If you have any questions, please reach out to our Internal.Communications@cookchildrens.org. 

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To make way for expansion of Cook Children’s Medical Center – Fort Worth, our on-site child development center will move next spring to a new building under construction a few blocks away.

Kids’ Place Child Development Center has served the families of Cook Children’s employees since 2001. Its current facility at 901 Southland Ave. will be razed after the new Kids’ Place opens.

What’s changing? Only the location. The new building is located on Cook Children’s property along Ninth Avenue between Cooper and Pruitt streets. There will be designated parking for efficient drop-off and pick-up that parents are accustomed to.   

What stays the same? Everything else, including the size. The new center will match the current capacity, with improvements focused on the quality and safety of the environment rather than expansion, given the significant investment required to replace the building. The square footage is roughly equal, and the layout features 17 classrooms, enrichment areas and four playgrounds with a splash pad.

“The focus of the project has been on replacing the aging building with a more modern and thoughtfully designed space that better supports children and staff,” said Merridth Simpson, Vice President of Human Resources. The new facility will accommodate 230 children ages 6 weeks to 5 years, just as before.

 “We've taken the opportunity to update the building and use the latest research in early childhood and building design,” said Lara Holder, Senior Client Relations Director for Bright Horizons, which operates Kids’ Place. “We took what's working in the existing building and replicated that.”

Children currently enrolled can expect the same teachers and curriculum they enjoy now. The new home for Kids’ Place will continue to offer:

• Extended operating hours: 6 a.m.-7:30 p.m.

• Below-market tuition for employees of Cook Children’s and Texas Health Resources Harris Methodist

• Accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children

Plans for our Medical Center-Fort Worth campus call for construction of a new 760,000-square-foot tower that will expand the NICU, PICU, Heart Center and other areas. The historic West Tower project requires the land where Kids’ Place currently operates. Moving the child development center is an early step in the process.

Lara wants to assure parents that Bright Horizons and Cook Children's are working together for a smooth transition.

“There's been a lot of care taken into making sure that it's a great space for children, for our staff, for the families, and that there's as minimal a disruption as possible,” she said. “It’s going to be a beautiful building where wonderful things continue to take place.”

Cook Children’s helps to make the cost more affordable as a benefit for our employees. 

“We know that access to reliable, high-quality childcare at an affordable rate is crucial for working parents. Our caregivers dedicate themselves to caring for others every day. This is one more way we can care for them -- by easing a major source of stress,” said Merridth. “By continuing to offer a convenient location and affordable tuition, we’re investing in our people, their families and the long-term health of our workforce.”

Read more here about how Cook Children’s partners with Bright Horizons to meet the needs of our employees.

You’ll find medical, dental, vision, retirement, disability, life insurance, leave of absence, mental health resources and much more listed in the Cook Children’s Benefits Guide. The year runs from Oct. 1, 2025, to Sept. 30, 2026. Let’s unpack some highlights:

•  *new this year Capital Rx prescription drug coverage, now with the option to fill your prescriptions at Cook Children’s pharmacy locations

•  *new this year Glasses and contacts every year for everyone on the Superior Vision plan

•  *new this year Three new digital tools to support mental well-being, sleep quality and exercise

•  Employee assistance program (EAP) through Uprise Health, providing confidential counseling sessions and 24-hour crisis help

• Pre-diabetes, blood pressure and weight management

• Child care, pet insurance, legal services, student loan refinancing, emergency travel benefit and other lifestyle benefits

• Plus, much more!

Cook Children's invests more than $200 million annually in employee benefits, an amount that covers the vast majority of the cost for our employees. It’s an investment in health and well-being that reflects our ongoing dedication to you and your family.

“Benefits are very personal, and the level of importance can vary greatly for employees,” said James Cuva, Assistant Vice President for Benefits. “We strive to continue to evolve our benefits programs to meet the ever-changing needs of our employees and support a dynamic organization.”

James and his team stay abreast of industry trends, emerging programs and benchmark data to inform and support the benefits strategy at Cook Children’s. Consistent evaluation of our programs helps ensure two priorities: benefits that matter to you, and cost management for the system. 

“Our goal is to provide competitive and highly valued benefits to be well positioned to attract and retain employees,” he said.

Here’s a closer look at the new Capital Rx pharmacy benefit and how it impacts you.

What is Capital Rx? A leading pharmacy benefits manager (PBM) that partners with organizations to administer pharmacy benefits for employees. It’s a relatively new and innovative vendor, offering greater price transparency, cost savings, technology and a high level of service for members.

Advantages? Convenience. Capital Rx provides a broad network of pharmacies.  Our employees also have the option to fill their prescriptions at Cook Children’s retail pharmacies in Fort Worth and Prosper, as well as Dodson Specialty Pharmacy.

Capital Rx also offers better management of increasing costs for prescription drugs. One of the most significant cost drivers of the overall benefits budget is pharmacy spending – a cost that is expected to increase 8-10% annually.

“Moving to Capital Rx is a great example of how we continue to ensure solid financial stewardship while also providing significant value to our employees,” James said. 

Who played a role? Input came from stakeholders within Cook Children’s as well as external consultants. Various departments contributed from their area of expertise, including Pharmacy, Legal (contracting process) and Finance (analysis on cost savings).

Ozioma Olowu, Chief Pharmacy Officer, said the process of implementation has benefited from the collaboration. “It was most certainly a team effort,” she said.

Bottom line? Cook Children’s Pharmacy and Capital Rx are ready to support our staff and answer your questions during the transition.

“Patience and grace are always appreciated,” Ozioma said. “We reviewed claims data and adjusted our inventory to prepare, but there will be medications that we will have to order. The good news is most medications come to us next business day, and if it’s a maintenance medication we will work with you to ensure we keep it in stock.”

Here’s a brief overview of business hours, how to transfer your prescriptions and other tips for using Capital Rx at Cook Children’s retail pharmacies.  

These events are a great opportunity to connect directly with our team, get all your Human Resources-related questions answered, and spin to win free Cook Children's merch!

Mark your calendars for these upcoming dates throughout the rest of the year:

• Oct. 9
  • Fort Worth UCC
     
• Oct. 15
  • Fort Worth Magnolia Primary Care
  • Fort Worth Henderson Primary Care
     
• Oct. 21
  • Fort Worth Clearfork Primary Care
  • Fort Worth Cityview Primary Care
  • Fort Worth Southwest Primary Care
     
• Nov. 4
  • Stephenville Primary Care
  • Granbury Primary Care
  • Walsh Ranch Primary Care
  • Willow Park Primary Care
     
• Nov. 19
  • Haslet Primary Care
  • Alliance UCC/Multi Specialty
     
• Dec. 10
  • Waxahachie Primary Care

If you attend the Beat the Heat events at our other locations, during the nightshift, or remotely please take photos on your phone and send them to teamexperience@cookchildrens.org!