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Tulsa hospital reports Oklahoma’s first Safe Haven Baby Box surrender
A newborn was placed in the Safe Haven Baby Box at St. Francis Children’s Hospital in Tulsa, marking the first reported use of one in Oklahoma. Hospital staff said the baby is safe and on the road to adoption; identifying details have not been released.
A newborn was surrendered through a Safe Haven Baby Box at St. Francis Children’s Hospital in Tulsa, the first reported use of one of the devices in Oklahoma, officials said Oct. 26, 2026.
The box was installed at the hospital in March 2025. Its alarm activated when the baby was placed inside, according to the announcement. The newborn is safe and on the road to adoption, officials said. No information about the baby or the people involved has been made public.
Safe Haven Baby Boxes are climate-controlled compartments that lock when a baby is placed inside and alert staff. Monica Kelsey, the organization’s founder and CEO, called the decision to use the Tulsa box “an act of love,” saying the mother chose “safety” and “hope.”
Boxes have also been installed elsewhere in Oklahoma, including three in Oklahoma City. The organization said more than 480 boxes are installed in 27 states.