TAHLEQUAH, OK – The Cherokee Nation this week celebrated the grand opening of its new 40,000 sq. ft. Cherokee Nation Indian Child Welfare (ICW) office in Tahlequah. The building located on South Muskogee Avenue, was previously a store that Cherokee Nation purchased, remodeled and will serve as expanded space for more than 70 ICW employees. Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr., Cabinet and Council of the Cherokee Nation, along with ICW employees, cut a ribbon on the new office location.
“The children who need foster care and support deserve to live in dignity,” said Chief Hoskin. “They deserve to have the Cherokee Nation provide a blanket of protection and support, and the employees who work every day to provide that protection and support deserve to have the resources they need to do so, and that is what this new space aims to provide.”
While the Tahlequah ICW office has about 70 employees, the space can hold up to 98 employees. The construction project was completed in just under two years and features 6,000 sq. ft. of storage space with a drive-up loading dock, conference rooms, classrooms, visitation rooms, an indoor playroom and two outdoor playgrounds. The building also underwent a facelift, featuring a new roof, siding, and windows, along with a rural design incorporating modern, industrial elements. It has new breakrooms, fridges, freezers, and other appliances.
“The Cherokee Nation Indian Child Welfare team is such a giving group of people who work tirelessly to advocate for safe and culturally grounded environments for our Cherokee children,” said Deputy Chief Bryan Warner. “They have creative ways to bring awareness and education to the public about foster care and adoptions. This building reflects our pride in the care they have for children, and the passion they have for getting the community involved in protecting the next generation.”
Cherokee Nation ICW currently has 1,107 children they are involved with, in either tribal court, Oklahoma state courts, and throughout the U.S. The department processes around 1,400 notifications a month from child welfare agencies, inquiring if a child is Cherokee, enabling ICWA to apply to the case. The tribe also currently has 95 active Cherokee foster homes in Oklahoma and Arkansas.
“The work that Cherokee Nation ICW does is something the Council is overwhelmingly supportive of,” said Speaker of the Council Johnny Jack Kidwell. “I am so grateful we are able to uplift this critical department and their many positive endeavors for our Cherokee youth and families. This facility has been needed for many years to better support the staff and their mission. This will be a place that not only provides a comfortable work environment for our employees, but also will be a warm and welcoming place for those who require ICW assistance.”
The ICW department provides a variety of protective and supportive services to Cherokee children and their families. They also provide parenting classes and cultural connection for families and children they work with, which includes equine and art therapy. The tribe has other satellite ICW offices located across the reservation in Pryor, Sallisaw, Stillwell, and Catoosa.
“Our program is dedicated to protecting the rights of our Cherokee children and families,” said Sally Wilson, ICW Director. “With the Indian Child Welfare Act as our guide, our mission is to ensure that Cherokee children remain connected to their heritage, community and identity. We work in partnership with foster families, tribal communities and state agencies to support family preservation and promote the best interests of our Cherokee children. This new facility strengthens our ability to serve our families in meaningful ways. It gives us the tools and a place to provide trauma-informed care, to hold family visits in a safe and welcoming space, and to bring our teams together under one roof for collaboration and support. I thank the Hoskin-Warner administration for their support in our goals and for fostering the Cherokee values we need in our department and community.”
As part of a key ICW initiative, the Hoskin-Warner administration launched the Cherokee Nation’s Fostering HOPE program back in 2022 as a pilot program funded by the tribe’s ‘Respond, Recover, and Rebuild’ plan. Chief Hoskin affirmed the program’s continuation earlier this year during Foster Care Awareness Month.
