Types of Foster Care
To meet the unique needs of children, youth, and caregivers, New Brunswick offers several ways to provide foster care:
Full-time Foster Care
You provide full‑time care for a child or youth in your home.
Respite / Relief Care
A family provides short-term care for children or youth in need. Care is intended to be scheduled and flexible, such as on weekends and holidays. It can also be offered during emergencies or times of crisis.
Respite or relief care provides a temporary break for families responsible for children or youth with varying levels of need. This extra support benefits both the child/youth and caregiver by:
Providing a temporary break from household stress,
Helping caregivers feel less isolated,
Improving child/youth and family stability,
Providing a temporary break from the emotional and physical demands of caregiving,
Allowing the child/youth to experience different social activities outside of the home.
Giving the traditional foster family time to recuperate from stress or fulfill previous obligations without permanently disrupting the child’s placement.
Respite care can also be an opportunity for individuals and families who want to help others or give fostering a try but aren’t ready for a long-term commitment.
If you would like to discuss providing respite or relief care with a Social Worker, you can:
Call Social Development at 1-833-SDDSTel (1-833-733-7835) between 8:15-4:30 Monday to Friday.
Press 1 for English, 2 for French.
Press option 3 and then select your geographical zone to talk to someone about becoming a foster family.
Evenings or weekends you can call 211.
Or:
Send an email to fosterfamilies_famillesdaccueil@gnb.ca. To help us direct your email, please be sure to include the following information:
That you would like to speak with a social worker about providing respite/relief care.
Which area of the province you live in.
Professional Care Homes
Professional Care Homes are a specialized, family-based placement model launched by the Department of Social Development (DSD) to provide full-time care for children and youth with complex needs. This model was developed to offer a more stable and family-like environment than a group home for children who require significant emotional, behavioral, medical, or trauma-informed support.
These homes legally fall under the larger category of a Child and Youth Care Resource or a Community-based care resource under the Child and Youth Well-Being Act.
How to Become a Professional Caregiver: To become a full-time professional caregiver in this program, individuals or families must possess specific skills and meet high standards:
Required Background: Applicants are sought who have relevant education, training, and experience in caring for children or youth with complex needs, such as those related to trauma, mental health, or significant behavioral issues.
Contact DSD: You must officially express interest by contacting the Department of Social Development.
Contact Information: You can call the dedicated line at 1‑833‑998‑3880 or email professionalcarehomes@gnb.ca.
Application and Screening: If suitable, you will undergo a rigorous application, screening, and assessment process, similar to traditional fostering, including:
Specialized Training and Support: Once approved, professional caregivers receive specific training and are paid a monthly stipend (reported in the range of $2,800 to $3,500) for their full-time commitment. They also have access to 24-hour crisis support and wraparound clinical services to help them manage the child’s complex needs.
