Foster Parent Support in New Brunswick: NBFFA, FAST Program, and Your Rights as a Foster Parent

Most foster parents discover quickly that the training and the licensing process did not fully prepare them for what fostering actually involves. The paperwork was covered. The home safety standards were assessed. The PRIDE curriculum introduced the framework. What nobody quite prepares you for is the particular emotional weight of a Tuesday night when a child in your care is in crisis, your own family is exhausted, and the next caseworker check-in is three weeks away.

New Brunswick has a support infrastructure for foster parents. It is not perfect, and it is not always visible to families who are new to the system. This article maps out what exists, what you are entitled to ask for, and where to turn when things get hard.

The New Brunswick Foster Family Association (NBFFA)

The NBFFA — reachable at nbffa.ca or 1-800-442-9799 — is the primary advocacy and peer support organization for foster families in the province. It is independent of DSD, which matters: the NBFFA represents foster parents, not the government.

The Association's work covers several areas:

Advocacy: The NBFFA represents foster parents in policy discussions with DSD, raises systemic issues, and responds when foster families feel their concerns are not being addressed at the caseworker level.

Information and referral: Staff can help you navigate DSD processes, understand your license conditions, and connect you with resources you may not know about.

Peer community: The Association hosts events, facilitates connections between foster families, and publishes information about provincial changes affecting foster parents. In a province with a small population and strong word-of-mouth culture, these connections carry real weight.

Contact: [email protected] | nbffa.ca

The FAST Program: Foster Assistance and Support Teams

The FAST program — Foster Assistance and Support Teams — is run by the NBFFA and is one of the most practically useful supports available to New Brunswick foster families. FAST pairs new or struggling foster families with experienced mentor families who have been through similar situations.

FAST mentors are not social workers. They are not assessors. They are not connected to DSD in any formal way. They are foster parents who have navigated the system and are willing to share what they know and provide ongoing peer support.

If you are a new foster parent who is three months into a placement and finding it harder than expected, a FAST mentor is the right call — not because they will have all the answers, but because they have sat in the same chair. They know what it is like to receive a call at 10 PM, to manage a child's birth family visit, or to deal with a DSD decision they disagree with.

To access FAST support, contact the NBFFA directly. They will connect you with a mentor in your region.

Foster Parent Rights in New Brunswick

Foster parents in New Brunswick have formal rights under the Child and Youth Well-Being Act and DSD policy, though these are not always clearly communicated during the application process.

The right to information: Foster parents must be provided with information relevant to the child's care at the time of placement — medical conditions, known allergies, behavioral considerations, and medication schedules. This is not optional. If a child arrives and you do not have this information, you are entitled to request it immediately from the caseworker.

The right to participate in service planning: Foster parents are members of the child's Care Team. You have the right to attend service plan meetings and to provide input on the child's day-to-day functioning. Your observations from the Record of Care log are meant to inform the service plan, not sit in a drawer.

The right to be consulted before placement changes: If DSD is considering moving a child from your home, you are entitled to be consulted. This does not mean you have veto power — DSD holds guardianship — but a decision to disrupt an established placement should involve your perspective.

The right to appeal: If you are facing a licensing concern or a decision you believe is incorrect, you have the right to appeal through DSD's internal process. The NBFFA can advise on this process.

The right to make complaints: If you have concerns about how DSD is managing a child's case, you can raise them with the caseworker, the caseworker's supervisor, or the regional DSD office. In serious situations involving the child's rights, the Child and Youth Advocate operates independently of DSD and can be contacted at 1-800-442-9799.

The NB Adoption Support Network

The NB Adoption Support Network, affiliated with the New Brunswick Adoption Foundation, offers French and English peer support for families navigating foster care and adoption. Their "Plus forts ensemble" (Stronger Together) program is specifically designed for French-speaking families, addressing a gap that Francophone foster parents in regions like the Acadian Peninsula and Madawaska frequently identify.

Even if adoption is not your current goal, the Adoption Foundation's resources on permanency, family dynamics, and navigating the provincial system are relevant for foster families at all stages.

Contact: en.nbadoption.ca

Foster Care Support Groups in New Brunswick

Regional support groups exist across the province. The NBFFA facilitates connections to these groups, which vary in format — some meet in person, some operate through social media or messaging platforms. In rural regions, informal connections between foster families are often maintained through word of mouth and community relationships rather than formal group structures.

Facebook groups such as "Foster and Adoptive Families of NB" function as informal support networks and information-sharing communities, though the quality of information in these spaces is uneven. Social proof from peers is valuable; be discerning about whether what you are reading reflects current DSD policy or older practice.

When You Need Help

The After-Hours Emergency Social Services (AHESS) line — 1-800-442-9799 or 1-833-733-7835 — is available for urgent situations involving a child in your care outside of regular DSD office hours (4:30 PM to 8:15 AM on weekdays, 24 hours on weekends and holidays).

For ongoing concerns that are not emergencies, your first call is your caseworker. If the caseworker is not responsive or the issue is systemic, escalate to the regional supervisor. If the issue involves your rights as a foster parent or the child's rights more broadly, the NBFFA and the Child and Youth Advocate are both available.

Building Your Support Network Before You Need It

The single most useful thing a new foster parent in New Brunswick can do is build their support network before a crisis requires it. Connect with the NBFFA early. Ask about FAST. Identify who in your community — family, friends, other foster parents — can provide practical backup when you need a night off or someone to talk to.

The New Brunswick Foster Care Guide includes a directory of provincial support resources, the FAST program enrollment process, and a practical overview of foster parent rights and how to exercise them within the DSD system. Understanding what support is available — and being willing to use it — is not a sign of struggle. It is how sustainable fostering works.

Foster families who burn out leave the system. Foster families who build strong support networks stay, and the children in their care benefit from that stability over the long term.

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