Parents and guardians applying for subsidy for the first time may apply in person, by email or fax. Clients recertifying may submit documents by mail, email or fax to their assigned caseworker. There are 4 subsidy offices (including the Tahlequah office) and 2 drop off locations. 

Eligibility Guidelines:

1. Parents/Guardians must be working, going to school, in need of protective services and/or actively participating in a structured job search for the purpose of obtaining employment. Includes: high school, college, post-graduate work, GED preparation, Vo-tech, and job skills training programs
2. Household income must be at or below the amount listed for your family size to receive assistance paying child care expenses. See Income Guidelines in the downloads section below.
3. Parent and/or child have proof of citizenship in a federally recognized tribe.
4. Family lives within the Cherokee Nation Child Care & Development Service Area. The Cherokee Nation Child Care & Development Service Area consists of 14 counties in extreme northeastern Oklahoma.
5. Children may not be older than 12 years of age. However, children with special needs may qualify for services up to age 19. A child with special needs is any child who has a documented medical disability that requires special care.
6. The parent/guardian must use a child care facility or relative provider contracted with the Cherokee Nation.
7. The parent/guardian will need to bring the documents listed on the Required Document List.

How to Apply for Subsidy:

Clients need the following information and forms:

• Print Required Document List and gather applicable documents
• Print and complete Subsidy Client Information Form
• Print and complete the Client Responsibility Form
• Print and complete the Employment Verification Form
• Forms are located in the download section below.

Once complete, please contact your nearest subsidy office location (see Subsidy Office
Locations below) for caseworker contact information and how to submit your
documents.

Clients recertifying may submit documents by mail, email or fax to their assigned caseworker.

If the parent/guardian subsidy application is approved, certification lasts up to 12 months.

Documents needed to apply for child care subsidy:

Parent/guardians must provide all information listed on the Required Document List for your child care subsidy application to be approved. Documents on this list include:

• proof of citizenship in a federally recognized tribe
• birth certificate
• proof of residence
• income verification
• school schedule (if applicable)
• custody (if applicable)
• Client Responsibility Form
• Employment Verification Form

Child Care & Development Service Area

The Cherokee Nation Child Care & Development service area extends beyond the traditional boundaries of the Cherokee Nation in northeastern Oklahoma to include all portions of the fourteen counties listed below:

• Adair
• Cherokee
• Craig
• Delaware
• Mayes
• McIntosh
• Muskogee
• Nowata
• Ottawa
• Rogers
• Sequoyah
• Tulsa
• Wagoner 
• Washington