Pregnant mothers who meet income guidelines can enroll in the WIC program at any Cherokee Nation health center. WIC provides nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and resources to help families purchase healthy foods from participating grocery stores and farmers markets. Participants may also apply for the First Steps to Hope program, which offers cash supplements for 18 months to support new families.

In addition, Cherokee Nation offers Cherokee Connections – Cherokee Parents, a free home-visiting program for expectant parents and caregivers of children ages 0–5. This program provides weekly in-home visits focused on health, safety, and parent–child interaction, helping families build strong foundations from pregnancy through early childhood.

After receiving a birth certificate, registering your child as a Cherokee Nation citizen is an important step to unlock many services that will benefit them throughout their life. Registration is not automatic—parents are responsible for completing this process 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. You can register your child by mail or in person at the W.W. Keeler Complex in Tahlequah.

Cherokee Nation provides a range of health resources to support your child’s physical and emotional well-being. The HERO Project offers outpatient counseling and support services for families with children from newborn to 21 years of age who are citizens of a federally recognized tribe. To access care, you can register as a patient and find the nearest health center for pediatric services, immunizations, and wellness visits. Additional public health programs include WIC, vaccinations, community nutrition, and breastfeeding support to help families maintain healthy lifestyles.

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.

Cherokee Nation’s Child Care and Development program operates several child care facilities and offers several services designed to support families. These include Resource and Referral, which helps parents locate quality child care providers; Licensing, which ensures child care centers meet safety and quality standards; and the Subsidy Program, which assists eligible families with the cost of child care. The goal of Child Care and Development is to increase the availability, affordability, and quality of child care while providing training opportunities for parents.

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, Cherokee Nation offers early education opportunities through Head Start and Early Head Start programs, which provide a strong foundation for learning and development. Families also have the option to enroll their child in an immersive Cherokee language environment at the Durbin Feeling Language Center, beginning in pre-kindergarten at age 4, to help preserve and strengthen Cherokee language and culture. For older students, Sequoyah Schools serves grades 8 through 12, offering a college-preparatory curriculum with cultural enrichment. Additionally, Camp Cherokee provides summer programs for children of all grade levels, combining fun activities with cultural and educational experiences.

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.