Building Strong Families, Together: Inside the Eastern Shawnee Tribe’s Quietly Powerful Community Program
Building Strong Families, Together: Inside the Eastern Shawnee Tribe’s Quietly Powerful Community Program
WYANDOTTE, Okla. — On a serene stretch off Bluejacket Road, families gather every few months for something both beautiful and increasingly rare: time, space, and support to learn how to grow stronger together as a family.
The quarterly events, hosted by the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma through its 477 Child Care Program, are part of an initiative now formally titled “Building Strong Families Together.” The program is designed to equip parents and caregivers with practical tools for navigating the everyday challenges of raising children and setting them on a positive path in life.
“Every family can become stronger with the right tools and the right support,” said Dian Randall, Director of the Eastern Shawnee Tribe 477 Child Care Program. “That belief is at the heart of everything we do.”
The events prioritize Native American families while remaining open to non-Native participants as space allows. Topics include child and human development, communication, co-parenting, emotional wellness, and healthy family dynamics. Sessions are offered quarterly and blend instruction, discussion, and hands-on engagement in a welcoming environment.
What sets the program apart is not only its curriculum, but the thoughtful environment of care built around it.
Each event provides free on-site childcare in a safe, engaging facility located next door to the adult sessions, allowing parents to participate fully without worry. Families are served fresh meals featuring meats, fruits, vegetables, desserts, and beverages. At the conclusion of each gathering, raffle drawings offer practical household items and family-oriented prizes. When funding allows, gas cards are distributed to help offset transportation costs for families traveling from surrounding communities.
For many, these details make the difference between staying home and being able to attend.
“This is about removing barriers,” Randall said. “When we support the whole family, real learning and healing can take place.”
The sessions are led by Kathie Bergmann, a dynamic and respected educator known for her warmth, clarity, and energy. Her teaching style emphasizes trust, humor, and practical wisdom, creating a space where participants feel comfortable and motivated.
Participants explore discipline strategies, emotional regulation, child development stages, stress management, and communication skills — all framed within trauma-informed, culturally responsive teaching and community-centered values.
“At its core, this program is about connection,” Bergmann said. “When parents feel supported, children feel safer. And when children feel safe, they grow stronger.”
At the end of each multi-session program, certificates of completion are formally presented, recognizing participants’ commitment and progress. For some families, these certificates may also serve as documentation in matters involving family court or guardianship proceedings.
The initiative is funded through federal 477 program grant funding, which allows tribal governments to combine multiple social service funding streams into a coordinated approach. This structure enables the Eastern Shawnee Tribe to provide holistic family services while maintaining administrative efficiency.
Rather than addressing crises after they occur, Building Strong Families Together focuses on early intervention, education, and prevention — an approach widely supported as both cost-effective and socially transformative.
Classes are announced through the tribe’s official Facebook page and website. Interested families may also contact the program office directly for schedules and registration information. While Native American families receive enrollment preference, community members of all backgrounds are encouraged to inquire.
“We usually have plenty of space,” Randall said. “And we want people to feel welcome.”
For participants, the experience often becomes more than a class. It becomes a place of belonging. In an era marked by social fragmentation, economic stress, and rising mental health challenges, the steady presence of Building Strong Families Together represents a consistent investment in human connection.
Sometimes, building stronger families begins with something simple: a shared meal, a safe place for children to play, and a room full of people learning together.
Program Information
Building Strong Families Together
Eastern Shawnee Tribe 477 Child Care Program
Bluejacket Road, Oklahoma
www.estoo-nsn.gov
918-540-9970
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