In a joint venture with the town's Coliseum Theatre, 4,000 theatre-goers are finding a leaflet in their Sleeping Beauty show programme saying: "You can be a foster carer - oh yes you can!"
And next year the theatre has promised to make foster care part of its script to help recruit more carers.
It comes as the council denied local press reports that three children's homes may shut.
Veronica Jackson, executive director of social services and health, said the council was reviewing its services for looked-after children.
This included ensuring residential homes were fully compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act.
While the council hoped to provide foster care for as many children as possible, residential care was still the best option for some young people, she added.
