Cherokee Nation Awarded $12 Million Federal STREETS Grant

TAHLEQUAH – The Cherokee Nation has received a federal STREETS grant through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), making it one of eight sites nationwide recognized by this program. This grant, totaling $12 million over four years, aims to enhance health and wellness for Cherokee citizens facing mental health challenges, substance use disorders, and housing insecurities.

Administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the STREETS program will provide $96 million nationwide to support communities in developing coordinated care systems for individuals who are homeless and have severe mental illness or substance use issues. The Cherokee Nation is the only tribe selected for this funding, which will allocate $3 million annually.

This funding is expected to expand access to behavioral health resources, focusing on prevention, early intervention, and treatment across the reservation. Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. emphasized the importance of the grant for enhancing resilience and supporting vulnerable populations, especially in the wake of the opioid epidemic that has increased demands for social services.

The announcement was made by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. in Houston on October 2. Other recipients include the cities of Detroit, Miami-Dade County, and Houston. Deputy Chief Bryan Warner expressed gratitude for the grant and highlighted the Cherokee Nation’s ongoing advancements in behavioral health services, including a new substance abuse treatment center funded by opioid settlements.

Chief Hoskin, who is part of the HHS Secretary Tribal Advisory Committee, met with Secretary Kennedy on September 22 to discuss healthcare needs for the Cherokee Nation and broader Indian Country.

Juli Skinner, senior director of Cherokee Nation Behavioral Health, outlined the funding's objectives, including:

• Expanding mental health services for early identification of behavioral health issues.

• Strengthening community-centered prevention strategies for substance misuse reduction.

• Supporting housing-insecure citizens with case management and long-term housing solutions.

• Increasing crisis intervention access in high-risk areas to facilitate care access.

• Enhancing coordination among behavioral health providers, law enforcement, social services, and community organizations to mitigate crises stemming from untreated mental health or substance misuse.