to service delivery such as the outreach service model. (1)

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The outreach service model incorporates a harm reduction and trauma-informed approach to delivering care, “meeting the individual where they are at”, seeking to reduce health inequities by offering accessible services, health education, and advocacy with an empathetic lens rather than judgement. (2)(3) This has been developed over decades, with “[outreach] nursing today not only focus[ing] on controlling the spread of infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS and STIs, but also on the broader social determinants by connecting individuals to health and social services”. (4)

 

Those involved in provision of outreach services across Canada are aware of the positive impacts they provide, ”..often resulting in the development of meaningful relationships between patient and practitioner”. (1) It is important to distinguish that models differ based on agency values, resources, staffing types and community connections.

 

The traditional outreach service model implemented in the SPRITE Study works in pairs or groups to offer a variety of public health services to those most at risk in regional communities. Often, mobile transport (“outreach vans”) or community partner sites are used to facilitate make-shift clinic spaces in which to offer these services. This enables staff to meet clients where they are most comfortable. This location strategy is well served as the target populations face many barriers to care, some being physical limitations to access traditional care and discrimination.