An Innovation of Prevention and Assistance for Children at Risk of Dropping out of the Education System

ADHD and Mental Health Challenges in Khon Kaen City Municipality

In 2018, over 1 million Thai children had ADHD, with more than 50% also facing mental health issues. Without treatment, they risk developing antisocial behavior, delinquency, violence, drug addiction, and depression. Khon Kaen City Municipality, with 11 schools and 11 child development centers, screened 9,206 children, identifying 535 at risk (5.81%):205 (38.32%) with ADHD, 62 (11.59%) with emotional issues, 58 (10.84%) with delinquent behavior, 88 (16.45%) with restless behavior, 122 (22.80%) struggling socially. Treatment involved medication and behavior modification under medical guidance. Parents supported behavior adjustment at home, while teachers and classmates assisted at school. As a result, the children showed improved behavior and academic performance, integrating with 487 peers and reducing future societal burdens. This approach highlights the importance of early intervention and collaborative support in managing ADHD and related conditions.

• Teachers in schools and child development centers under the Khon Kaen City Municipality
• Kindergarten teachers and early childhood development teachers
  • Number of people: 75
• Primary school teacher
  • Number of people: 345
• Secondary school teachers
  • Number of people: 110
• Number of people: 110
  • Number of people: 20
• Total of 550 people

1. Meeting to plan the work of the project committee to develop a care system for children with problems, learning by teachers-doctors-parents of schools under the Khon Kaen City Municipality for the academic year 2024 to determine the project organization and operational guidelines
2. Write a project proposal for approval
3. Meeting to assign tasks according to the assigned missions/duties
4. Perform within the specified time frame
5. Evaluate and summarize performance results

• School-aged children in schools under the jurisdiction of Khon Kaen City Municipality who have learning problems receive services to promote life skills, prevent, treat and rehabilitate mental health problems comprehensively and effectively.
• Establish a sustainable screening, promotion, prevention and referral system for school-age children with learning problems.
• Teachers and parents have knowledge and understanding of learning problems, mental health problems, and have the skills to solve basic problems of students.
• A strong network of teachers and parents working together has emerged.

• Screening:
  • 1. Conduct a collaborative study, analysis, and design of student screening tools with input from the municipality, teachers, expert doctors, and programmers (March-April 2023).
  • 2. Khon Kaen City Municipality and schools organize parent meetings to explain the student screening process before the semester begins (May 1-15, 2023).
  • 3. A team of doctors from Khon Kaen Hospital and Institute of Mental Health serve as lecturers, providing teachers with knowledge on student care, observation, behavior modification, and screening techniques (June 2023).
  • 4. Teachers conduct student screenings across all schools (November 1-10, 2023).
• Confirmation:
  • 5. In December 2023, doctors visit schools under a hospital-organized initiative based on an MOU with the municipality to support at-risk children. Parent meetings are held to explain diagnoses and re-screen students, with advisory teachers and parents providing additional input. Students are then categorized into two groups: those requiring medical treatment and those needing behavior adjustment
• Care and treatment:
  • 6. From January to March 15, 2024, at-risk children receive targeted care and behavior adjustment. Doctors oversee medical treatment and behavior plans, while teachers and classmates support behavior adjustments at school. Parents assist with behavior modifications at home based on doctors' guidance.
• Monitoring and evaluation:
  • 7. From January to March 30, 2024, teachers monitor student behavior at school, track treatment outcomes with doctors, and report findings to the municipality.
  • 8. In April 2024, the municipality, school administrators, and teachers analyze evaluation results to improve support strategies and enhance program efficiency.

Groups that require medical care

• Follow-up by teachers observing symptoms and behavior while children are at school and visiting homes to inquire about additional symptoms from parents.
• Conduct supervision and monitoring of the organization and observe children's behavior in the classroom while conducting classroom visits.
• Request additional information from parents who bring their children to see a doctor.
• Teachers track and enter data in the App Care system regarding ongoing and non-continued treatment, in order to plan for further assistance, such as economic problems, time problems, understanding problems, etc.

Behavior Modification Group

• Follow-up by teachers observing symptoms and behavior while children are at school and visiting homes to inquire about additional symptoms from parents.
• Conduct supervision and monitoring of the organization and observe children's behavior in the classroom while conducting classroom visits.
• Teachers track and enter data in the App Care system regarding ongoing and non-continued treatment, in order to plan for further assistance, such as economic problems, time problems, understanding problems, etc.