Four Black Country councils have launched a new regional fostering hub designed to recruit, support and retain more foster parents across the area.
Wolverhampton, Walsall, Dudley and Sandwell councils are behind the hub, which will provide a single point of contact for people interested in becoming foster parents.
The hub aims to make it easier for people to find out about fostering, access training, advice and support throughout their journey as a carer.
Councillor Jacqui Coogan from City of Wolverhampton Council said: "There is an ongoing need for more foster parents across Wolverhampton and the Black Country to provide safe, stable and nurturing homes for children and young people."
"Every child deserves the opportunity to grow up in a caring environment where they feel supported, valued and able to thrive," she added.
Critical shortage of foster carers
The hub's creation follows a government announcement in February that more young people were being placed in children's homes rather than with foster families due to a "critical shortage" of carers.
The Fostering Network charity has said the lack of carers adds pressure to an already overstretched children's care system, resulting in more foster carers leaving than joining.
Councillor Coogan said the new hub was an opportunity to raise awareness of fostering, reach new audiences and make information more accessible to potential carers across the region.
"By attracting and supporting more foster parents across the region, we can help more local children remain close to their families, friends, schools and communities wherever possible," she said.
The government has announced plans to create up to 10,000 new foster care places and has changed rules to accommodate different types of families.