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Tulsa Community Foundation gifted $2.14 million to the State of Oklahoma today to be used in developing the new Tulsa County Emergency Children's Shelter. The gift check was given to Oklahoma Cabinet Secretary for Human Services Howard Hendrick during groundbreaking ceremonies for the shelter's campus, which will be built at 7500 E. Pine, Tulsa, Okla. Hendrick is also director of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS).



Hendrick said, "This gift is truly appreciated and will be put to excellent use to serve children in Tulsa County for many years to come."

The funds were raised through a community-wide Capital and Endowment campaign spearheaded by Tulsa Advocates for the Protection of Children. This is the largest private gift of record given to the OKDHS on behalf of Oklahoma children.

The gift will be used to build an additional cottage at the new Tulsa County Emergency Children's Shelter. The funds will also help with building a gymnasium, basketball court, bike paths, in addition to adding lighting and fencing around the campus.



The current emergency shelter, the Laura Dester Children's Shelter, is located in the old Tulsa Boys Home, which was constructed in 1948.The physical facilities are no longer in the best condition to meet the growing needs of children placed there for emergency care while in state custody. Nor can the old construction be properly secured or modified to meet construction codes or security needs of today.

The current shelter receives some 1,500 children annually. The shelter is used to care for children who are in the custody of the state for alleged abuse or neglect.

The current facility is designed for short-term emergency care while child welfare specialists conduct investigations and to hold children while staff look for suitable foster care placements for those coming into state custody.

The new Tulsa County Emergency Children's Shelter will be made up of four cottages and an administration building, totaling some 48,200 square feet and will be constructed on a 20-acre site at the east Pine address. The new shelter will have a licensed capacity to hold 60 children in emergency care.

The shelter campus is being developed by Kinslow, Keith & Todd, Inc. Architects and constructed by Oscar J. Boldt Construction. The total cost of the new shelter is estimated at $10.7 million.