Open enrollment for the 2024-2025 benefits year runs through Aug. 23, giving you the chance to update your benefit elections, change your participation in medical plans and more.
The array of options reflects Cook Children’s priority in supporting the health and well-being of our employees and families. Elections and/or changes will go into effect on Oct. 1, 2024.
The 2024-2025 Benefits Guide, found on CookNet, highlights several changes for the coming year. We streamlined our selection of medical plans to two -- a health reimbursement account (HRA) and a health savings account (HSA). We also consolidated our dental plans into a single PPO option. We have three salary bands now instead of four, and the ranges of the bands have changed.
Visit Workday to enroll or make changes, or call the Benefits Center at 833-938-4154, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Benefits vendors will be on hand at two Benefits Fairs to answer your questions. You’re also invited to attend one of the in-person Open Enrollment meetings.
Performance & Development Digest: Training Opportunities
Instructor-led training is coming soon to help you navigate the big changes ahead for Performance & Development (P&D) at Cook Children’s.
With PACE discontinued, our approach to employee reviews, job coaching, career growth and more will look different with the transition to Workday.
Implementing any new program comes with a learning curve. That’s why training is required.
Hopefully you’ve completed the on-demand training focused on FY24 Year End activities and are already using the Workday platform. We’re in the Peer Feedback phase, which runs July 15 – Aug. 26. If you haven’t, access it here.
Now, you can sign up for instructor-led training that covers more of the P&D functionality, including FY25 activities such as career growth planning, setting and revising goals, and mid-year check-ins. Dates for training sessions are based on your role.
Well-Being Month 2024: Watch a Special Video from Mr. Merrill
We’re recognizing August as Well-being Month and have a variety of classes, events and activities planned for you. You’ll also have the opportunity to participate in a number of self-care activities across the month for the chance to win a gift card by participating in Well-Bingo.
Please head to the Connect Newsroomto find all the details about activities, including a special video message from Rick W. Merrill, President and CEO, a video about destigmatizing self-care, a profile of our Chaplain of Well-being Kristin Burrow, and self-care resources available to you.
What do you do for self-care?What tip can you share about how to find time for self-care? Please drop your insights and ideas in the comments section on the article.
Beat the Heat Treat
Let's get together for the Beat the Heat Treat events to enjoy moments of magic and connection. A number of in-person events are planned at several locations around the System in August. Teams at off-site locations and fully remote teams are invited to hold a treat event on a date that works best for their teams. To support off-site and fully remote teams, leaders are able to use a special inter-department transfer of funds (IDT). Click here for more details.
Construction Report: Demolition of Kindred and Nest
Construction has begun on the demolition of the Kindred and NEST buildings on Cooper Street, scheduled to be completed by mid-September. This work is part of Cook Children’s ongoing expansion project. NEST appointments will now take place at Dodson.
Fencing has been erected around the site to prepare for demolition. Construction and demolition will continue through September, with the demolition itself expected to occur between Aug. 19-25.
While no road closures are anticipated, traffic may be slowed by hauling trucks. The sidewalk on Terrell Avenue will be closed from Aug. 19-25, resulting in a longer walk from the parking garage to the Medical Center-Fort Worth.
Thank you for your patience and understanding during this time.
Video: Drug Diversion Symposium on Oct. 18
The System Diversion Committee invites you to a Drug Diversion Symposium at Medical Center-Fort Worth. This important event aims to raise awareness about drug diversion and provides actionable strategies to combat this critical issue within CCHCS and our local health care systems. The symposium will feature an opening session for clinical and non-clinical staff and an afternoon session for CCHCS leadership, ensuring that everyone leaves with practical tools and a deeper understanding of how to help address this important issue.
Fidelity Webinar Targets Keys to Planning Your Finances
Creating a budget and savings plan can help put you on the path to financial security. Join the experts from Fidelity on Thursday, Aug. 29, to learn how to make financial health a priority. This webinar, geared for women, will also give tips to stay on track for those goals.
As a benefit to Cook Children’s employees, you’ll earn 100 Virgin Pulse Points for attending the webinar. Points may be cashed in for gift cards through our wellness program.
Inspiring Women: Karen Love, President of Cook Children's Health Plan
Newsweek has named Cook Children's one of America's Greatest Workplaces for Women 2024. We're introducing you to some of the women who make Cook Children's such an amazing place.
Karen Love, President of Cook Children's Health Plan, bears the weight of an undeniably heavy crown. With the support of all who create and experience the magic that happens under Cook Children’s signature blue castle peaks, she’s spearheading a critical crusade for children and families.
As the President of Cook Children’s Health Plan, Love is leading the charge in challenging the recent decision by Texas’ Health and Human Services Commission to deny Cook Children’s Health Plan a contract renewal for managing the State’s Medicaid STAR and CHIP programs. Like a dame in shining armor, she has been instrumental in fighting the decision every step of the way, carrying the torch for the more than 125,000 children and families served by the Health Plan that stand to be impacted by the State’s faulty and unfair decision.
“The incredible support from my colleagues in leadership roles is what I love most about working at Cook Children’s,” Karen said.“This situation we are facing with our Health Plan contract has reminded me how many of them are absolutely willing to help in any way they can. Cook Children’s is a very warm and accepting place where those you work with truly care about you and your well-being. We are very deliberate about how we can best honor and deliver on Our Promise to children and families in our community, and our employees all know how they make a difference every day in their roles.”
Videos: The Olympic Games: Employees Past and Present
This summer's Olympic games in Paris have provided us with many memories, but they may not top the special stories we have for you today.
Did you know that the Fort Worth Texans hockey team played the 1980 USA Olympic Hockey team right here at Will Rogers Memorial Center? Before hitting the international stage, the Olympic team came to Fort Worth to prepare, and they lost 4-3 against the Texans. The Olympic team went on to make history in Lake Placid when they upset heavily favored Soviet Union in the game dubbed the “Miracle on Ice.Our own Michael Sanchez, IT Service Desk, was there at the Will Rogers game and tells us what he remembers.
n 1980, Lynne Dougherty, HIM Coder Analyst, lived in the small town of Peru, New York. Through her part time job as a babysitter, she was gifted tickets to a U.S. Hockey game to be played at Lake Placid in the Olympic Games. Little did she know that as a humble senior on the yearbook staff, she would be a part of a moment in history!Click here to watch Michael and Lynne tell their stories.
PHOTOS: Kate DeVore, LCSW, a Pulmonary/Sleep Social Worker, went to Paris for the Olympic Games. We gave Kate a stuffed Peaks to take with her to France and she is bringing him along on her adventures.Click here
Congratulations Third Quarter Peak Performers
As we celebrate all the winners for the third quarter Peak Performers of fiscal year 2024 (April to June),please take a moment to read the nominations for each individual and team. You can see what set them apart and why their peers, supervisors, and leaders may have felt they deserved this recognition. Congratulations to all our Peak Performers. You help us fulfill our Promise each and every day.
ICYMI: New Employee Medical Records System to Start Aug. 27
Occupational Health will be moving to a new medical record system called Enterprise Health starting on Aug. 27. The new system will replace the Occupational Health Management (OHM) system in coming weeks. Enterprise Health will be a more efficient tool and allow seamless collaboration between Occupational Health and our employees.
Staff will be granted access to an employee portal, protected by single sign on, which will allow them to: • Review past immunization records. • Fill out Occupational Health-related questionnaires. • Schedule appointments (limited). • Submit injury reports. • Submit forms for return to work. • Review secure messages coming from Occupational Health.
Read more in the Connect Newsroom. Occupational Health will send out additional information, such as FAQs and educational materials to support use of the new system, in coming weeks.
News from Around Cook Children's
Keep an eye on your inbox for The Arcuate, a newsletter from the Jane and John Justin Institute for Mind Health. It contains the latest news, innovative treatments and research from the Justin Institute. This edition includes an article on a new study by Researcher Crystal Cooper, Ph.D., and her team, that connects brain networks with epilepsy and mental health. To subscribe to Arcuate, click here.
Cook Children’s Annual Drive for those Experiencing Homelessness will take place from Sept. 27 to Oct. 25. Collection Items: Twin sheet sets, bath towels, washcloths, hand towels, and baby wipes (new items only) Drop off locations: Medical Center-Fort Worth, Dodson, 750 building, 901 building, and Rosedale Office Building For questions email Bianca Ramos, Office Manager, Case Management.
Employee Craft Fair: Join us for our Child Life Employee Craft Fair from 7 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Oct. 25 and Nov. 8. Donations collected through sales will benefit Cook Children's Creative Arts Program! To register please submit this form no earlier than Sept. 3.
Valuing Safety: To keep our patients, families, staff, and visitors safe, we need your help identifying potential hazards across Medical Center-Fort Worth and other facilities.Learn what you can do here.
The Blue Castle Collaborators Toastmasters quarterly in-person meeting an annual celebration is on Aug. 20. Seats are limited. RSVP to bluecastlecollaborators@gmail.com.
Performance & Development Digest: Training Opportunities
Construction has begun on the demolition of the Kindred and NEST buildings on Cooper Street, scheduled to be completed by mid-September. This work is part of Cook Children’s ongoing expansion project. NEST appointments will now take place at Dodson.
Video: Drug Diversion Symposium on Oct. 18
Fidelity Webinar Targets Keys to Planning Your Finances
Newsweek has named Cook Children's one of America's Greatest Workplaces for Women 2024. We're introducing you to some of the women who make Cook Children's such an amazing place.
PHOTOS: 
Congratulations Third Quarter Peak Performers
ICYMI: 
News from Around Cook Children's