A Special Holiday Message from Mr. Merrill

Cook Children's is a magical place year-round, but during the holidays, the magic seems to multiply. Between the festive decorations, the holiday activities and the delight in the eyes of the children who take them in, it's hard to escape the joy and wonder of the season.

But this magic doesn’t just happen — it’s crafted by you. Because of your tireless efforts to do everything for the child and your dedication to our core values, joy peeks through in a place where children and families often face their darkest hours.

This year, one of the most remarkable examples of this commitment was our united stand against an unjust decision by Texas’ Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to award new managed care contracts to large national, for-profit companies over community-based providers like Cook Children’s Health Plan (CCHP). The decision jeopardized the care and safety of 125,000 children in our community. We must celebrate the significant victory in Travis County, where a court granted a Temporary Injunction preventing HHSC from awarding any new contracts, buying us more time to shine a spotlight on the issue and make the case to state legislators that low-income families, expectant mothers and children with complex medical needs deserve and have the right to keep the trusted, personalized and high-quality care that CCHP is known for and our members have come to rely on daily.

And that’s just one chapter of this year’s story. Other highlights that showcase the milestones and accomplishments we’ve achieved together include:

• Forbes ranked us No. 1 in Health Care and No. 3 among the nation’s best in it's America’s Best Large Employers list.
• Newsweek recognized Cook Children’s not once, but twice – as one of America's Greatest Workplaces for 2024 and one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Women for 2024.
• We proudly received the Golden Deeds Award from the Exchange Club of Fort Worth, an honor bestowed upon those who signify outstanding community contributions.
• Seven of our specialty programs earned top rankings in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2024-2025 Best Children’s Hospitals list, reflecting our steadfast commitment to providing exceptional care.
• Cook Children’s Medical Center - Prosper was honored with two “Best Of” awards from the readers of Living Magazine - Prosper & Celina for Best Hospital and Best Emergency Department.

This certainly isn’t a comprehensive list, but it does shine a light on a year full of big wins for our organization and our Promise kept for the children and families in the communities we serve.

As we head into the New Year, let's continue to keep our core values—imagination, kindness, collaboration, generosity, respect, and safety—at the forefront of our actions. These values enrich our professional lives, enabling us to provide exceptional care for our patients and their families. We hope the imaginative spirit that connects us all continues to foster collaboration that brings help and healing to so many within our community.

This season, as you bring magic to the lives of others, don’t forget to find moments of peace for yourself, especially during the holidays when stress, anxiety, and grief may feel overwhelming. If you need to talk or find yourself in need of extra support, don’t hesitate to reach out to your coworkers, supervisors, Spiritual Care, CareATC, or Employee Assistance Program (EAP). If you find yourself in crisis, call 9-1-1 or text 9-8-8.

Just like the children who inspire us daily, may you find moments of magic and peace this holiday season. May you feel the love and support of those around you—at home and under our Blue Peaks. 

Thank you, and Happy Holidays.

Rick W. Merrill