New STARS Children’s Home to Support Young Victims of Abuse in New Brunswick

The Carr Brothers Show on CHCO-TV recently welcomed Sue Ellen English, executive director of the newly established STARS Children’s Home, a facility dedicated to supporting children ages 0 to 8 who have experienced abuse or neglect.

English, who has lived in Canada for more than 15 years and previously worked with the Village of Hope, spoke about the urgent need for such a program. For decades, New Brunswick has lacked a dedicated therapeutic home for very young children removed from unsafe environments.

STARS Children’s Home was created to fill that gap. The facility will offer a safe, stable setting where trauma-informed care is paired with professional therapeutic support. Staff will include trained caregivers, early childhood educators, and health professionals working together to promote healing and long-term well-being. Beyond daily care, the program will connect children with community resources and, when possible, prepare them for reunification with family or transition to foster care.

English told viewers she is motivated by a desire to “be a difference maker” and to build lasting support for vulnerable children. The vision for STARS emphasizes early intervention, recognizing that addressing trauma in the earliest years can help prevent cycles of harm later in life.

The home will feature small group settings for individualized attention, family-style living arrangements, outdoor play areas, and spaces designed to be both therapeutic and developmentally appropriate. Counselling services will also be integrated into daily care.

In addition to its residential program, STARS aims to serve as a hub for collaboration with provincial child protection services, local health authorities, and community partners. By coordinating with existing agencies, the home intends to strengthen New Brunswick’s broader child welfare system.

The initiative comes at a critical moment, as agencies across the province report rising caseloads involving children under the age of 10—many of whom require intensive support. STARS represents the first dedicated effort in New Brunswick to provide specialized therapeutic care for this age group.

English stressed that the goal is to provide more than housing. STARS will deliver comprehensive care that fosters healing, development, and resilience. The home will also act as a resource for research and training in trauma-informed practices, with the potential to influence child welfare policy and programs across the province.

With its launch, STARS Children’s Home is expected to begin accepting referrals later this year, starting with a limited number of placements before gradually expanding its capacity.