The Department of Family and Community Services is a part of the Government of New Brunswick, in Canada. It is charged with the administration of the province's social welfare and nursing home programs. On December 19, 2007, legislation was introduced to change its name to the Department of Social Development.

The department was established on March 23, 2000 when Premier Bernard Lord restructured the New Brunswick Cabinet. It was created merging the former Department of Income Assistance with parts of the Department of Municipalities and Housing and the Department of Health and Community Services.

Beginning in 2016, two ministers were named to jointly administer the department, a Minister of Families and Children and a Minister of Seniors and Long-Term Care.

Ministers of Social Development

#MinisterTermAdministration
1.Percy MocklerMarch 23, 2000 - October 9, 2001under Bernard Lord
2.Joan MacAlpineOctober 9, 2001 - June 27, 2003
3.Tony HuntjensJune 27, 2003 - October 31, 2005
Joan MacAlpine-Stiles (acting)October 31, 2005 - February 14, 2006
4.Madeleine DubéFebruary 14, 2006 - October 3, 2006
5.Carmel RobichaudOctober 3, 2006 - October 31, 2007under Shawn Graham
6.Mary SchryerOctober 31, 2007 - June 22, 2009
7.Kelly LamrockJune 22, 2009 - September 27, 2010
8.Sue StultzOctober 12, 2010 - October 9, 2012under David Alward
9.Madeleine DubéOctober 9, 2012 – October 7, 2014under David Alward
10.Cathy RogersOctober 7, 2014 - June 6, 2016Brian Gallant
see Minister of Families and Children and Minister of Seniors and Long-Term Care
11.Dorothy ShephardNovember 9, 2018 - September 29, 2020Blaine Higgs
12.Bruce FitchSeptember 29, 2020 - July 15, 2022Blaine Higgs
13.Dorothy ShephardJuly 15, 2022 - June 15, 2023Blaine Higgs

Ministers of Families and Children

At a 2016 cabinet shuffle, the government announced that the Department of Social Development would remain as a single department with a single deputy minister and senior management team but that the department would be jointly administered by two cabinet ministers. The minister of families and children is responsible for child welfare and youth services, income security, housing services and wellness.

#MinisterTermAdministration
1.Stephen HorsmanJune 6, 2016 - November 9, 2018Brian Gallant

Ministers of Seniors and Long-Term Care

At a 2016 cabinet shuffle, the government announced that the Department of Social Development would remain as a single department with a single deputy minister and senior management team but that the department would be jointly administered by two cabinet ministers. The minister of seniors and long-term care is responsible for long-term care, nursing home services and the council on aging.

#MinisterTermAdministration
1.Lisa HarrisJune 6, 2016 - November 9, 2018Brian Gallant

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