The Department of Juvenile Observation and Protection (DJOP) has partnered with Advanced Info Service (AIS) to introduce "online distance visiting relatives", a service that lets parents have video chats with their children in DJOP centres.
The move aims to make treatment and rehabilitation more effective while providing convenience for parents.
The system on AIS's fibre network enables parents to visit with their children through a wireless system via smartphones.
The DJOP started the project in February at two child and youth training centres in Chiang Mai and Ratchaburi provinces.
Sahakarn Petchnarin, director-general of the DJOP, said family support is a key factor in treatment, improvement and rehabilitation of juveniles.
The project allows them to talk to and see parents or relatives who live far away, sparing them travel to the treatment centres.
The centre for District 7 in Chiang Mai is responsible for several surrounding provinces, including Mae Hong Son, Chiang Rai, Phrae and Nan. The centre for District 2 in Ratchaburi also covers various provinces.
If parents in Mae Hong Son want to see their children at the centre in Chiang Mai, they can come to a computer room in Mae Hong Son to speak to their children via an online conference system.
"Thanks to the partnership with AIS, the DJOP has not had to spend any of its budget on the project," Mr Sahakarn said.
He said that if the DJOP has an opportunity to join with AIS on further collaboration, the department will introduce the online service in other areas.
The system is expected to eventually connect all child and youth training centres nationwide.
In later stages, the system will expand to cover DJOP centres that observe juveniles during the legal process.
Saran Phaloprakarn, head of fixed broadband at AIS, said the system can support a maximum of five visiting calls at once from various locations.
The system and the set of advanced computers allows parents working in provinces or overseas to use the service.
Mr Saran said parents have to register and be verified by the DJOP. They can then download the Skype for Business application via Apple's App Store or Google Play Store.
To set up the video call with their children, the parents have to make an appointment with the DJOP.
Mr Saran said the service plays a role in cheering up youths who have made mistakes by adopting technology that helps with their rehabilitation.
"The project is a good example of the strong partnership between a government agency and the private sector, which brings benefits to society and is in line with the military government's public-private partnership model," he said.
