This day is a reminder that protecting children is everyone's responsibility - across human health, animal health, community services, and every part of society. A One Health approach strengthens prevention by recognizing how family, community, environment, and systems all connect.
What can we do? Here are practical action steps:
🔹 Learn the signs.
Understanding behavioral and physical indicators of abuse helps us recognize when a child may need help.
🔹 Create safe, trusted spaces.
Whether in clinics, classrooms, community programs, or shelters, ensure children feel seen, heard, and supported.
🔹 Promote trauma-informed practices.
Professionals across health, education, social services, and animal welfare can integrate trauma-informed approaches into daily work.
🔹 Share resources.
Know your local hotlines, crisis centers, and reporting pathways - and help others access them.
🔹 Support families and caregivers.
Reducing stress, improving access to healthcare, and supporting mental wellness all reduce risk factors for violence.
🔹 Advocate for strong policies and protections.
Support legislation and community initiatives aimed at preventing abuse and strengthening child-safety systems.
🔹 Speak up.
If you suspect abuse, report it. Trust your instincts - intervention can save a life.
🔹 Connect across sectors.
A One Health perspective encourages collaboration between human healthcare, veterinary services, public health, and social support networks to identify and respond to risk factors early.
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T' Fisher, Director of Operations
Program for Pet Health Equity
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Original Message:
Sent: 11-18-2025 07:51 AM
From: Kayla Anderson
Subject: Nov 18 - World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation
"If the world adopted the attitude of asking 'what happened to you?' vs 'what's wrong with you?' I believe the world can become more insightful. Try using those two questions on the same issue and watch how one removed blame, offers compassion, but still answers the root of the question."
November 18th is the World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Violence. Today, I wanted to highlight the concept of ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) and how they effect mental and physical health outcomes as we grow into adults. The more ACEs a person experiences, the greater their risk for conditions like heart disease, lung disease, cancer, depression, substance dependence and early death. This interconnectedness exists because chronic stress triggers the body's fight-or-flight response repeatedly, flooding the body with stress hormones. Over time, this disrupts the developing brain, immune system, hormonal systems, and even DNA expression, resulting long-term biological changes that increase disease risk.
Emotionally, a person that has experienced ACEs may have internalized hurtful or critical messages from caregivers or peers. In adulthood, this can show up as deeply rooted negative self-talk. If expressing emotions wasn't safe or accepted in the home, they may struggle to share their actual feelings. In relationships, they may gravitate toward unhealthy dynamics or repeat negative patterns they witnessed as a child. Conversely, they may avoid close relationships altogether out of fear of trust, vulnerability, or getting hurt again. Childhood trauma can also impair the ability to manage emotions and make a person swing between feeling "too much" and shutting down emotionally. They can also disrupt the normal development of identity, making the person feel disconnected from who they are or feel uncertain about their values, desires, or purpose.
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Kayla Anderson
Veterinary Social Worker
Program for Pet Health Equity
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