Children, Youth and Well-being
Bring together cross-sector collaboration to promote the well-being of children and young people across all dimensions—physical, mental, social and intellectual—through schools, teachers, public health personnel and funding sources.
Translated from Thai · reviewed by the CF team
Most of our work with children and young people takes place within the framework of health promotion funding from the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth), which views well-being as holistic development, not just learning or physical illness.
Four dimensions of well-being, not just learning
Our work with children and young people is often seen as a matter of “education”. However, most of its funding comes from the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth), Bureau 4, which views this work in terms of well-being across all dimensions: physical, mental, social and intellectual. The tools we develop therefore include formats that look like education (online learning systems and teacher manuals) and formats that look like public health (developmental risk prediction and mental health advice chatbots), but all are connected by the same goal.
From risk-prediction technology to a collaboration platform
Some tools work at the source, such as using Machine Learning to predict the risk of EF (Executive Function) developmental difficulties from early childhood. Others work with the ecosystem around children, such as connecting teachers, child development centre personnel and funding sources through a central platform.
Teachers, child development centre personnel, public health officers and practitioners working with children and young people across the country, through a network of projects funded by ThaiHealth Bureau 4 (well-being of children, young people and families).
- 01 Screen for and predict developmental risks from early childhood, using predictive tools and activities to promote EF skills for teachers.
- 02 Collect and manage data on child development centres across the country to systematically plan early childhood development.
- 03 Create a central space for cross-sector collaboration, connecting schools, teachers and funding sources with practical knowledge and resources.
- 04 Support adolescents’ mental well-being through safe digital spaces, including advice chatbots and learning systems for adults who work with young people.
7 projects
A project is how we act on an Issue. Every progress update from the field is on the project’s own page.
Child Impact
A hub of “tools” to make the work of child development practitioners easier — a platform that mobilises cross-sector collaboration to promote the well-being of children and young people
EF Predict
A machine learning tool that helps child development centres and kindergartens screen for risks involving EF (executive function) skills from early childhood, so children can be referred for care before developmental difficulties worsen.
EF Guideline
A web app that helps early childhood teachers design activity plans to build EF (executive function) skills step by step, with AI providing suggestions as they fill in the plan
ICAP
A system that tracks data from child development centres and kindergartens nationwide, using child-centred learning through play so every child can develop their potential at low cost and with high returns
SoKru
An LMS that shares Lamplaimat Pattana School's “education for life” approach, enabling teachers and other schools across the country to learn from it and adapt it for their own use
Guidance Hub
An e-learning tool and a space for guidance teachers nationwide to seek advice, developed by ChangeFusion before being handed over to Achip Social Enterprise Co., Ltd. in B.E. 2568.
Jaidee Chatbot
A chatbot that keeps adolescents company, listens, and connects them with appropriate support in a safe space, alongside an online learning system for teachers and youth workers.
Progress that matters for the whole Issue
Not every update: the ones we think change the overall picture for this Issue
How can we
help you?
Choose the question that fits your role. Answers are summarised from our own records of the work, and you can talk to the CF team from any card.
What change does this work bring about, and how do we know it has worked?
There is evidence of both access to tools and data integration, with figures from the platform and activities, but some work still lacks data measuring actual use.
This work takes a holistic view of children’s well-being, covering physical, mental, social and intellectual aspects, and uses both digital tools and collaboration around children This Issue. The available figures show access, tool use and limitations in measuring outcomes.
- Child Impact has ~100,000 teachers and people working with children using the platform each year, and 224 projects in its data system. Data from 9,268 people in followkids already appears on the dashboard ProjectChild Impact UpdateEarly childhood partners join forces to use followkids to connect child data to Child Impact.
- Jaidee Chatbot has recorded ~52,588 emotional check-ins to date, and 17,714 students took part in activities across 44 schools. However, the questionnaires are self-reports by activity participants and are not representative of students across the country ProjectJaidee Chatbot UpdateBringing the Jaidee Chatbot to 44 schools nationwide, reaching more than 17,700 students UpdateSurvey of 8,703 students: Schoolwork is their biggest source of stress, and nearly 8 in 10 are willing to share their experiences to help friends.
- EF Predict reports Recall values of 49–87%, depending on the EF domain and labelled dataset. However, the system does not record usage, so there is no figure for the number of children actually screened ProjectEF Predict
How was this work carried out, and what lessons can be applied going forward?
We use data and tools suited to the problem, while adapting our approach to the constraints faced by practitioners and in each area. The lesson is to design flexibly and not use screening results as a substitute for assessment.
We begin by looking at the problems and contexts of children and practitioners, then bring together knowledge, tools, data and collaboration, adapting how we use them to what is happening on the ground. This Issue
- Child Impact matches well-being issues with ready-to-use knowledge sets and has tools to assess before and after activities. ProjectChild Impact When linking early childhood data, partners agreed to use followkids as the main channel for collecting DSPM data and uploading it to a dashboard, demonstrating the importance of agreeing on a shared data system. UpdateEarly childhood partners join forces to use followkids to connect child data to Child Impact
- Jaidee Chatbot adapts the activity format to each school’s readiness, offering the choice of having the team deliver live sessions or training teachers to run the activities themselves. UpdateDesigning two pathways into schools: the team delivers 3 days of in-person teaching or trains teachers to teach flexibly When internet and device problems arose, or teachers moved to other schools, the CF team added individual training, used links and QR codes, and created a manual for reference. UpdateInternet outage in the auditorium, teachers transferred mid-way: Lessons from scaling to 44 schools and how the team responded
- EF Predict is a screening tool, not a standalone diagnosis, and its results may be inaccurate. It should therefore be used alongside observation and ongoing developmental assessment. ProjectEF Predict
What kinds of areas is this approach suitable for, and what do we need to get started in our area?
There are examples of adapting the approach for large schools, small schools and areas with limited equipment, choosing ways of working to suit each site's level of readiness. We have not yet documented the steps or conditions for starting work in a new area.
The approach has examples of adapting to the readiness of each area in terms of staff, equipment and time, but the initial format does not need to be the same everywhere. This Issue
- Jaidee Chatbot piloted activities in 44 schools across the country, from large schools to small and remote ones. UpdateBringing the Jaidee Chatbot to 44 schools nationwide, reaching more than 17,700 students Schools with equipment and suitable facilities used a format in which the team visited to teach in person, while small and medium-sized schools lacking teachers or equipment used teacher training so they could run activities themselves at flexible times. UpdateDesigning two pathways into schools: the team delivers 3 days of in-person teaching or trains teachers to teach flexibly When there were problems with the internet or equipment, the activities could still be adapted for group work, with students using a link to access them in turns, or continuing the work at home. UpdateInternet outage in the auditorium, teachers transferred mid-way: Lessons from scaling to 44 schools and how the team responded
- ICAP has one format that uses coaches who visit schools and adapt classrooms, and another in which participants learn independently with online consultations. ProjectICAP
- Child Impact works through a network of teachers, child development centre staff, public health officers, and practitioners working with children and young people. This Issue
We have not yet documented the steps or conditions that a new organisation needs to start operating in its own area.
What methods or tools can we start using right away?
Tools that can be used right away include EF activity plans for teachers, the Child Impact knowledge library, and Jaidee’s digital space for teenagers and youth workers.
There are tools for teachers and people working with children, as well as online spaces that help people access knowledge or look after their mental well-being. Choose one based on the issue you want to work on. This Issue
- EF Guideline is a web app that helps early childhood teachers develop step-by-step activity plans to build EF skills. It includes AI that offers guidance as teachers fill in the plan, and lets them save it as a PDF or share it for other teachers to adapt. ProjectEF Guideline
- Child Impact brings together knowledge and resources for people working in child development, and matches well-being issues with ready-to-use knowledge resources. ProjectChild Impact
- Jaidee Chatbot provides a space for teenagers to check in on their emotions, talk or read about peers’ experiences, and find help. ProjectJaidee Chatbot Teachers and youth workers can also access free online courses that do not require registration, including a course on responding to cyberbullying. ProjectJaidee Chatbot
- SoKru offers online courses based on the teaching approach of Lamplaimat Pattana School, for teachers and education personnel to learn from and adapt. ProjectSoKru
How does this work connect to systemic issues, and what kind of collaboration is needed?
We connect children's well-being issues with data, knowledge and resources from multiple sectors, which requires collaboration among schools, teachers, public health personnel, practitioners and funders.
Children's well-being issues are not confined to classrooms or physical health. Our work therefore connects children's development across physical, mental, social and intellectual dimensions, while mobilising cross-sector collaboration. This Issue
- Child Impact positions itself as a central platform, connecting frontline practitioners with knowledge, funding and resources from various organisations, and linking issues concerning children's circumstances from Kid for Kids to practitioner partners. ProjectChild Impact The co-designed Taxonomy system helps projects connect issues at the source with outcomes in the field. UpdateChild Impact successfully connects its system with Kid for Kids, producing and publishing new content continuously
- ICAP connects the development of learning through play with developmental monitoring systems, and works through networks of community hospitals, education and child-related agencies, local organisations and the private sector. ProjectICAP
- Jaidee Chatbot uses digital spaces to help adolescents access a listening ear and assistance from experts, with a network for referring them to further support. ProjectJaidee Chatbot
The collaboration described therefore covers connecting data, knowledge and resources; working through schools and practitioners; and referring people for support. This Issue