The EBCI Family Safety Program and the Public Health and Human Services Division of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians announced on Wednesday, May 25 the procurement of the Improving Child Welfare through Investing in Family Grant, a five-year, $2.2 million grant to support the needs of vulnerable families in the Cherokee Community.
This grant, awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families’ Children’s Bureau will allow the establishment of The Gadugi Project, a culturally-centered and community-based initiative to meet the needs of kinship caregivers and reunifying families. Evaluation of measures taken for this project will be conducted by principal investigator Dr. Angelique Day and co-investigator Dr. Jason Ostrander, through a partnership with the Indigenous Wellness Research Institute at University of Washington.
This groundbreaking initiative will build on cultural wisdom and community strengths to work toward the goal of keeping children with their family and within the community and focusing on long term stability, safety, and support for those caring for the children. All phases of this project will be overseen and guided by a Grant Advisory Board comprised of individuals with lived experience or specific cultural expertise in addition to Public Health and Human Services staff.
PHHS officials noted, “We know that children are the most vulnerable and most vital resource for the community and intend for this project to build supports to keep children in the Cherokee Community, with family, surrounded by loving and supportive adults and mentors.”
If you would like further information on this project, please contact Meghan Arnold, Project Coordinator, (828)359-1542, megharno@ebci-nsn.gov .
- EBCI Public Health and Human Service release
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