Public Health & Human Services

Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians

Public Health & Human Services for the Cherokee Communities in Western North Carolina

Welcome! We invite you to learn about the variety of programs within Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) Public Health & Human Services. Our programs are designed to improve individual – and community – quality of life.

Many of our services are only for enrolled members of the EBCI and other federally-recognized Indian tribes. Some programs operate within the child care and school systems and are open to all children.

We are very invested in educating our community in prevention of unnecessary illness and disability. We make sure that individuals are aware of all the services available to them. Our programs work hand-in-hand with one another, ensuring continuity of care for individuals.

We are very interested in your well-being. Please call on us for assistance. To report a public health emergency 24/7, call (828)-359-6180. To report a reportable/notifiable disease 24/7, call (828)-359-6241.

Vision: Seven generations of wellness with families strong in mind, body and spirit.

Mission: HONORING our Cherokee community by PROVIDING excellent care, PROMOTING health and SERVING families in a culturally respectful way.

To report a public health emergency 24/7 call (828)-359-6180.

To report a reportable/notifiable disease 24/7 call (828)-359-6241.

News & Upcoming Events

2025 Remember the Removal Bike Ride Applications are available. Contact Tori for applications, eligibility, and any other questions 359-6778 victtram@ebci-nsn.gov Applications are due 9/25/24 by 4:00 PM

  • Beginner Pilates Thursdays at 3:30pm (Contact: April 359-6201)
  • Can I Still Eat That? Healthy relationship building with food & diabetes/prediabetes (Contact: April 359-6201)
  • EBCI NFP Childbirth Classes September, January, & May Series (Contact: Tricia 359-6250)
  • Fall Soup for the Soul Book Club (Contact Keahana 359-6193)
  • Lifestyle & Behavioral Coaching (Contact Keahana 359-6193)
  • Move and Meal Prep Fridays @ Noon (Contact: April 359-6201)
  • Pound Full Body Cardio Jam Sessions Thursdays @ 5 pm (Contact: April 359-6201)
  • Power Princess Youth Afterschool Boxing @ Cherokee Choices (Contact Keahana 359-6193)
  • Resources for Resiliency Wellness Workshop September 18 & 19 (Contact: Shelby 359-6783)
  • Virtual Women’s Support Group (Contact Keahana 359-6193)
  • Women’s Boxing Tuesdays 5pm-6pm @ Cherokee Choices (Contact Keahana 359-6193)
  • Women’s Strength Training Mondays @ Noon (Contact: Shelby 359-6783)

Covid-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan

Anyone is eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccine through EBCI Mass Vaccination Team clinics. Follow EBCI Public Health & Human Services Division on Facebook for vaccine clinic information and events. https://www.facebook.com/EBCI.PHHS

Memorandums

Tribal community health assessment (THA)

For Immediate Release
August 30, 2024

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Public Health & Human Services (PHHS) Division is proud to announce the release of the 2023 Tribal Health Assessment (THA). This comprehensive report provides an in-depth look at the health and well-being of the Cherokee community, highlighting progress, challenges, and future priorities.

The 2023 THA is the result of extensive collaboration with community members, healthcare providers, and local partners and organizations, ensuring a holistic and accurate reflection of the Tribe’s health status.

This is the 3rd community health assessment conducted by and for the EBCI community. The first THA was in 2013, the second in 2018 and now the third in 2023. It is written and published every five years.

EBCI Public Health lead the production of this document in partnership with the EBCI community, Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority (CIHA), Cherokee Central Schools, United South and Eastern Tribes Tribal Epidemiology Center & Western North Carolina (WNC) Health Network.

Please note: All information in this document is the property of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) and is subject to its laws and governance. Use or reproduction of any part of this document, including data, is prohibited without the express permission of the EBCI.

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From the data in the 2023 THA, top 10 health priorities emerged

These are:

  • Support for homelessness and housing stability
  • Promoting Preventative Care and Improving Health Care Access
  • Safe and Healthy Built Environment
  • Substance Use and Related Issues
  • Mental Health Support and Depression prevention
  • Violence and Abuse Prevention
  • Nutrition and Exercise Improvement
  • Maternal and Child Health
  • Tobacco Use Prevention
  • Healthy Aging

 

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The THA is most useful when the community shares it widely

and has input into the discussion about the community’s health and actions to improve it. In 2024, PHHS will bring together…

If you are interested in working with PHHS to improve the EBCI community’s health, contact thip@nc-cherokee.com!

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Compliance Support Line

If you have a complaint or just a concern regarding regulations being followed by any Public Health and Human Services employee or program and are unsure if it should be reported, remember the following: When in doubt …report it out. How to report
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Pursuant to Cherokee Code (C.C.) section 150-5

The following Cherokee Administrative Rules are being published to inform the public of its adoption and implementation as an emergency rule in order to preserve the public health, safety and general welfare of the Tribe. View Administrative Rules

Disclaimer

EBCI Public Health and Human Services (PHHS) use a variety of social media options to communicate and interact with the public. Those sites and applications include popular social networking and media sites, such as Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. These social networking and media sites are operated by a third party, therefore your activity on these third party sites is governed by the security, privacy policy, and user agreements of those sites, which we have linked to below.
You should review the third-party security, privacy policies, and user agreements before using the sites and ensure that you understand how your information may be used. If you have an account with a third-party Web site, and choose to follow, like, friend, or comment certain information associated with your account may be made available to PHHS based on the privacy policy of the third-party Web site and your privacy settings within that third-party Web site. Therefore, you should also adjust privacy settings on your account to match your preferences.
It is the policy of PHHS that any comments that contain spam or are improper, inflammatory, off-topic or offensive shall be removed. Repeat offenders may be subject to banning.

EBCI PHHS strives to make the information contained on these third party sites as timely and accurate as possible, PHHS makes no claim, promise, or guarantee about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the contents on these third party sites, and expressly disclaims liability for errors and omissions in the contents of these sites. Items posted on these third party sites do not necessarily reflect the views or act as endorsements by EBCI PHHS.