Uteseksjonen (Municipal Outreach Service provided by the City of Oslo) was established in 1969 as a street-based outreach social-work service targeting children, youth and young adults at risk in the city centre. Outreach work is undertaken with a crime and drug-prevention perspective. In addition, Uteseksjonen also provides outreach health and social services in the city centre for adults with substance-abuse problems.

Our main service is carried out using outreach patrols (always in pairs of two outreach workers) day and night throughout the year. We attempt to establish contact with individuals whom we assume are in danger of developing, or who have developed, problems associated with drugs and crime. We also survey individuals and groups, build trust and relationship, and work for change together with service users, networks and the wider help apparatus. We emphasize lowering the threshold to access other help services through a high degree of follow-up especially during the referral process.
Our social and health workers are bound by professional confidentiality except for serious situations concerning minors, pregnant drug users, and other dangerous situations that could threaten life or health.

Uteseksjonen and its patrols in the city centre are operative and can be contacted on weekdays from 8am - 12pm, Saturdays from 10am - 12pm and Sundays from 4pm -12pm using our service number ++ 47 913 03 913.

The Counselling Service at our offices in Maridalsveien 3 is open on weekdays from 10am - 3pm. Target group, service users and collaborating partners can visit us with or without appointments for a conversation or meetings, and for counseling and collaboration.

Uteseksjonen is dependent on extensive collaborative work with other branches of the help apparatus. We report to our own administration (City of Oslo Alcohol and Drug Addiction Service) and on the political level regarding changes and developments within our field of expertise.

We also undertake educational activities and professional development. Totally the service has 32.12 permanent positions (with a total staff of 34 employees), of whom  25.12 are professional outreach social and health workers with a minimum of 3 years' education at university level, 3 assistants and a leader group of 4. Many of our staff have relevant post-graduate qualifications or master's degrees.

We try to provide the lowest possible threshold for contact with our target group and clients do not need to be referred. All contact is volountary. Service users' contribution and participation in processes for change, co-operation and collaboration with networks and the wider help apparatus, as well as documentation, are emphasized in our work. All contact with and services provided by Uteseksjonen are free.