Choosing appropriate child care is one of the most important decisions parents make. Many factors merit careful consideration in order to best meet the needs of your child and your family. Finding the right child care provider can be a labor-intensive process but the end result is worth the effort.

In the right atmosphere, children build relationships with caregivers and other children, developing and growing alongside their peers. Parents may relax knowing their child is well cared for in a safe, nurturing and educational environment. 

The Cherokee Nation cares deeply about the development and well-being of its youngest citizens. To ensure a happy, healthy nation for future generations, the Cherokee Nation is committed to providing quality child development and child care services. Training, licensing, monitoring, educational resources and subsidies are just some of the services provided by the Cherokee Nation’s child care and development center.  

The center offers the following programs and helpful information:
Child Care Licensing and Monitoring
The Cherokee Nation inspects, approves, registers and monitors child care centers and homes contracting with it to provide care for Indian children who qualify for subsidy assistance. Case workers ensure that each facility is in compliance with state health and safety regulations and meets the tribe's high standards for quality and care.
Child Care Subsidies
The Child Care & Development Center provides financial assistance to eligible Indian families. Upon meeting eligibility requirements, the Cherokee Nation can pay part of the cost of child care and assist parents in finding and enrolling their children in an appropriate child care program of their choice. 
Child Care Resource Center
The Child Care Resource Center is a community service organization that works with parents, child care providers, businesses and community organizations to promote the availability of quality child care services in the area. The child care resource center provides parents with child care referrals and information on how to evaluate quality child care. The center also provides resources on various parenting issues. Child care referral is a free service and information collected from families is confidential. The center offers child care providers access to valuable training and support services for new or established programs. 

Referral Services are available to any person regardless of their race or nationality in the Cherokee Nation’s 14 county service area in Northeastern Oklahoma. That service area includes Adair, Cherokee, Craig, Delaware, Mayes, McIntosh, Muskogee, Nowata, Ottawa, Rogers, Sequoyah, Tulsa, Wagoner, and Washington counties. Additionally, the Child Care Resource Center provides service in Okmulgee County. 

The Child Care Resource Center provides referrals ONLY. The center does not endorse or recommend any specific child care home or service provider. Parents are encouraged to contact their local DHS office for provider history. 

The Child Care Resource Center can provide child care referrals by calling 1-888-458-6230 Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Voice mail is available after hours and your call will be returned the following business day. Questions can also be emailed to ccrc@cherokee.org
Cherokee Connections
Cherokees have always been a family-oriented and close-knit community, often caring for one another in times of need.  Cherokee Connections is a way to help support and develop those close family member-caregiver relationships, focusing on relatives who are caregivers for children while the parents work or pursue an education. 

Cherokee Connections strives to help those caregivers through a variety of learning opportunities, while promoting Cherokee language and culture. Some services focus specifically on enriching the Cherokee language and culture, such as language incentives and “Cherokee Only” play and learn groups. 

Cherokee Connections offers three programs:
Play & Learn
At Play & Learn sites, relative caregivers, parents, and children come together to enjoy fun and educational activities. Cherokee Nation will set up a variety of learning opportunities at the Play & Learn site, incorporating Cherokee culture and language into the activities, which both children and their caregivers can enjoy. Group time and snacks are included in the activities. Play & Learn sites are available in Cherokee, Adair and Sequoyah counties. New attendees are encouraged to attend and each person receives a welcome kit just visiting. 

Play & Learn sites


Kids Connections Office
816 S. College Ave., Tahlequah
Monday & Wednesday—9:00-11:00 a.m.


Sequoyah County Health Department
612 N. Oak, Sallisaw
Monday & Wednesday—1:30-3:30 p.m.


Stilwell Public Library
Corner of Division & Sixth Street
Tuesday & Thursday—9:30-11:00 a.m. 

  and

Cherokee Only Play & Learn Groups
Tuesday & Thursday—1:00-3:30 p.m. 
Home Visits
Home visits are available to relatives providing child care (license exempt) in the 14-county service area that are registered and contracted with the Cherokee Nation Child Care Licensing Program. Cherokee Nation Early Childhood Educators make monthly visits to homes of providers who are caring for their grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews or siblings. This program serves all children 12 and under in the home. Educators work with providers to encourage the school readiness skills and each visit lasts about one hour.  A new topic of interest to the provider and children is provided each month. Materials and information on the topic are provided, along with learning activities, toys, music and children’s books. 

Incentives—Participants in the home visiting program may be eligible for financial incentives based on four areas.  

•  Improving health and safety 
•  Providing school readiness skills 
•  Strengthening Cherokee Connections (including language & culture)
•  Completion of 25 hours of training

Up to $550 is available to the provider for completing various activities related to the focus areas. 

Material Check Out—Upon completion of the 12 month home visit program, providers can continue in the program on their own by checking out materials including learning activities, books and toys. Activities may be kept for one month and returned to the lending library. 

Mentors—Graduates of the home visit program have the opportunity to assist in mentoring new caregivers at network meetings and Play & Learn Groups. 
Language Incentives
Without major initiatives to revitalize the Cherokee language, experts believe the language could be lost within two generations. Native speakers who may be caring for children in their homes have an opportunity to help the Cherokee language thrive by teaching Cherokee to the children they’re caring for. By teaching children in the Cherokee language for a minimum of 7-9 hours per week, relative caregivers can earn an incentive of $50 per month. For native speakers that work with children in the Cherokee language at least 90 percent of the time, an incentive of $100 per month is available.