DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES The Child Welfare Program provides foster care, adoption, and preventive services for families with children at risk of out of home placement. Services include certification of foster and adoptive homes, referral to counseling services, family court appearances, service assessment and planning, transportation, and casework counseling. The Intensive Preventive Program provides strength based preventive services to children at immediate risk of placement in foster care. Children's workers are available at any time of the day or night when the need arises. Parent advocates work with adults to help them provide an safe and healthy environment for the children. The Akwesasne Group Home provides residential services for youth placed in Tribal custody by court order. These teens have had problems with school or with law enforcement and need an alternate living arrangement that can provide structure and culturally specific education. Residence may be from six months to a year.