February 23, 2021

As unrest roiled the nation after the tragic death of George Floyd, faculty in the Baylor Psychology Department felt compelled to respond.

Protestors were filling the streets, outraged that another unarmed Black man had been killed by the police. COVID-19 was ravaging the Black community. Racial disparities in health care and health outcomes stubbornly persisted.

And yet every day, Black team members came to work at Texas Children’s and performed their roles as if they weren’t affected by all that was happening in the world beyond the hospital walls.

“These things can take a toll, and these feelings don’t necessarily go away when you enter the workplace,” said Dr. Ashley Butler, who was among the Psychology faculty who believed that providing a platform for discussions about social injustice and racism could impact change.

Seeking to create a safe space for Black providers and employees in the department to feel supported and understood, they piloted a first-of-its-kind monthly discussion group in June that is still going strong today.

Now known as the Collaborative for African American Racial Equality (CAARE), participants meet virtually each month to discuss current events and the long-standing reality and impacts of racism against Black people. In addition to the Black Lives Matter protests and murder of George Floyd, recent topics have included the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol in January and the availability and acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine in Black communities.

Ellen Binkley, ambulatory services rep II for the Psychology Service, has been part of CAARE since its inception and credits its influence with helping her to think about her Blackness in a new way.

“I wanted to be part of this groundbreaking endeavor to make a difference, to be part of a community where we can discuss different topics without being judged,” said Binkley, who also enjoys imparting the wisdom of her own experiences on younger colleagues.

“After our meetings, I feel refreshed because I’m able to express my concerns, give my opinions and get positive feedback from the group that helps me in my day-to-day life.”

A space for solidarity

CAARE is also a place for participants to celebrate Black culture and achievements, while checking on and being present for each other.

“In diverse groups, Black people often times find themselves describing or retelling personal historical events that are traumatic without support,” Butler said, noting that CAARE participants don’t have to educate other members about the nuances and lived experiences of being Black.

“We wanted to create an intentional space for connection and prevent the chance that our colleagues would deal with all that is going on in isolation,” she said.

Peer support and the opportunity to build genuine relationships gives many participants the feeling they aren’t talking to strangers, but friends – and though they share similar experiences, they bring a variety of perspectives and viewpoints to the table.

“It’s a good reminder that though we all might be concerned about something, we might be thinking about it differently and it might be affecting us in different ways,” said Dr. Sadiqa Cash, an assistant professor in Psychology Services.

“Even as progress is made, I appreciate that we have this space and this forum to process, and that racial justice and equity are things that Texas Children’s wants to focus on,” Cash said. “We’re all trying to figure this out the best way we can.”

A space to speak freely

As overwhelmed as she was by the violence of George Floyd’s murder, Sr. Project Coordinator Kerrianna Floyd has been just as moved by the outpouring of support and compassion she received from her colleagues through CAARE.

As part of the Racial Equity and Inclusion (REI) group the Psychology Department created last summer as a subset to the Inclusive Excellence Initiative launched in 2019, Floyd wanted to do more to contribute to learning and healing about racial issues. CAARE stood apart as an authentic attempt to give Black faculty and staff a space within the workplace setting to acknowledge their pain, without fear of offense or misunderstanding.

“The Psychology Department created an invaluable resource for its team members by understanding the complexity of our experiences and needs both personally and professionally,” Floyd said. “Knowing that my organization honors my personal experiences, by giving me the opportunity to clear my mind of external concerns, allows me to focus on the work before me and perform proudly.”

Recognizing the increased need for convenient and socially distanced telehealth visits during the pandemic, Texas Children’s has partnered with Amwell and our very own Anywhere Care program to provide an additional telehealth option for you. All employees and their eligible dependents who are enrolled in a Texas Children’s medical plan now have two telehealth service options to reach a trusted provider virtually anywhere, at any time.

  • Cigna Virtual Care by MDLive
  • Texas Children’s Employee Telehealth by Amwell

Through April 21, 2021, all medical telehealth appointments for covered employees and dependents are at no cost to you, whether you are contacting them for COVID-19-related symptoms or another illness.

For instructions on how to access either of the telehealth services, click here.

New Behavioral Health Telehealth options

Texas Children’s and Cigna have collaborated to provide new telehealth options for mental health services to our team members and their families. These options offer more convenient and easier access to mental health professionals from any location of your choice. Please note there will be a copay.

  • Cigna Virtual Care by MDLive
  • Talk Space through MyCigna website or app

As a reminder, you can also obtain Behavioral Health telehealth services at no cost by scheduling an appointment with Texas Children’s EAP counselors and/or Health Coaches and via EAP Plus. For more information click here.

Inspired by Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott, Vice President Jermaine Monroe reflects on the COVID-19 vaccine as our pathway to ending the pandemic.

February 15, 2021
Anna Hurlbut holds Ella, the teddy bear named for her twin sister who passed away in 2015 at just 7 weeks old. Anna and Ella’s mom, Katie, has partnered with the Palliative Care team on a new program that connects bereaved parents to trained mentors who have also experienced the loss of a child.

The first year after losing her 7-week-old daughter, Ella Grace, Katie Hurlbut felt especially isolated and alone.

Ella’s surviving twin sister was home from Texas Children’s Newborn Center, but still considered high-risk and required special care. Tending to her needs while also processing the grief of Ella’s passing was overwhelming.

“My main hope was to find a purpose for the pain that I was going through,” said Hurlbut, a nurse practitioner at Texas Children’s Pediatrics Humble-Atascocita. “What helped me most was helping other bereaved families. That’s how I could move forward.”

Intent on bringing something positive out of their experience, Hurlbut looked for opportunities to connect with Texas Children’s parents and families facing similar situations. For her first project, she raised funds to establish The Butterfly Room in the NICU at the Pavilion for Women – a private space, outfitted like a nursery, for bereaved families to say goodbye to their babies.

Three years later, Hurlbut and the Palliative Care team have now launched the Bereaved Parent Mentor Program to provide another source of comfort and support for families mourning unimaginable loss.

“No parent should ever have to walk through grief alone,” Hurlbut said. “We want them to know it is possible to survive a loss like this. Your life can go on, and it can be something that has purpose and meaning.”

Bringing the program to life

Several times after The Butterfly Room opened, Hurlbut found herself speaking with heartbroken parents whose babies were nearing end of life. She realized how much she would have appreciated having another bereaved parent to talk to during that first harrowing year of grieving Ella, and resolved to bring the idea of a mentor program to NICU leaders.

Taryn Schuelke, who had taken on the role of Grief and Bereavement Specialist in 2016, became Hurlbut’s partner in the effort. She believed the Bereaved Parent Mentor Program would be a perfect fit for the goals of the Palliative Care Service, and was thrilled her leaders immediately acknowledged the need and pledged support.

“It’s such a sacred experience to work with these families,” Schuelke said. “When they leave the hospital without their children, it’s a devastating shock. This is a very tender and delicate time for them; they’re lost and overwhelmed. This mentor program truly provides a service that is necessary. It bridges the gap and helps tie families back into their community.”

With guidance from experts at St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, Hurlbut and Schuelke designed a mentor program for Texas Children’s that draws volunteers from the Palliative Care Family Advisory Council. Mentors complete extensive training to prepare for the different situations and perspectives they may encounter.

Prospective mentees are identified and screened, then matched with a mentor who initiates contact within 24-48 hours. Mentors and mentees are paired for a 15-month period and expected to talk at least once a month during that time, when birthdays, holidays and other family milestones can be hardest to endure. Every interaction is documented.

“The most important thing for them is, ‘Will I ever get over this? Will I ever be normal again?’” Hurlbut said. “It’s about having that partnership with someone else who has walked that road before you and can tell you what you’re feeling is normal and it gets different with time.”

Achieving positive outcomes

Though still in its early stages, the Bereaved Mentor Program has already produced positive outcomes for Texas Children’s families. Hurlbut and Schuelke hope to see the program expand beyond the Palliative Care team someday to support other families in need.

“It’s hearing those families stories, knowing they felt so alone and seeing them take that next breath, live their next day,” Schuelke said. “To hear the relief in their voice when I say we have a mentorship program, that they have someone to turn to, that they won’t feel strange or wrong for talking about this. It’s helping them find comfort in this space.”

Hurlbut also takes added comfort in knowing the program is rooted in Ella’s memory.

“Every bereaved parent wants their child to have some type of legacy. You want to make sure they’re never forgotten,” she said. “Everything that we’ve done through Texas Children’s has brought me peace in knowing that Ella’s legacy is going to live on.”

Our vaccine efforts continue as we have administered more than 18,000 doses of to our workforce. For all of those who have participated thus far, we thank you for your leadership in adopting this important tool in our battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Many of our team members said they decided to receive the COVID-19 vaccine because they wanted to help fight the pandemic and protect themselves, their loved ones and the communities we serve. Read on for candid reflections on getting vaccinated from our colleagues across the organization.

Hover over each photo below with your curser to read the individual quotes.

What is your reason for receiving the COVID-19 vaccine?

We will continue to share team members’ testimonials over the coming weeks. If you are interested in sharing your testimonial, please send your photo to HRCommunications@texaschildrens.org along with your full name, job title and the reason why you are receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.

Schedule your vaccine appointment

If you have not received your vaccine, you now have the opportunity to automatically schedule an appointment without any additional screening. It’s important to note that anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 and cleared to Return to Work is eligible to receive the vaccine. Please click here to schedule an appointment and visit texaschildrensbenefits.org/CovidVaccine for more information and resources on the COVID-19 vaccines and our distribution process.

Questions?

Our HR Employee Support Center can be reached at 832-826-4600 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, or via email at employeevaccines@texaschildrens.org.

Remember: no matter your vaccination status, please continue the safe practices for limiting the spread of COVID-19, including always wearing a mask, practicing social distancing, washing your hands frequently and holding each other accountable.

February 9, 2021

The Houston Texans sent four vaccinated health care workers to Super Bowl LV in Tampa Bay as part of the NFL’s celebration of frontline medical heroes. Read more

Tanya Hilliard shares why she decided to get the COVID-19 vaccine, and encourages everyone who is eligible to consider getting theirs too to protect themselves and each other. Read more