On July 23 to 26, 2024, the inaugural “Parenting for Lifelong Health for Young Children” (PLH-YC) facilitator training workshop took place in Northern Thailand. This is a significant milestone in the region’s efforts to strengthen family support and child well-being. This workshop brought together 19 health workers from the Chiang Mai province and four NGO staff from the Baan Dek Foundation and One Sky Foundation, NGOs that respectively serve families in Chiang Mai and Kanchanaburi provinces. The training aimed to equip these dedicated professionals to facilitate PLH-YC groups for parents with children aged 2-9, a crucial age for shaping positive parenting and child development.
The collaborative workshop was spearheaded by the Rajanagarindra Institute of Child Development, the Chiang Mai Provincial Public Health Office, and the Peace Culture Foundation (PCF). Distinguished guests, including Dr Hathaichanok Booncharoen, Director of the Rajanagarindra Institute of Child Development, a representative of the Chiang Mai Provincial Public Health Office, and Dr Amalee McCoy from PCF, opened the training with remarks on the importance of empowering parents to nurture their children’s development and resilience.
The training was expertly led by co-trainers Ms Namthip Rattananimit and Ms Radathon Wongnaphadol, both seasoned professionals with extensive experience as PLH-YC trainers and facilitators. Ms Rattananimit, a public health officer from the Regional Office of Mental Health Center 8, and Ms Wongnaphadol, a professional nurse from Ban That Hospital in Udon Thani Province, have been integral to the program since their initial facilitator training in 2018.
Despite severe flooding across Northern Thailand during this period, the facilitators remained committed to launching and leading nine PLH-YC parent groups, with 17 facilitators currently conducting sessions. These parent groups provide a structured yet supportive environment for caregivers to learn positive parenting techniques, which have been shown to improve parent-child relationships, reduce child behaviour problems, and strengthen family dynamics.
On October 31, Joel Borgstrom and Maria Dorrian from the World Childhood Foundation observed a PLH-YC group session at the Bahn Pang Mayao Health Promotion Hospital in Chiang Dao district, witnessing the impact of this critical program firsthand.
This recent training initiative marked several ‘firsts’ for Thailand, underscoring the progress and expansion of the PLH-YC program in the region:
- First PLH training held in Northern Thailand: This event was the first PLH facilitator training in the northern region, laying the foundation for program expansion and sustainability.
- First Burmese language adaptation of PLH materials: In collaboration with the Baan Dek Foundation, PLH program materials and the pre-post parent questionnaire were translated into Burmese for the first time, enhancing accessibility for migrant families and communities.
- First training of NGO staff as PLH facilitators in Thailand: Traditionally, PLH facilitator training in Thailand included government health workers, nursing students, and lecturers. This workshop marked the first time that NGO staff were trained as facilitators, reflecting a commitment to inclusivity and broadening the reach of positive parenting resources.
The successful implementation of this training and the ongoing parent groups play a role in supporting family resilience and child well-being.
