Navajo citizen and foster care parent Tom Mike holds a donated child’s car seat he received from Cherokee Nation citizen Patricia Stopp in his Tahlequah, Okla., home. JAMI CUSTER/CHEROKEE PHOENIX




BY JAMI CUSTER
Reporter 

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Navajo citizen Tom Mike and his family recently decided to foster children through Cherokee Nation’s Indian Child Welfare. However, when he and his fiancé started the process, they didn’t have a lot of children’s items and have since accepted donations to solve that problem. 

CN citizen Patricia Stopp said she’s worked with Mike for about eight years. And recently, he told her his family was going to take in foster children.

“I asked him what he had and he said ‘nothing,’” she said. “I, like any other mother, go through my children’s things and start pulling out the stuff, you know, that they’ve outgrown or they don’t use, and I find places to take it. At the time, he said he didn’t have anything and my baby had grown out the swing, the carrier, the car seat, clothes, the jumper… and it’s not stuff that’s worn out, it’s stuff that could be reused.” 

Stopp said she donated the items to Mike and his fiancé Marilyn Correa to help. 

“I can’t afford anything else outside my three (kids),” Stopp said. “I’m a single mother and anything that I can do or anything that I have that is going to help somebody else then that would be great.”

Mike said he and Correa were somewhat informed of the foster and adoption processes because Correa adopted a daughter several years ago. 

“Our kids are teenagers, and we just felt like we could help out by just doing what we can to help a child out,” he said.

After discussing whether to become foster parents, Mike and Correa were at a powwow at Northeastern State University and saw an ICW booth. They spoke with ICW specialist Nancie Ross about what it takes to foster children.

“We approached her and she talked to us more about the process and the need for foster families for ICW,” he said.

Ross gave them information on the tribe’s ICW foster care and adoption programs.

“I explained the extreme need of foster care and adoption homes in Cherokee County, the surrounding counties, entire state of Oklahoma and the surrounding states because Cherokee Nation Indian Child Welfare has involvement not just in Oklahoma, but in all other 49 states, as well regarding Cherokee children in tribal or state custody,” Ross said.

Mike and Correa completed an application and began training, which includes parenting and child care courses, how to care for a child and how ICW and other programs to help. 

He said he had concerns about the foster care process and being able to provide for a child, but the help he received has made the transition seamless.

“We were told we were going to have to come up with whatever was needed for the child. In this case, with an infant we needed a stroller and everything baby,” he said. “I thought it was going to be (difficult), but with Patricia and other friends that have donated, you know, it wasn’t.”

Mike’s family received their first foster child when the child was just 2 days old. The child is now 3 months old.

Many people are not familiar or don’t know the foster care process, Mike said. He suggests they contact ICW.

“If they’ve thought about it and have questions or any concerns with ICW, I think they should call and speak to a recruiter to see what they can do to become a foster parent or an adoptive family.”

The purpose through foster care, Mike said, is to help out and give a child a better life.

“In return, we get satisfaction or gratification from the child loving us and accepting us as their foster parent. That’s the reward for us,” he said.

Ross said children ages newborn to 17 are often available for placement, but the ICW lacks in placement options for children ages 7 and older, sibling groups and children with special needs.

To become a foster or adoptive home for the CN, applicants must be 21 or older and one applicant must be a citizens of a federally recognized tribe. For more information, email Homes4Kids@cherokee.org or visit www.cherokeekids.org.

To donate items: 
Indian Child Welfare 
1699 W. Fourth St. 
Tahlequah, Okla. 74464
918-458-6900

Help-In-Crisis
205 North College Avenue 
Tahlequah, Okla. 74464
918-456-0673

jami-custer@cherokee.org

918-453-5560