Welcoming Diversity and Inclusion at Cook Children's: Join Our Exciting New ERG Program!

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We have some big news to share with you about how Cook Children’s is making our organization even more special and inclusive for everyone.

Introducing Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)

We are super excited to let you know about our new Employee Resource Groups (ERG) program! ERGs are like special clubs where employees who share common interests and experiences can come together to make our workplace even better. It's a way for us to learn from each other and grow as a big Cook Children’s family.

We have one ERG already up and running. It’s the Veterans Group. And now we are starting up three new ERG, with plans to create additional groups in the future.

They are:

• Black/African American (BAA+)
• Latinos Engaging, Advancing, Developing & Supporting (L.E.A.D.S.+)
• Pride+ (LGBTQ+)
• Veterans+

But here’s something you should know. ERGs are open to anyone who wants to join, whether you're a part of that specific group or not. Everyone is welcome!

“At Cook Children’s, our focus is on improving the well-being of each child who comes to us for care. And just like our patient families, Cook Children’s employees represent the communities we serve, with broad ranges of backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences. Recognizing these individual attributes of our employees is imperative to promote our culture of diversity and inclusion,” said Wini King, Chief Diversity Officer at Cook Children’s.

ERG Launch Parties in Prosper and Fort Worth

Join us to learn all about the new Employee Resource Groups created just for Cook Children’s employees.

Cook Children's Medical Center-Prosper:
12-2 p.m. on Tues., Sept. 19 
Conference Rooms 1621/1622 near Registration

Cook Children's Medical Center-Fort Worth 
11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. AND 7-9 p.m. on Thurs., Sept. 21 
Pre-function area near Hochberger Auditorium and inside Decker Boardroom 
(Please make your way to the bottom of the stairs and you’ll see the festivities.)

Why ERGs Are Great

Joining an ERG is a fantastic chance for you to make new friends, learn interesting things, and share your ideas. It's like being part of a team that helps Cook Children’s become even more amazing. Research shows that being a part of ERGs can make us feel happier at work, and they can also help our system become a better place for everyone.

ERGS show that we care about every single person who works here. ERGs help us understand each other better and learn about different cultures. By joining together, we can make our hospital even more magical for the kids we take care of.

What ERGs Do

These ERGs will do lots of important things, like:

• Teach us about different cultures and people 
• Help everyone become better leaders 
• Make our workplace even more awesome 
• Make new friends and learn from each other 
• Work together with the community 
• Help new employees feel welcome 
• Make our hospital a happier place to work 

Remember, ERGs are not about politics, they're about making our Cook Children’s family stronger and more caring.

Join the Team on ULearn

So, why not think about joining an ERG? It's a chance to be part of something special and learn amazing things. Let's all come together to make Cook Children’s the best place it can be! You can sign up for one or all of the ERGs.

As Wini says, "ERGs are an integral component of our commitment to a workplace culture that connects us to one another by embracing diversity and inclusion."

It’s easy to join: 
You can use a QR code on a mobile device that will take you to ULearn. The same QR code is used for all the ERGs. 

Or, you can go straight to ULearn. In the search bar, type in “Employee Resource Groups.” (Do not use the acronym ERG.) 

1. Click on Employee Resource Group (ERG) Sign Up. 
2. Click the blue box labeled Launch. 
3. On the next page click Continue. 
4. The next page will allow you to click to join any of the ERGs. You'll indicate if you are a part of the specific demographic or if you are joining as an ally or supporter. 

Please check with your supervisor to ensure you have the time to be a part of an ERG and then if you have questions about ERGS or the Inclusivity, Diversity and Equity efforts at Cook Children’s please email us at InternalCommunications@cookchildrens.org.

In the meantime, thank you for all you do and keep living up to our values and respect and kindness.