Answer: A criminal background check is required on each person over the age of eighteen living in the home. The adoptive parent is responsible for the fee necessary to obtain this information. Currently the fee is $15.00 per person, however, this is subject to change. Fingerprinting is also required on each person over the age of eighteen living in the home. The adoptive parent is responsible for this fee also. Currently the fee for fingerprinting is $22.

Answer: A waiting list is maintained that registers the inquiry of each potential adoptive family as they contact our adoption unit. We contact the families for certification in the order that their inquiry is received. The waiting list averages approximately one hundred names at any given time and we get to them as soon as humanly possible. See similar questions...

Answer: No. We serve Indian families of varying degrees of blood-quantum. During placement, we do try to match up, to the best of our ability, the blood-quantum of the child with the blood-quantum of the adoptive parent. See similar questions...

Answer: No. While Cherokee Nation gives priority to certification of families of Cherokee descent, we actively recruit families associated with other federally recognized tribes. We also work closely with other tribal agencies and have provided families for other tribal children in the past. See similar questions...

Answer: No. To be eligible for our program at least one of the prospective adoptive parents must be able to prove enrollment in a federally recognized tribe. See similar questions...

Answer: Yes. Of course these applicants must be Indian and will be considered like anyone else on their ability to meet a child's particular needs. See similar questions...

Answer: First, Cherokee Nation works extensively with birthmother's wishing to voluntarily relinquish their parental rights. Second, we also have children in the custody of the tribe and various state agencies that have already had their parental right terminated and are in need of permanency. Thirdly, Cherokee Nation works extensively with state agencies, private adoption agencies and other tribal agencies that are looking for Indian families in which to place an Indian child. See similar questions...

Answer: Yes. A private adoption agency is required to comply with the Federal Indian Child Welfare Act, just as a state agency since the Federal Indian Child Welfare Act applies to all Indian child custody matters. Cherokee Nation works with the private agency and supplies potential adoptive families to the agencies that enables them to comply with the federal law. Families, who are willing to work with a private adoption agency, will however be responsible for those agencies fees. See similar questions...

Answer: No you do not. We have foster homes across the state of Oklahoma. There are times we may ask a tribe in another area of the state to complete a home study or we may refer you to your local Department of Human Services to complete the home study process. There is a great need for Native American foster families statewide. See similar questions...

The child must be under the age of 18 and a member or eligible for membership with the Cherokee Nation, the child must have been voluntarily or involuntarily removed from their parent(s) or Indian custodian by a court or child-placing agency, and because of this voluntary or involuntary removal the child is being placed temporarily or permanently with a party other than its parent(s) or Indian custodian for foster or adoption services. See similar questions...

Answer: Cherokee Nation has exclusive jurisdiction over child abuse investigations when the child is found on Indian Trust lands or lands owned or controlled by the tribe. Cherokee Nation can also investigate child abuse on any Cherokee child regardless of their residence if the child is considered in serious danger and the state cannot or will not act. See similar questions...

Answer: The law states that Cherokee Nation has the right to intervene at any point in the proceeding. This intervention means that Cherokee Nation is now a party to the action and will be submitting reports and recommendations to the court in regards to direction and placement options under the law. See similar questions...

for puppies and $80 for kittens too young to spay or neuter. $30 is refundable, after proof they were fixed by the predesignated vet. See similar questions...

The answers to these questions as well as other considerations are carefully examined before Cherokee Nation Indian Child Welfare will recommend transfer of a state case to the tribal system. However, even a positive recommendation by our child welfare services does not guarantee the tribal court will accept transfer. Tribal court, by federal law, has the final decision as to whether or not to accept transfer. See similar questions...