The Regional Adoption Agency (RAA) for the Black Country has launched a new website to make it easier for prospective adopters to find out more about adoption.

Adoption@Heart, which provides adoption services for Wolverhampton, Dudley, Sandwell and Walsall, has revamped its website –  Adoption@Heart – after listening to feedback from users.

The new site includes information on the adoption process, criteria to adopt, the different types of adoption and support available as well as latest news and adoption events.

Mark Tobin, Adoption@Heart Service Head, said: “We recognised that improvements were needed to our existing website with a view to making it more fit for purpose and easier to navigate given we are now a live Regional Adoption Agency. 

“Our new website offers a much better user experience whilst providing valuable information to those who are considering adoption.

“We are also pleased to have a network of ‘adopter champions’ who are proud to have adopted a child or children through Adoption@Heart. Included on the new website are their stories about how they found the adoption process and what adoption means to them.”

Adoption@Heart is keen to raise awareness of adoption and find homes for children currently waiting to be adopted. Latest figures show that the West Midlands has 3 times as many children awaiting adoptive families as there are adopters. The region currently has 610 children waiting to be adopted and 210 families approved to adopt.

Mark added: “Adoption provides children with an opportunity to grow up and remain within a permanent family into adulthood. If you're ready to start your adoption journey or would like more information, I would encourage you to give us a call or register for our next information events via our website.”

Anyone can adopt, whether they are single, living together, married, a same sex couple, in employment or not working, or already have children or not. Potential adopters must legally be a UK resident and have been so for at least 12 months, as well as being aged 21 or over. They should have a spare bedroom and be able to provide a stable home for a child until adulthood and beyond.

Information events are held every two weeks across the region and are the perfect opportunity for prospective adopters to find out more and get questions answered.

For more information, please visit Adoption@Heart, call 0800 073 0597 or email info@adoptionatheart.org.uk.