OU Health's New Children's Behavioral Health Center Is Hiring 400+ in OKC

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK — The biggest new building on the Health Sciences Center campus this year is not a research tower. It is the state's first comprehensive pediatric behavioral health center, and OU Health says staffing it will take more than 400 new hires. Oklahoma Children's Hospital OU Health Behavioral Health Center is scheduled to open in December 2026, which puts the hiring window squarely in the next two months.

A $140.6 million, 72-bed pediatric behavioral health center opens next to Oklahoma Children's Hospital in December, and OU Health is recruiting nurses, behavioral health techs, therapists, social workers, security and support staff now.

Ready to apply? Jump to the OKC behavioral health job links →

📍 At a Glance

Business	Oklahoma Children's Hospital OU Health Behavioral Health Center
Opens	December 2026 (scheduled)
Location	Adjacent to Oklahoma Children's Hospital, OU Health Sciences Center campus, Oklahoma City
Size	About 172,000 square feet, 72 inpatient beds
Concept	Inpatient, partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient mental health care for children and teens
Owner	OU Health
Industry	Health care, behavioral health
New jobs	400+, per OU Health

What's Opening Northeast of Downtown

OU Health broke ground in November 2023 on the lot next to Oklahoma Children's Hospital, on the Health Sciences Center campus northeast of downtown, a short hop off I-235. The finished building runs about 172,000 square feet with two floors of inpatient units: six beds for patients on the autism spectrum, 12 for children ages 5 to 12, and 54 for ages 12 to 17. Outpatient and day programs share the building.

The money came from the Legislature, federal funds, the University Hospitals Authority and Trust, and a philanthropic campaign backed by names like the Gaylord Family Foundation and Devon Energy. The point, in the words of Dr. Richard Lofgren, who led OU Health when the project broke ground, is that "no Oklahoman should need to leave the state for mental health care."

🔥 Who OU Health Is Recruiting

OU Health's pediatric behavioral health recruitment page lists the roles it is filling for the new center:

Registered nurses
Behavioral health technicians
Behavioral health therapists and social workers, including care managers
Physicians, child psychologists and advanced practice providers
Security officers
Support staff

That spread matters. Physician and psychologist slots go to a small, national pool. Behavioral health tech, security and support roles are the openings most OKC job seekers can actually step into, and a 72-bed inpatient unit staffed around the clock needs a lot of them.

OU Health has not published pay ranges or sign-on bonuses on its recruitment page, so ask a recruiter directly. You can reach the talent team at (405) 271-4700 or Talent@OUHealth.com, or apply through OU Health Careers.

🎓 Teachers Go Through OKCPS, Not OU Health

Kids in treatment still have school. Oklahoma City Public Schools is placing seven teachers at the center to run classrooms for each unit, serving students ages 5 to 17 and coordinating IEPs and 504 plans with their home schools. Those general and special education jobs are posted by the district, not the hospital, so certified teachers should apply through OKCPS careers. As of late May, the district said it was still looking to fill them.

💪 Why It's Worth a Look

New units mean new teams. Everyone on the floor in December starts on the same day, which is about as close to a level playing field as hospital hiring gets. For a behavioral health tech or new-grad nurse, a purpose-built pediatric unit is a rare place to build that specialty from day one.

Be honest with yourself about the work, though. Inpatient pediatric psych is demanding. Ask about training, ratios and shifts before you sign.

🔎 Start Searching Behavioral Health Jobs in OKC

OU Health is the anchor, but every health system in the metro hires these skill sets. Cast a wide net.

Start here:

OU Health Behavioral Health Center FAQ

When does the new children's behavioral health center open?

OU Health has scheduled the opening for December 2026. No exact day has been announced.

How many jobs is OU Health hiring for?

OU Health says the center brings more than 400 new jobs to Oklahoma City. It has not broken that number down by role.

Is there a hiring event?

OU Health held a recruitment event for the center in June. None is currently on its events calendar, so apply online or call the talent team at (405) 271-4700.

Where do teachers apply?

Through Oklahoma City Public Schools. The district, not OU Health, hires the center's seven classroom teachers.

Get in Line Before December

Opening-day teams fill early. Create a free LocalJobPage account to get Oklahoma City health care openings as they post, or browse the full OKC job board today.

Employers: staffing up in central Oklahoma? Post your openings here and reach OKC job seekers directly.