Pregnant mothers who meet income guidelines can register for the WIC program at any Cherokee Nation health center for resources and assistance buying healthy foods from participating grocery stores and farmers markets. WIC participants can also apply to the First Steps to Hope program which provides cash supplements for 18 months to care for new families.

After receiving a birth certificate, registering your child as a Cherokee Nation citizen is an important step for unlocking many services that will benefit them throughout their life. Registration is not automatic. Parents are responsible for registering their child even if their child was born at an Indian Health Service or tribal hospital. Adoptive parents can also register their child based on the eligibility of the child’s biological Cherokee parents.

Children of Cherokee Nation citizens or children with Cherokee Nation citizenship are eligible for healthcare through Cherokee Nation Health Services. 

Parents with children up to 5 years old can receive convenient in-home visits for 20 weeks from a parent educator offering early childhood support through Cherokee PARENTS. Parents may also receive assistance buying healthy foods from participating grocery stores and farmers markets from the WIC program if they meet income guidelines.

During the holidays, parents who meet income guidelines may also receive assistance purchasing Christmas gifts for children 18 and under through the Angel Project.

As you return to work, you may wish to identify care options for your child. The Reaching for the Stars rating system allows you to evaluate the quality of childcare centers. Additionally, the Child Care Resource Center can provide free child care referrals across the 14 county service area matched with your family needs.

If you are caring for your relatives’ children 12 and under while their parents go to work or school, Cherokee Connections provides a year-long monthly home visit program to support learning opportunities for children if you become an Exempt Relative Provider.

When your child is ready to start school, there are options to enroll your child in an immersive Cherokee language environment at the Sequoyah Schools starting in pre-kindergarten at age 4. Summer camp is also offered for children at all grade levels through Camp Cherokee.

New parents and guardians may find themselves in need of additional support when caring for children. The Circle of Security Parenting Program equips parents with children under 7 years with evidence-based training on how to read your child’s developmental and emotional needs. Additional mental and community resource support is available through Cherokee Nation Behavioral Health.