Chief Hoskin, Deputy Chief Warner sign “21st Century Childcare Initiative”

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. - Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. and Deputy Chief Bryan Warner signed the 21^st Century Childcare Initiative into law on Friday, officially earmarking $50 million in childcare center construction and millions of dollars annually in new and expanded support programs.

"Since Deputy Chief Warner and I have taken office, we have made great progress when it comes to childcare, but we must continue to do more and that's exactly what this initiative will do," Chief Hoskin said. "These dollars invested will ensure that Cherokee families have access to proper and affordable childcare while providing an environment where employees can thrive both personally and professionally."

The signing took place at the tribe's Child Development Center in Tahlequah, which will undergo a remodel and expansion in the future in part of the 21^st Century Childcare Initiative.

Investments from the tribe under the 21^st Century Childcare Initiative include:

• $20 million new Child Development Center in Tahlequah at the tribe's main health campus.
• $10 million remodel and expansion of the tribe's existing Child Development Center in Tahlequah near the tribal complex.
• $20 million new Child Development Center in Vinita near the tribe's Vinita Health Center.
• $3.5 million annually for increased childcare subsidies.
• $1.25 million annually in childcare start up and expansion grants for Cherokee Nation citizen entrepreneurs.
• $4.1 million annually to expanded hours of operations at the tribe's CDC and Head Start facilities.

"By increasing access to affordable and quality childcare, we can better support working parents while strengthening our workforce for generations to come," Deputy Chief Bryan Warner said. "The 21^st Century Childcare Initiative is an investment in our employees, our families and our youngest citizens, which is truly a blessing."

Earlier this year Chief Hoskin and Deputy Chief Warner tasked the tribe's Secretary of State Shella Bowlin and Human Services leadership with identifying opportunities to improve access to childcare.

The work group issued the tribe's "Human Services Child Care & Development Programmatic Report" on August 31, which looked at childcare related data and identified Vinita and Tahlequah as among the priorities for future childcare expansion. The report made various other recommendations embraced by the Hoskin/Warner plan.

The Council of the Cherokee Nation passed the initiative on Oct. 29 during a special Council meeting.

"As a Council, we're proud to support the Cherokee Nation's 21st Century Childcare Initiative and expanding quality childcare for Cherokee citizens and our workforce. The 2026 study helped identify where childcare services are needed most and how we can better serve our Cherokee families," Councilor for District 3 Lisa Hall said. "I look forward to seeing these recommendations move forward with new facilities, improvements to existing centers, and expanded childcare hours."

Previous childcare initiatives under the Hoskin/Warner administration include new Child Development Centers in Pryor, Sallisaw and Catoosa and the replacement of all the tribes' Head Start facilities across seven communities.

Chief Hoskin proposed the new childcare initiatives in his 2026 State of the Nation Address in September.

"We are so grateful for these continued expansions in our childcare programs as they truly change children and families' lives every day," Human Services Executive Director Brittany Denny-Davis said. "I want to thank Chief Hoskin, Deputy Chief Warner and the Council for their continued support and leadership and all of the amazing Human Services employees, who we couldn't do any of this without."