Adoption
Adoption is a way of providing new families for children who cannot be brought up by their own parents. It is a legal procedure in which all parental responsibility is transferred to the adopters. Once an adoption order has been granted and the time limit for logging an appeal has expired, it can’t be reversed except in circumstances which are extremely rare.
An adopted child loses all legal ties with their first mother and father (the 'birth parents') and becomes a full member of the new family.
When most people think of adoption, they think of young babies. But very few young babies are available for adoption nowadays. The wider use of contraception and abortion means that fewer unplanned babies are born, and changes in people's attitudes and increased help from the state have made it easier for single parents to bring up children on their own.
However, there are still thousands of people who want to adopt children, and an increasing number of them are now interested in older children.
The very first thing you should do is think very carefully if adopting a child is the right step for you to be taking. At its best, adopting a child can be one of the most rewarding experiences anyone can have – for both parents and the child.
But adopting a child is no easy option. Children who have been separated from their parents often come with an array of problems which could have a considerable impact on you and your family.
But adoption, if successful, can bring enormous rewards for the parents and the children. There are many examples where gaining a new permanent loving family has proved to be the making of a particular child.
In this section you will find out what sort of people can adopt, the kind of criteria we use in selecting potential adopters, and a step-to-step guide to the adoption procedure.
Contact us
Fostering and Adoption Services in Walsall
106 Essington Road
New Invention
Willenhall WV12 5EX
Enquiries Freephone 0800 923 3706
All other calls 0845 111 2834
Fax 01922 493824
Email familyplacementsservices@walsall.gov.uk