ᎠᏂᏴᏫᏯ ᏗᏂᏲᏟ ᏗᏂᏍᏕᎵᏍᎩ

• ᎣᏪᏅᏒ >
• ᏂᎦᏓ ᎢᏳᎾᏓᏛᏁᏗᎢ >
• ᎠᏂᏴᏫᏯ ᏗᏂᏲᏟ ᏗᏂᏍᏕᎵᏍᎩ >
• ᎠᏲᎵ ᎠᎦᏎᏍᏙᏗ ᎢᏳᎵᏍᏔᏅ / ᎤᏘᏅᏅ ᎤᏓᎦᏴᎵᎨᎢ

When an application is received to become a resource home, the applicants will be assessed by the certification unit to ensure they meet qualifications. Some of the key criteria are listed in this section: 

Citizenship

 Basic qualification requirements include enrollment of the applicant (or spouse) as a citizen of Cherokee Nation or another federally recognized Indian tribe, or a relative of a child in the custody of the tribe or state. Cherokee Nation Indian Child Welfare reserves the right to deviate from these qualifications for the purpose of serving the best interests of children and maintaining compliance with the Indian Child Welfare Act. 

Background Investigations

Each member of the resource family household and any individual who assists with the care and supervision of children, age 18 or over, shall submit to a background investigation and should be free from unacceptable criminal and child welfare backgrounds. Background investigations include submitting to state background checks, fingerprinting, child welfare history checks, local law enforcement checks, electronic database criminal searches, as well as clearance from at least six personal references. 

NOTE: If the applicants are adoptive only, there is a nominal charge to complete fingerprinting and state background checks.

Health

Each member of the resource family household or any individual, who assists with the care and supervision of Cherokee children, shall be in sufficiently good physical and mental health to provide necessary care for a child. 
• Resource parents must have a physical examination prior to certification. 

Age

The minimum age to become a placement resource home is 21. 

Income

The resource family should have sufficient income to meet their own family's basic needs before any planned additions to the household are considered

Employment

When parents are employed, suitable plans for day care and/or supervision of the child must be approved by Cherokee Nation.

Cultural Values

Resource families must respect and support the child’s cultural heritage by providing similar cultural experiences whenever possible.

References

A minimum of six references is required for certification

Assessment of the Home Environment 

An assessment of the applicant’s home will be made to ensure it is safe and appropriate for the placement of children. 

For more information or to make an application, please mail homes4kids@cherokee.org or visit Homes for Cherokee Kids. 

To see updates on our program, "like" us on www.facebook.com/Homesforcherokeekids .