Did you know that many of the most prevalent and chronic diseases of adulthood are rooted in children’s experiences? When children experience significant adversity, this can disrupt other systems in the body, causing effects that have lifelong implications for health and well-being¹. And yet, there is hope.  Child-centered support and quality care fosters healthy development and can provide pathways to healing and resilience.

Children of the Nations International (COTNI) partners with organizations in 5 countries, providing children with holistic care they need and deserve.

As the Social and Physical Care Program Leader for COTNI, I’m excited to cheer along partner organizations as they work toward our shared end results.

Social care end result: children who can integrate their past experiences into their lives, maintain connections with their communities, achieve lasting and meaningful relationships, and thrive in school and in the workplace.

Physical care end result: children who are physically healthy with the ability to demonstrate and promote health in their lives, communities, and beyond. 

February 2026

The start of a new year gives all of us a chance to reflect, dream, and plan for what’s ahead. The same is true across the Children of the Nations network. Each of our partner organizations is finalizing goals, refining budgets, and designing activities that will help children thrive holistically. 

As part of the International Branch, my role is to support each organization to meet their goals while upholding our shared standards. In many ways, my goal is to help them reach theirs. And because of supporters like you, 2026 is already shaping up to be a year of meaningful progress. 

Here are a few of the exciting initiatives planned for the year ahead: 

Physical Care 

• Physical Health Surveys in Uganda, Haiti, and Malawi – These will help us measure long term impact and guide program improvements that directly benefit children’s health. 

• Collaborative international trainings – Bringing together COTN teams and expert guest speakers to strengthen skills in areas such as MUAC nutritional assessment, disability inclusion, and comprehensive sexual education. 

Social Care  

• Cross country training workshops – Uniting teams to learn best practices in case management, responding to psychological distress, and ethical social work. 

• Completion of our trauma competent care cohort – Equipping staff to provide even more compassionate and healing centered support. 

• Refinement of case management tools – Ensuring every child receives consistent, high-quality care tailored to their unique needs. 

To keep their administrative costs as low as possible, COTN asks all of its international staff to raise funds to support their department. Will you partner with me to support these initiatives to enhance the care of COTN children around the world?

1) National Scientific Council on the Developing Child (2020). Connecting the Brain to the Rest of the Body: Early Childhood Development and Lifelong Health Are Deeply Intertwined Working Paper No. 15. Retrieved from www.developingchild.harvard.edu.