BIG UPDATE: The HMH Executive Board has allegedly approved delaying the closure of the Early Childhood Education Centers until the end of the year.  THIS DOES NOT MEAN WE CAN RELAX.  If this is true, it means we have MORE TIME to continue to work towards keeping the centers open indefinitely. 

The petition site allows for only one update per day.  Please see the update below, which contains a link to another resource for more frequent updates!

Hopefully we can confirm this extension soon!

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Good Morning Everyone!

Again, thank you for your support.  We are SO CLOSE to 10,000 supporters!  Please keep sharing on your social media daily.  Keep sending letters to your leaders, and executive leadership!  

I've recently discovered a Facebook Group titled "Save HMH Childcare" and they have a fantastic letter template you can use!  Get those emails out there!  Flood the inboxes!  I've posted the link to the Facebook Group as well as the template and some email addresses below.

Again, I urge you to remain civil, but emphatic.  In the poignant words of Michelle Obama, "When they go low, we go high!" 

Save HMH Childcare - Facebook Group

Send those emails to:

Officeoftheceo@hmhn.org
Theofficeofamiethornton@hmhn.org
Paulette.wright@hmhn.org
Caren.feldman@hmhn.org
Michael.Feld@hmhn.org  (Director of Regional HR)
Linda.Mchugh@hmhn.org  (Chief Exp People Officer)

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Dear Hackensack Meridian Health,

I am a parent of a child enrolled at [YOUR CHILD’S CENTER] program at HMH. I was shocked, dismayed, and angry when I learned about HMH's abrupt decision to close all of its child care centers at the end of September 2022.

HMH touts itself as being "a leader of positive change," supporting its "healthcare heroes," striving to "keep getting better," and being a "Great Place to Work." HMH's decision to close all of its child care centers clearly shows that these are mere words and not truly the principles that HMH operates by. This decision is a clear reflection of the lack of concern, consideration, and respect for its employees who rely on this care and the employees who deliver this care, day in and day out. 

HMH employees drive through blizzards to show up because hospitals are never closed. We have worked tirelessly through a global pandemic, putting ourselves and our family members at risk, because patients need care. We show up for shifts at all hours and in every department of the hospital system because this is what we do. We were only able to continue working through the pandemic because of [YOUR CHILD’S CENTER] consistent child care when most other child care centers were closing. There were no other child care options available for parents other than to call out. The child care center and its employees worked tirelessly to create a safe environment for our children to continue thriving so parents could return to work in the hospitals and provide patient care.

Having hospital-affiliated child care allows employees to do this. [YOUR CHILD’S CENTER] has offered us the necessary hours so that we can give our time and energy to HMH, knowing we have consistent child care and confidence that our children are well cared for by their amazing teachers. [YOUR CHILD’S CENTER] has allowed providers to minimize disruptions to patient care and staffing coverage because our children have a home away from home. [YOUR CHILD’S CENTER]’s staff is an integral part of the healthcare system, without child care, there are no patient care providers. You are taking this vital resource away from your employees, and undermining the structural stability of consistent staffing for your organization.

Now, loyal HMH childcare employees are losing their jobs with little notice. The same workers who were deemed essential during the pandemic are now apparently expendable for the sake of the HMH budget, this is unacceptable. HMH employees are left facing the question of whether or not they can afford to keep working for HMH. Not only was this decision short sighted, it was also delivered in a cruel and unprofessional manner and shows no respect for its employees. It leaves all who are affected with questions of: Where will the children go? Where will the child care teachers and staff go? And where will the parents, your employees, go? 

By stripping HMH workers of this child care option, HMH is endangering the livelihoods of individuals, the education and care of children, the work-life balance of families, and ultimately the care of its patients.

We do not accept this decision and we demand better. 

Signed,

A concerned parent