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. 

June 2026 Update 

This spring, teams across the COTN alliance continued building the skills and knowledge needed to provide the best possible care for children. 

A major focus has been expanding trauma-informed care, helping staff and caregivers better understand and respond to the effects of trauma in children's lives. Importantly, these efforts are being led by local professionals who know their communities best. 

• In Haiti, social care staff joined a trauma-informed care training conducted in Haitian Creole alongside professionals from other organizations across the country.  

• In Uganda, the Social Care leader completed the certification process to become a Trauma Free World Affiliate Trainer, allowing her to train and mentor others locally.  

• In Malawi and Sierra Leone, social care leaders are currently participating in advanced online training.  

• In the Dominican Republic, the next round of training begins in June.  

These investments strengthen local expertise and help ensure that children receive consistent, high-quality support from caregivers in their own communities. 

We also continued efforts to improve children's physical well-being. Health surveys were conducted in Uganda and Malawi to better understand children's knowledge and daily health practices. The surveys reached 311 children in Uganda and 643 children in Malawi, providing valuable information that will help these organizations strengthen health education and disease prevention programs. 

By equipping local leaders with specialized skills and practical tools, we are helping create sustainable systems of care that can continue serving children for years to come.  

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.