Thammasat University led by the Faculty of Social Administration, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Nursing, Faculty of Public Health, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences and Thammasat Hospital organized meeting to discuss academic cooperation with Mr. Anukool Pidkaew, Director-General of the Department of Social Development and Welfare (DSDW), Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS) to find ways to provide social services, health services, and develop works for the homeless, beggars and those who face social problems. Regarding the current situation of foster homes under the Ministry of Public Health, there are patients with redundant problems including physical illnesses, disabilities, and with the majority of psychiatric conditions, mainly caused by drug use.
In addition, foster homes lack professionals in many fields such as registered nurses, psychologists, social workers, etc., which led to the discussion of cooperation.
The corporation aims to support target groups throughout 3 phases, tackling straight from the cause, namely the initial phase, proposing a preventive project by focusing on working with family and community, and health promotion for vulnerable groups; the second phase, proposing continuous development of care for vulnerable groups in foster home; and lastly, the third phase, working with local administration in the care of vulnerable groups within family or community.
In this regard, the meeting proposed academic cooperation, such as promoting student internships or working with target groups in shelters, arranging workshops and training to enhance skills of MSDHS officers in the field of social welfare, medical services, nursing, public health, allied health sciences, jointly invent innovations to care for target groups, provide medical treatment and rehabilitation services for target groups, etc.