Social Services

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Cook Children's Social Services team works with your family to help you meet your child's ongoing health care needs and assist you in times of physical, emotional and financial stress.

There are social workers assigned to each inpatient floor, emergency department, and the on-campus Specialty Clinics. Similar to doctors and nurses, all social workers must have a Texas license in order to work at Cook Children's. The LSW/LMSW/LCSW social workers are trained to provide services to patients and their families at Cook Children's.

What does a social worker do?

The social worker's focus is on your family. They work with your child's doctors, nurses and other hospital staff to make sure your needs and concerns are addressed so that our child's ongoing health care needs are met. Social Workers have specialized training to assist families in times of physical, emotional, and financial stress. They are well informed about available resources in the community so they can support families in need.

Meet the family and determine if there are resources available to them
Offer emotional support, counseling, and problem solving strategies
Assist with discharge planning, which includes coordinating services for the patient to safely return home
Help the medical center, clinic and other community agencies work as a team

How can I talk to the social worker assigned to my area?

Social workers are available on all the hospital floors, in the NICU, PICU and the Emergency Department. Ask a staff member in your area to contact the social worker for your unit. Social workers are also assigned to all clinic areas. To reach a social worker, call the clinic directly, or call the hospital operator, 682-885-4000.

What are their hours?

Social workers are available on in-patient floors during normal business hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 7 days a week. Emergency department social workers are available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 2:30 a.m., as well as 24 hours a day on the weekend. If there are questions or concerns during a clinic visit, ask your nurse or one of the staff members to contact the social worker for that specialty.