West Midlands

Walsall Fostering & Adoption Service

Walsall Family Placements
106 Essington Road
Willenhall
WV12 5EX
Enquiries: 0800 923 3706
Email: familyplacementsservices@walsall.go.uk
URL: www.walsall.gov.uk/fostercare
URL: www.walsall.gov.uk/adoption

Walsall Council’s Fostering and Adoption service is working hard to get the message across that you don’t have to be a traditional family unit to foster or adopt. 

What is foster care?

Foster carers look after children who can not live with their own families, on a temporary or permanent basis in their own home. Most children return to live with their birth families.  Some, however, may go on to be adopted or move on to a permanent fostering placement.
It is impossible to describe the typical foster child – they can be any age from a 0-18 years old and can be from any social, ethnic or religious background.  The one thing that many have in common is that for one reason or another their family is facing a crisis or the child may have been harmed or abused. 

Because of this most are in need of warmth, patience and understanding at a time of stress and uncertainty, parents may also need some form of respite

What is adoption?

Adoption is a way of providing new families for children who cannot stay with their birth family. It is a legal procedure in which all parental responsibility is transferred to the adopters.

Children who need permanent families are usually already being looked after by Social Services and are living with foster carers.
Walsall family placements currently have many children waiting, ranging from 6 months to 13 years.  There are single children who need to be adopted and many sibling groups.  African Caribbean and dual heritage families are particularly sought.
Who can apply?
People with different lifestyles, backgrounds and ethnicity are needed and welcomed as foster carers to meet the wide range of needs of the many children who - for a variety of reasons – are in need of foster homes and adoptive parents.

If you are over 21 with a spare bedroom and have time to devote to a child you are moving in the right direction.

What out foster carers say……
“We have enjoyed every aspect of having this boy in our lives.  He has brought so much to us.  We really would have missed out if we had never fostered him and can’t imagine life without him”.  Lovett, Walsall Foster Carer

“I just love fostering! There’s not one specific thing that is great, but the whole experience.  My joy is seeing the smile on the child’s face.  If I can make a little difference to their life, then that is my reward”.  Vanessa, Walsall Foster Carer

Want to know more about fostering or adoption?
For more information contact Walsall Family Placements Services on 0800 923 3706 or via email: familyplacementsservices@walsall.gov.uk

Alternatively come to one of our information evenings, see our website or local press for more details.

Web: www.newport.gov.uk/