The United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma strives to provide services to enhance the lives of tribal members. Funds generated by tribal enterprises as well as various federal grants make it possible for the Band to provide these services. For more information regarding any of the available programs, please contact the Director of the program or department.
Child Care Assistance Program
The objective of the Child Care Assistance Program is to increase the availability, affordability, and quality of child care services. Such activities will enable Indian families to maintain or achieve self-sufficiency through employment and training and to increase their earnings.
Education Assistance
The United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma Department of Education provides financial assistance to exclusive tribal members. Services include tuition assistance for college and technical students, high school expenses, and elementary education expenses.
Elder Assistance Program
The Elder Assistance Program provides financial assistance to elderly members of the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokees. This assistance is distributed each summer and winter. The assistance amount is currently $200.00 per elder. This program is made possible by revenue generated by the Keetoowah Cherokee Gaming Enterprise.
Elder Nutrition Center
The Elder Nutrition Center provides daily meal services to elderly tribal members. The Elder Nutrition Center also provides meals on wheels services for home-bound elders. Additional services such as field trips, holiday parties, and more are available
Environmental Protection
The Keetoowah Cherokee Environmental Protection Agency provides water testing services, environmental education and awareness seminars, and also monitors local water bodies to protect the quality of the water sources.
Health & Human Services
The Department of Health & Human Services provides utility assistance to low-income families, medical, vision, dental, emergency medical travel, burial, medical disability assistance, and crisis intervention assistance. Priority is given to elderly tribal members age 55 and up.
Helping Hands Elderly Services
The United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma Helping Hands Elder Services program provides respite care assistance for disabled tribal members. The Caregiver program is designed to provide secondary relief to caregiver providers to tribal members.
Housing Services
The United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians Housing Department is operated under a federal grant from the United States Department of Housing & Urban Development. Contingent upon availability of funds, the Housing Department offers assistance including Emergency Rehab, Rental Assistance, Mortgage Assistance, and Home Ownership Assistance.
Indian Child Welfare
In Accordance with the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), our Indian Child Welfare program works on behalf of our Keetoowah Cherokee children and their families. Our social workers join with state workers and the courts in working to insure safe and healthy homes for the children. This includes finding Keetoowah Cherokee foster and adoptive homes to prevent placement in non-Indian homes. The Indian Child Welfare program is an advocate for residents in the 14 counties and serves Keetoowah Cherokee children nationwide.
Lighthorse Tribal Police
The United Keetoowah Band Lighthorse Tribal Police is the police department of the United Keetoowah Band. The Lighthorse provide security to tribal properties as well as assistance to local, county, state and federal law enforcement agencies upon request of the particular agency. Under the direction of Lighthorse Director David McCarter, the UKB Lighthorse have nine officers who provide invaluable services to the members of the Band as well as the surrounding communities.
Tribal Victims Assistance
The Tribal Victims Assistance Program provides counseling and advocates to victims of violent crimes. The Tribal Victims Assistance program is available to tribal members and their children and is designed to provide and promote safe and stable living conditions.
