Children, Health and Community The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation cares for the nurturing of its children, and the health, education, and well-being of all tribal members.  Recognizing a growing need for comprehensive child care for the community’s children, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Council approved the creation of the Child Development Center.  In addition to teaching general development skills, the center teaches tribal children to know and respect their cultural history and the history of Native America.  The center stresses the learning of traditional stories and crafts related to an ongoing sense of being young Mashantucket Pequots. Elders, parents, and students are often invited to give cultural classes.  The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation actively encourages higher education for tribal members of all ages. Opportunities range from specialized and general training at the tribe’s Pequot Academy to programs supporting the pursuit of lifelong higher education.  The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Health service maintains a clinic staffed with health care professionals and provides comprehensive health care services to Mashantucket Pequot tribal members. The health service also coordinates with the tribe’s environmental health program, safeguarding healthy working conditions for tribal members and employees.