The Corporate Services Division is responsible for the development of policy frameworks, federal/provincial relations, research, planning and evaluation and the provision of financial, audit, facilities management, administration and information technology services to the Department.

The finance and Administration branch consists of the following units: Budget and Financial Reporting, Accounting Services, Audit Services, Administrative Services, and Payment Processing.

Accounting services develops financial policies and procedures to ensure sound practices. The unit maintains the integrity and control of the various automated payment systems. It prepares financial reports on housing programs to the federal government, administers the departmental revenue and other applications used for purchasing and financial reporting.

The Audit Services unit is responsible for the Internal Audit, Caseload Sampling and Telephone Case Reviews.


Internal Audit is an independent group within the department responsible for evaluating internal control systems and measuring their effectiveness.


The Caseload Sampling unit is responsible for monitoring the continuing eligibility of the provincial social assistance caseload that is administered by the Program Delivery Division. The Unit Supervisor also provides support services to all levels of the Department in the specialized field of Client Investigations.

Budget and Financial Reporting is responsible for financial reporting, financial planning, budgeting and the interim financial statement process. This unit provides financial information on revenues and expenditures, analysis and advice to management and central agencies.

The Program Development and Monitoring Division is responsible for the planning, design and monitoring, from a provincial perspective, of all Departmental programs. This would include the interpretation of program guidelines, procedures, policies, standards, regulations and legislation.

The Program Development and Monitoring (PDM) Division has been divided into six branches, each responsible for a number of core businesses - Housing and Income Support; Early Childhood and School-Based Services; Child Welfare and Youth Services; Community and Individual Development; Nursing Home Services; and Services to Adults with Disabilities and Seniors Services.

The Child Welfare and Disability Support Services Branch is responsible for the planning, design and monitoring of all departmental child welfare and youth programs and services. These include the following programs and services: Access and Assessment, Child Protection Services, Child In Care/Post-guardianship Services, Adoption Services, Community-Based Services for Children with Special Needs, Children’s Residential Services (foster homes and group homes), Open Custody under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, Birth Parent Services and programming for youth such as the Social Assistance Youth Policy and Youth-at-Risk. The Child Welfare Training System which joined the Branch on January 17, 2005 is responsible for the ongoing development and monitoring of the Competency Based Child Welfare Training System as well as the delivery of training to Child Welfare social workers, social work supervisors, including First Nations staff, program delivery managers and provincial consultants throughout the province.

The mandate of the Wellness Branch is to improve population health through a provincial Wellness Strategy which includes increasing physical activity, promoting healthy eating, promoting mental fitness and resilience and promoting tobacco-free living. The Branch’s role is to provide effective leadership and direction, meaningful support, target monitoring, and, where appropriate, strategic intervention in partnership with provincial, regional and local organizations. The Branch also develops strategic partnerships with other provincial and federal governments and agencies to ensure wellness initiatives are strategically aligned with other efforts.
There are key activities related to five strategic directions, both within specific settings (school, community, home and workplace) and across all settings. The strategic directions are: - Partnership and collaboration;
- Community development; - Promotion of healthy lifestyles; - Healthy policies; and - Surveillance / evaluation / research.

The Nursing Home Services branch is responsible for the planning, design, monitoring and inspection of the services provided to residents in nursing homes. This branch ensures the safety of residents through the licensing and monitoring of nursing homes, liaises with nursing homes and the NB Association of Nursing Homes on relevant issues and provides professional and program advice to directors of nursing homes.

During the year, the branch continued to work with the NB Association of Nursing Homes, the NB Council of Nursing Home Unions, the NB Nurses Union and the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission in their efforts to support and improve workplace health and safety in nursing homes.


The Housing and Income Support branch is responsible for the planning, design and monitoring of all departmental housing and income security programs and services. These include the following programs and services: the Transitional Assistance, Interim Assistance and Extended Benefits Programs; all income support special benefits; and the Family Support Order Services.

Housing programs monitored by the branch include the Public Housing, Rent Supplement and Rural and Native Housing Programs; Non-Profit and Cooperative Housing Programs; the Federal/Provincial Repair Program; the Energy Efficiency Retrofit Program; the Affordable Rental Housing Program; the Home Completion and Home Ownership Assistance Programs; and other housing loan programs.

The Client Service Delivery Support Branch is responsible for delivering
services province-wide through single entry access points and for
providing a range of key executive and operational supports. Services
include After Hours Emergency Services (AHESS), Social Development
Record Checks and Exemptions, Post Adoption Disclosure Services,
Provincial/Territorial Protocol Coordination for Child Welfare, Executive and
Ministerial Correspondence and Support, Emergency Social Services,
Medical Advisory Board Coordination, Integrated Front-End Services
Coordination for screening and needs assessment, Operational Support to
the Zones.

Responsible for the direct delivery of departmental programs and services throughout the province from regional offices and satellite offices.

Protection - Intake & Investigations

Protection - Intake and Investigations

Protection - Intake and Investigations

Housing - Saint John