Outreach Worker
A community mental health professional who proactively engages hard-to-reach or homeless individuals with psychiatric needs in non-clinical, community-based settings.
Full Definition
In community psychiatry, an outreach worker (also called a street outreach worker or community outreach specialist) operates outside traditional clinical settings to identify, engage, and link individuals experiencing mental illness—often those who are homeless, justice-involved, or otherwise disengaged from services—with appropriate care and support. Their work is documented in engagement notes, outreach logs, and referral records. Editors should be aware that 'outreach worker' is a semi-formal occupational title and that job titles vary significantly across agencies and jurisdictions. The compound noun is not hyphenated; 'outreach' functions as a modifier.
Usage
Usage note: Distinct from a 'case manager,' who manages ongoing treatment. Some organisations use 'outreach worker' and 'outreach specialist' interchangeably; editors should standardise per the document's house style.
In Context
- "The outreach worker contacted the individual under the bridge and provided a warm referral to the shelter's mental health liaison." — Street outreach engagement log
- "Staffing models for outreach worker programmes vary in the ratio of clinical to non-clinical personnel." — Programme design report