FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 12, 2020
NEW YORK, NY – At Children of Bellevue, we are deeply saddened by the tragic deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade, and the numerous other racially targeted attacks on the Black community that have occurred around the country, including here in New York City. We not only stand in solidarity with those who acknowledge that racial inequality and injustice are real and need to be addressed on many different levels, but also reaffirm our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion including within our own organization. We commit to continuing to support Bellevue’s children and families, and to effectuate change in order to address the systemic racism that exists within our society today across all races.
We are in full agreement with the following statement made by Dr. Mitchell Katz, President and CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals.
Sincerely,
Chair of the Board of Directors on behalf of Children of Bellevue
I’ve been deeply disturbed by the brutality in Minneapolis, and stand in solidarity with our fellow New Yorkers, and so many members of our NYC Heath + Hospitals workforce, who are feeling the pain and injustice that’s affecting people of color in our communities.
We are still facing the very real and disproportionate impact that COVID-19 had on neighborhoods of color in New York City – and this is a time when we should be doing everything possible to raise up
others, to give them strength and sustenance.
I am proud of how NYC Health + Hospitals has stood up to care for all New Yorkers during this pandemic, and equally proud of how many New Yorkers have protested peacefully, wearing face coverings, to say that injustice is and always will be wrong.
In the face of bigotry and hate, we must reaffirm our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion. Let’s send a clear message to our fellow New Yorkers, friends and neighbors that NYC Health + Hospitals is ready to work for real change that serves everyone, regardless of the color of their skin, immigration status or language spoken.
We must also stand firm to say that there is no place for intolerance or bigotry of any kind within our workplaces in our health care system. Our mission is clear- to provide quality health care in an atmosphere of dignity and respect to all, without exception, regardless of any personal characteristics, including a person’s race, ethnic background, religion, gender identity, or ability to pay.
We must never allow discriminatory behavior that undermines our core values, and we must remain vigilant in caring for our colleagues, our patients and fellow New Yorkers with honor and dignity.
Our greatest asset and key to our success depends on a united workforce that embraces diversity, celebrates our rich cultures and backgrounds, and lifts barriers to help us all speak the same language of love and respect.
– Mitch
Children of Bellevue is deeply saddened and angered by today’s Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. It is completely antithetical to our mission and values that bodily autonomy is reserved only for a portion of our population, thus forcing the other into situations that could threaten the wellbeing of their own life and ability to reach their greatest potential. Children and adolescents who suffer from unwanted pregnancies due to rape and incest remain the most vulnerable and are now left with even fewer options – or no options at all – for proper care, and this is unacceptable. Partnering with the healthcare providers at NYC Health+Hospitals/Bellevue, Children of Bellevue is grateful for the privilege of serving New York children and their families in a state with some of the most comprehensive abortion protection laws. For those outside of New York State seeking reproductive healthcare, you have a safe haven here and we will continue to fight for your access to it. 
Admiral Levine was trained as a pediatrician at New York City’s Mount Sinai Hospital, As a physician she concentrated on the intersection between physical care and mental health, similar to the work that is being done by the various Child and Adolescent Psychiatry programs at Bellevue supported by Children of Bellevue. 
