Saint Francis Hospital is the third Safe Haven Baby Box (SHBB) location in Oklahoma, and the only location in Tulsa.
The Safe Haven Baby Box at Saint Francis Hospital offers families in crisis a way to legally, lovingly, and anonymously surrender an infant that they cannot care for.
Located at Saint Francis Hospital: 6161 South Yale Avenue, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74136
On the south side of the hospital campus near the Emergency Department parking and the ambulance bay
IN OKLAHOMA, NO PARENT SHOULD EVER FEEL THEY HAVE TO ABANDON THEIR BABY. UNDER THE SAFE HAVEN LAW, A DISTRESSED PARENT WHO IS UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO CARE FOR THEIR INFANT CAN ANONYMOUSLY AND SAFELY GIVE UP CUSTODY OF THEIR BABY — NO QUESTIONS ASKED.
*Oklahoma law only allows for the surrender of an infant 30 days old or younger, unharmed, and healthy.
*The person surrendering the infant is strongly encouraged to leave medical records or relevant history related to the child or parents of the child. This helps ensure the child receives proper care — both now and in the future. Supplying records with the surrendered infant will not affect parental anonymity.
Saint Francis Health System is committed to supporting anonymity of a person who surrenders a baby to the baby box on the Saint Francis Hospital campus. Security cameras are positioned so the person surrendering will NOT be recorded. No alarm will be audible outside or near the person surrendering the baby.
FAQs
Is the Safe Haven Baby Box safe?
The baby box is a climate controlled, ventilated, and clean medical bassinet, with safe-sleep-approved bedding waiting to receive an infant placed inside. Saint Francis Hospital tests the box weekly. Hospital staff is trained in its operation and in the protocol for when a baby is surrendered.
What happens when a baby is placed inside the Baby Box at Saint Francis Hospital?
The door automatically locks when it is closed with an infant placed inside the SHBB. A silent alarm notifies the emergency department, neonatal intensive care, and labor and delivery staff, who immediately attend to the baby. The baby will have a medical evaluation before being given to child protective services. The Oklahoma Department of Human Services will get custody with a court order.
What protections are in place for the person who places a baby in the Safe Haven Baby Box at Saint Francis Hospital?
Oklahoma law allows a parent to surrender an infant in certain safe places and/or to certain people if it is up to 30 days old and healthy. Saint Francis Hospital Policy protects the anonymity of the person surrendering the infant by keeping security cameras positioned away from the baby box. The alarm that notifies medical staff of a baby is not audible near the baby box. Saint Francis staff is trained to respect the anonymity of the person surrendering a baby, should they see someone do so. They are also trained on Oklahoma’s Safe Haven Law. A person surrendering a baby at Saint Francis as the law permits will not be stopped or questioned.
What if a parent who surrenders their infant to a Safe Haven Baby Box changes their mind?
They may ask for the child's return. The parent should contact their local DHS office: https://www.okdhs.org.
What other resources are there for families and mothers in crisis?
- Safe Haven Baby Box National Hotline: 1-866-99BABY1 for free and confidential counseling, tailored to the specifics of each state's Safe Haven Law
- Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma: offers many different kinds of resources for families from food to counseling
- Family & Children’s Services: offers maternal mental health services among many other services for families
- Tulsa Responds: offers free tax filing and benefits enrollment services, including SNAP and SoonerCare
- DVIS: Domestic Violence Intervention Services
- CAN: Child Advocacy Network provides collaborative intervention services to child abuse victims and resources for caregivers
More About Safe Haven Laws
Read the full Oklahoma Safe Haven Law HERE
Important note about Oklahoma's Safe Haven Law: Baby boxes are not the only option for parents in crisis. The law permits a parent or person acting on their behalf to surrender an infant to the following people/places:
- A medical services provider, including a physician's assistant or nurse practitioner, a registered or practical nurse, and a nurse aide.
- A child rescuer, including any employee or other designated person on duty at a police station, fire station, child protective services agency, hospital, or other medical facility.
This Safe Haven Baby Box location is intended to give parents in crisis an additional legal option with the highest level of anonymity.