Cook Children’s “Little Texans” On-Site Center

Challenges

Access, Scalability, Worker Issues

Location

Texas

Stakeholders

Businesses

Beneficiaries

Parents, Children

Overview

Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas, established an on-site childcare center to support its healthcare workers.

Key Impact Metrics

14%
decrease in employee turnover in departments where childcare utilization is high
89%
employee satisfaction rate

Problem

The on-site childcare center at Cook Children's was established to solve a critical and growing problem for the health system's workforce. The primary issue was that healthcare professionals, such as nurses and doctors, worked long, non-traditional shifts that did not align with the typical hours of most childcare facilities. This created immense stress for employees, making it difficult to find reliable and consistent care for their children. This problem directly impacted the organization's ability to attract and retain talented staff, as many were leaving the field or choosing not to join due to the logistical and financial burdens of securing childcare. Ultimately, this shortage of suitable care options was a major driver of employee burnout and high turnover, which threatened the stability and quality of the healthcare workforce.

Solution

The solution implemented by Cook Children's to address its employee childcare challenge was the development of an on-site center called "Kids Place," in partnership with the professional childcare company, Bright Horizons. This employer-sponsored initiative was specifically designed to offer a convenient and high-quality solution that directly catered to the needs of healthcare workers. The center provides flexible hours to accommodate non-traditional shifts and a professional environment that gives parents peace of mind. By establishing Kids Place," Cook Children's created a key benefit that helped them attract and retain top talent, demonstrating a commitment to their employees and contributing to the stability and productivity of their workforce.

Results

Beneficiary Impact
238 childcare slots created
Employee Impact
89% employee satisfaction rate
Financial Results
~$2,000 saved per employee in childcare costs

Replication Tips

Subsidize to ensure affordability for all staff levels: Cook Children heavily subsidizes tuition and provides sliding scale assistance from aides to physicians. When replicating, budget for employer contribution—either via direct subsidy or vouchers—so that childcare isn’t a luxury only higher-paid staff can use.