STANLEY Security completes security system upgrade for Believe In Tomorrow Children’s Foundation

STANLEY Security, a manufacturer and integrator of security solutions, has completed a fully integrated security system upgrade that benefits Believe In Tomorrow’s hospital housing programme for families of children receiving treatment at the world-renowned Johns Hopkins Children’s Center in Baltimore, Maryland. The hospital housing facilities that received significant security enhancements are the Believe In Tomorrow Children’s House at Johns Hopkins and the Believe In Tomorrow House at St. Casimir.

Upgrade for outdated security system

Discussions began late last year between Believe In Tomorrow Children’s Foundation and STANLEY Security when it was determined that both facilities’ security systems were far outdated. To provide a more secure environment for families utilising this housing, both located in the midst of downtown Baltimore, STANLEY Security donated their time to upgrade each system including the installation and project management.

With the strategic support and product donations by vendor partners ASSA ABLOY, Axis Communications and Bosch Security Systems, who provided locks, cameras and a monitored panic system, respectively, the contribution totaled approximately $70,000 in time and materials.

Located less than two blocks from the hospital, the Believe In Tomorrow Children’s House at Johns Hopkins is the cornerstone of Believe In Tomorrow’s hospital housing programme, accommodating up to 15 families a night with 2,000 overnight stays monthly from every state in the U.S. and over 82 countries.

Installing access control and CCTV

The Believe In Tomorrow Children’s House at Johns Hopkins, opened in 1992, is communal housing with heavy foot traffic in and out, at all hours. To begin updating its antiquated security system, 16 new ASSA ABLOY Wi-Fi access control locks were installed for the common area entrances and individual suites. Fifteen cameras throughout the building, including indoor and outdoor, were updated to Axis Companion Eye.

The Believe In Tomorrow House at St. Casimir, opened in 2006, is the first house in the U.S. dedicated exclusively to bone marrow transplant children and their families. With seven individual apartments, each including a kitchen, living room, bedroom and bathroom, the Believe In Tomorrow House at St. Casimir encourages families to resume a normal, independent lifestyle, while caring for their children during non-hospitalisation periods.

Due to ongoing and potentially immediate medical needs, Bosch RADION panic buttons that are integrated with Bosch B Series alarm systems, were installed in every apartment in the event of a security or medical emergency. All apartments, plus the main entry door, were upgraded to ASSA ABLOY locks and integrated into a lock management software programme, while 15 new Axis Communications cameras were installed throughout the building. All 30 cameras in Believe In Tomorrow’s hospital housing will be monitored by STANLEY Security at a central monitoring location.

Families feel safe in times of medical crisis

Dave Pruitt, Vice President of Sales at STANLEY Security and a Believe In Tomorrow Children’s Foundation board member for 17 years, brought the idea of updating the systems to a comprehensive, integrated platform to the attention of STANLEY Security, who immediately agreed to make it happen. In short order, STANLEY Security’s vendors stepped up as well, and together they provided a cutting-edge solution for the two facilities.

“We are thankful to STANLEY Security, ASSA ABLOY, Axis Communications and Bosch for providing us with a comprehensive solution – and, so quickly – that will help keep the families we serve safer,” said Maryanne Davis, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Believe In Tomorrow Children’s Foundation. “We strive to provide an environment where families find comfort, hope and joy -- and our updated security systems will help us support that goal.”

“With the help from our vendor partners and the integration team at STANLEY Security, we provided Believe In Tomorrow Children’s Foundation with more than updated systems; we are giving the families a place to feel safe and secure during their children’s medical crisis,” said Pruitt. “At STANLEY, we understand the importance of a secure place to call home and we look forward to being a part of the great work this organisation does to fill the housing needs for families coming from around the world for medical care at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center.”