Saint Francis Hospital is the only Safe Haven Baby Box (SHBB) location in northeast Oklahoma.
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, between the emergency center entrance and ambulance bays, across the roadway from the emergency center parking lot P4.
IN OKLAHOMA, NO PARENT SHOULD FEEL THEY HAVE TO UNSAFELY 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 SURRENDER CUSTODY—NO QUESTIONS ASKED.
*Oklahoma law only protects a parent surrendering an infant up to 30 days old and unharmed.
*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 now and in the future.
Saint Francis Health System is committed to supporting the anonymity of a person surrendering an unharmed infant up to 30 days old in the baby box on the Saint Francis Hospital campus. Security cameras are positioned to NOT record the person surrendering. No alarm will be audible outside or near the person surrendering the baby.
How The Process Works
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 and hospital staff is trained in its operation and 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 inside the SHBB. A silent alarm notifies medical 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 attempt to 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 protects parents surrendering an infant in certain safe places and/or to certain people if the infant is up to 30 days old and unharmed. Saint Francis Hospital policy protects the anonymity of the person surrendering the infant by positioning security cameras 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. If staff has the opportunity, they may request pertinent medical information, but otherwise the person surrendering a baby at Saint Francis Hospital 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.
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.
Other Resources For Families 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 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 provides help for persons experiencing domestic violence
- CAN: Child Advocacy Network provides collaborative intervention services to child abuse victims and resources for caregivers