Helping Hands

What is Helping Hands?                      

The Henry Ford Health System Helping Hands Program is a charitable initiative sponsored and funded entirely by employees to help co-workers, volunteers and retirees in times of need.  Since its inception in 1992, the program has provided financial assistance to hundreds of people.  

Helping Hands provides financial assistance of up to $1,500 to eligible employees and up to $500.00 to eligible volunteers and retirees who, due to a catastrophe-such as a home fire, illness or injury-can't afford basic necessities including food, clothing and medical care.

Helping Hands does not "bail out" rather it "helps out" those who demonstrate a need based on the established criteria of the program. 

How does Helping Hands work?

A Helping Hands Executive Committee ("the Committee") comprised of a representative from each business unit of the Health System oversees the Helping Hands Program. The Committee provides periodic oversight of the policies and criteria that govern the distribution of funds and produces and maintains the Program's financial reports. 

Applications for funds, eligibility determinations and distribution of funds are administered at the business unit level either by a business unit Helping Hands Committee or a Helping Hands representative.  Each business unit follows the criteria outlined in this document.

The Chief Operating Officer of the Henry Ford Health System will appoint a Chairperson for the Executive Committee.  The Chairperson will be responsible for scheduling and conducting the Committee's business.  The Chairperson will also be responsible for maintaining records of the Committee's business and producing an annual report of the Committee's business, including contributions to the program and distributions made by the program.  Money not used each year is carried over to the new year.  If money is exhausted at any point during the year, applicants will have their applications evaluated once funds are available based on the order/date in which the applications were received.  The annual report will be audited by the Henry Ford Health System's Department of Tax and Audit.   

Requests for funds are approved at the business unit level. All requests that are approved must meet the criteria outlined in this document.  Each request is considered on its own merits and funds are allocated based on the amount of money available. Each approved employee applicant may receive funding not exceeding $1,500.00 in a rolling twelve (12) month period or $500.00 in a rolling twelve (12) month period for volunteers or retirees.

When and how do I apply to Helping Hands?

Those eligible to apply are employees and volunteers who have completed a minimum of six months of continuous service.   Retirees are also eligible to apply.  Retirees include any former HFHS employee that is receiving a retirement benefit from HFHS.

Each employee, volunteer,or retiree applying for assistance must complete the attached application form.  Applications will be forwarded to the applicant's business unit Helping Hands Committee or representative for review.  Confidentiality is maintained throughout the review process.

Applications are available at henry.hfhs.org or www.henryfordconnect.com/HRConnect and click on Forms and Policies, HR Document Index, Helping Hands Form.   

Helping Hands Criteria For Application

To be eligible, the criteria and guidelines below must be followed:

1. All applicants must have had a catastrophic event, domestic emergency (natural or accidental disasters or health or injury-related problems), including the death of an immediate family member or dependant causing a need for basic necessities (i.e. food, shelter, clothing, utilities) or emergency medical services, burial services or treatment unavailable through other means.
2. Employee applicants must be on the System payroll and have completed a minimum of                     six (6) months of continuous service. 
3. Volunteer applicants must be in good standing and have completed a minimum of six (6) months of continuous service.
4. Retiree applicants must no longer be employed by HFHS and must have met the early retirement requirements when they left HFHS employment under the HFHS Pension Plan (age 55 or older with a minimum of five (5) years of vested service).
5. All applicants must request assistance by completing the attached application and submit it to the current or last business unit Human Resources Services Center that service was provided to.  A list of business unit Human Resources Service Centers can be found by logging on to HR Connect and click the Contact HR link and then the link for Local HR Offices or by contacting Employee Services at (313) 874-7100. 
6. All requests will be handled in a confidential manner.
7. A copy of the incident report must accompany requests being submitted due to a fire, which is available from your local fire department.
8. After review of the application, further investigation of the request may be conducted and a request for additional documentation may be required. (Documentation examples would include: death certificates; police reports; tax return statements; utility bills; etc.)
9. Each case will be considered on its own merit. The amount awarded will be determined according to need.
10. Each approved employee applicant may be given assistance up to, but not exceeding $1,500.00 in a rolling twelve (12) month period. Volunteers and retirees may be given assistance up to, but not exceeding $500.00 in a rolling twelve-month (12) period.  Assistance is not intended as an ongoing source of funding.
11. The decision to accept or deny a request is at the discretion of the each business unit's Helping Hands Committee or designated representative. All decisions are final.
12. The disbursement of funds is contingent upon the amount of funds available.
13. Monies granted will be paid directly to the vendor.  Money will not be given directly to the applicant.
14. The review of applications and decisions rendered will be non-discriminatory.

How can I contribute to Helping Hands?

To contribute to Helping Hands, indicate your choice on the Community Giving Campaign contribution form (given to you at your New Hire Orientation, or by Campaign Ambassador during the annual Henry Ford Health System's Community Giving Campaign, or you may go to the HFHS intranet site.)  Your donation is tax deductible.

How do I know my contribution is helping?

To show your contributions to Helping Hands benefit others, employee publications across the System will periodically feature stories about Helping Hands' recipients.

For more information about Helping Hands, contact your local Human Resources department.