Cherokee Nation’s project aimed to strengthen WIC services and increase enrollment and retention of WIC-eligible families within the Cherokee Nation reservation through a multipronged approach.
Innovative outreach strategies employed by the project included developing a centralized application process across tribal facilities and creating a hub-and-spoke approach to WIC services by co-locating WIC staff within 10 Tribal Health facilities, which accrue over 1.5 million annual visits in Cherokee Nation. This approach reduced barriers related to transportation, technology, and stigma for families eligible for WIC.
With Cherokee Nation’s established connection within the reservation, the Tribe facilitated the development of new community networks, weaving together an improved and highly supportive network for WIC-eligible families. Throughout the project, Cherokee Nation integrated insights from surveys and interviews with families and community partners.
