Transnational Social Work Practice in Thailand
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58671/aswj.v11i1.32Keywords:
Transnational Social Work Practice, Thai nationals abroad, Public benefit organizationAbstract
This study aims to investigate the problems of Thai nationals abroad, analyze transnational social work practice and propose a transnational social work practice approach drawing on documentary research and in-depth interviews. The findings indicate that 1) There is an increasing number of Thai nationals migrating to live in foreign countries and facing economic, social and cultural problems as well as being unable to access social welfare services, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic,. 2) Transnational social work practice relies on cooperation between government agencies, domestic and foreign public benefit organizations, including social workers, a process which started in 2012, when the National Social Welfare Promotion Board of Thailand determined that Thai nationals abroad are target groups that deserve social welfare services and established the Center for Promotion and Coordination for Thai Social Development Abroad, and 3) This study proposes that new knowledge and skills for social workers, as well as measures and mechanisms including social welfare services necessary for transnational social work, should be developed as part of an integrated and effective transnational social work practice approach.
References
Center for Promotion and Coordination of Social Development for Thai Nationals Abroad. (2015). Performance summary of social welfare promotion for Thai nationals abroad 2006 – 2015. Bangkok: Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security.
Center for Promotion and Coordination of Social Development for Thai Nationals Abroad. (2017). Annual Performance Report for Fiscal Year 2017. Bangkok: Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security.
Center for Promotion and Coordination of Social Development for Thai Nationals Abroad. (2018). Report on Thai social society abroad according to the mission of Ministry of Social Development and Human Security. Bangkok: Standard Division Social Development and Human Security, Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security.
Center for Promotion and Coordination of Social Development for Thai Nationals Abroad. (2019). Annual Performance Report for Fiscal Year 2019. Bangkok: Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security.
Furman, R., & Casey, E. (2010). Transnational men. In N. Negi & R. Furman (Eds.), Transnational social work practice (pp. 143–154). New York: Columbia University Press.
Hugman, R., Moosa-Mitha, M., & Moyo, O. (2010). Towards a borderless social work: Reconsidering notions of international social work. International Social Work.53 (5),629–643.
IASSW General Assembly & IFSW General Meeting. (2014). Global definition of social work.
International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW). https://www.iassw-aiets.org/global-definition-of-social-work-review-of-the-global-definition/
IFSW. (1959). Report of the international studygroup on the function and working methods of the personnel social worker. https://www.ifsw.org/wp-content/uploads/ifsw-cdn/assets/ifsw_34833-6.pdf
Midgley, J. (2001). Issues in international social work. Journal of Social Work. 1(1), 21–35.
Miles, M. B., & Huberman, A. M. (1994). Qualitative Data Analysis. New York: SAGE Publications.
Modderman, C., McMahon, M., Threlkeld, G. & McPherson, L. (2021) Transnational Social Workers’ Understanding of Australian First Nations Perspectives in Statutory Child Protection, Australian Social Work. 74 (4), 394-406.
Ministry of Social Development and Human Security. (2016). 5 Steps: Pursue the dream abroad. Bangkok: Peeramit Creation Co., Ltd.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (2020). Ministry of Foreign Affairs is committed to assisting Thai nationals abroad and facilitating foreigners travelling to Thailand during the Covid-19 pandemic. https://cutt.ly/RTteciy
Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (2021). The number of Thai nationals abroad in 2021. https://cutt.ly/sTtiTcX
Naparat Charoenrat. (2012). Lives of Thai women in Germany. https://www.gotoknow.org/posts/505324
Schrooten, M. (2021) Transnational social work: Challenging and crossing borders and boundaries. Journal of Social Work. 21(5), 1163–1181.
Songsak Rakpuang. (2018). A study of social network of marathoners. (Master of Arts Thesis). Bangkok: National Institute of Development Administration.
Wichai Roopkamdee, Aimorn Imcharoen and Teerapol Witchurangsi. (2019). The study and development of a guideline for promoting social welfare management for Thai nationals abroad. Bangkok: Center for Promotion and Coordination of Social Development for Thai Nationals Abroad. Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security.
Wichuta Kawechur. (2021). Strengthening social partnership concept in social welfare provision of public benefit organizations. Journal of Community Development Research (Humanities and Social Sciences).
Willey-Sthapit, C., Valdovinos, M. G., Teyra, C. & Borja, S. (2019). Addressing global social relationships in transnational social work research processes and institutions, European Journal of Social Work. 22 (5), 819-830.
Interviews
Thai Smile Association. (Interview with the President of the Association). October 2021.
Thai Women Network in Finland. (Interview with the President of the Network). October 2021.
Thai Women Network in Europe (Interview with the President of the Network) October 2021.
Thai-Norse Samfunn Hordaland in Norway (Interview with the President of the Association). 28 October 2021.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2023 Puchong Senanuch
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
