Employees at Saint Francis heard the alarm for the first time that alerts them that a baby had been dropped off at the box installed on its campus in March 2025.
The Safe Haven Baby Box at Saint Francis Hospital, the first installed in northeast Oklahoma, allows a parent to legally and anonymously surrender an unharmed infant up to 30 days old, without having to interact with anyone.
This is the first dropoff in Oklahoma.
“We are grateful this parent knew there was a safe place to turn and we want others who may be facing similar circumstances to know they have that option, too, said Doug Williams, president of Saint Francis Hospital.
The box is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and is located on the south side of Saint Francis Hospital, between the emergency center entrance and ambulance bays.
The baby box is climate-controlled and ventilated medical bassinet.
When an infant is placed inside and the exterior door is closed, the door automatically locks and a silent alarm alerts hospital staff, which responds immediately to care for the child.
Under Oklahoma’s Safe Haven Law, parents may legally surrender an unharmed infant 30 days old or younger at designated locations without fear of prosecution for abandonment based solely on the surrender.
Once an infant is received at Saint Francis, medical professionals evaluate the baby and coordinate with the Oklahoma Department of Human Services for the child’s continued care.
