Heart Gallery of America: Finding Forever Families for Children in Foster Care

At age 12, Maria had spent over five years in foster care, watching younger kids get adopted while she continued to wait. Her greatest wish was simple: a forever family to call her own. For thousands of children in foster care like Maria, the wait can feel endless and hope can begin to fade. Enter the Heart Gallery of America – a nationwide initiative that harnesses the power of photography and community action to change those stories. This traveling exhibit of compelling foster youth portraits is more than just pictures on a wall; it’s a lifeline connecting waiting children with families, and a beacon of hope in the urgent mission of foster care adoption.

Key Takeaways:

• Heart Gallery of America is a collaborative network of photographic exhibits across the U.S., created to find forever families for children in foster care​ heartgalleryofamerica.org.

• Professional photographers volunteer to capture each child’s spirit in powerful portraits, inspiring the community and finding adoptive families for waiting children who might otherwise be overlooked.

• Since its inception, the Heart Gallery movement has helped thousands of children in foster care find adoptive homes – an estimated 5,000 children have been placed into forever families directly through Heart Gallery efforts​.

• With over 80 local Heart Gallery exhibits (chapters) in states nationwide​, this Heart Gallery network is a collaborative adoption project uniting child welfare agencies, nonprofits, photographers, and child adoption advocates to promote foster care adoption in their communities.

• Despite these successes, the need remains urgent: more than 108,000 children in U.S. foster care are waiting for adoption​ ccainstitute.org, and nearly 18,000 youth age out each year without ever finding a family​ – highlighting the importance of adoption awareness campaigns like the Heart Gallery.

Portraits of Hope: Inside the Heart Gallery of America

The Heart Gallery of America began with a simple, revolutionary idea: showcase the faces of foster children in a gallery setting to spark connections with prospective parents. In 2001, a foster-care recruiter in New Mexico, Diane Granito, launched the very first Heart Gallery exhibit after hearing an idea from photographer Cathy Maier​. Granito enlisted talented photographers to create inspiring, light-filled portraits of waiting children – especially older youth and sibling groups who often lingered the longest in care. At the time, agencies usually had only snapshot-style photos of the kids, “most were as inspiring as a driver’s license photo,” Granito recalled​. By contrast, these new portraits captured the individuality, personality and dignity of each child, helping the public see them as more than a statistic.

The impact was immediate. More than 1,200 people attended that first Heart Gallery opening in Santa Fe; country singer Randy Travis even volunteered to serenade the crowd, and connections were made that night leading to the adoption of six Heart Gallery children​. It was clear they were onto something special. “The mission of Heart Gallery of America is to utilize the power of photography to capture the individuality and dignity of children living in foster care, in order to advocate for their permanency and raise public awareness about their needs,” the organization explains​. In other words, the goal is to take kids from the shadows of the system and into the spotlight – encouraging communities to rally around them. By showcasing these poignant portraits and stories in public exhibits, the Heart Gallery puts a human face on the foster care adoption crisis and sends a clear message: no child is unadoptable.

What started in New Mexico soon spread. Within a few years, the Heart Gallery model was being replicated in communities across the country​. By 2005, a national nonprofit, Heart Gallery of America, was co-founded to support this growing movement​. Now in its third decade, Heart Gallery of America serves as a hub, providing resources and a website that features children from different states, while local Heart Gallery chapters continue to organize exhibits and events on the ground.

A Nationwide Network to Find Forever Families

Today, the Heart Gallery of America is a collaborative project uniting over 80 Heart Galleries across the United States​. Each local “Heart Gallery” chapter is typically run by a state or regional adoption agency or nonprofit, and together they form a vibrant adoption community dedicated to finding homes for waiting foster youth. The concept is inherently collaborative – child welfare organizations, community volunteers, and professional photographers all partner to make these exhibits happen. Photographers donate their time to take heartfelt portraits; businesses, libraries, malls, and churches donate space to display the photos; media outlets help broadcast the profiles; and adoption recruiters handle inquiries from interested families. This teamwork reflects the adage that it truly takes a village to find a child a home.

Heart Gallery exhibits have appeared in city halls, airports, galleries, and online, wherever they might catch the eye – and heart – of a potential parent. Each portrait is usually accompanied by a short bio: the child’s first name, age, and a few of their interests or dreams. Seeing a smiling 10-year-old in a football jersey who “loves science and hopes to be a teacher someday” creates a personal connection that a statistic can’t. “Our Heart Gallery displays the personalities of our foster children and siblings that are waiting to find their forever families by photographing them in settings that reflect who they are,” explains A Family For Every Child, an Oregon-based Heart Gallery organization​ volunteeruwlane.org. Founded in 2006 as a Heart Gallery to promote foster adoption in its community, A Family For Every Child has since grown into a full adoption agency and support organization​ – a testament to how the Heart Gallery model can evolve to serve children’s needs in multiple ways. (Internal link: Learn more about A Family For Every Child and their Heart Gallery efforts at affec.org.)

Another example of the Heart Gallery network is the Northwest Adoption Exchange (NWAE), which collaborates with state agencies in the Pacific Northwest to profile youth waiting for adoption. NWAE’s approach includes strength-based narratives and even self-advocacy videos by the youth, complementing the photography-focused model of Heart Gallery. Both efforts share the same goal: connecting families and children who might not otherwise discover each other. (Internal link: Explore profiles of waiting youth with Northwest Adoption Exchange at nwae.org.)

Over the years, dozens of Heart Gallery programs have sprung up, from large metro areas to rural regions, all under the umbrella of the Heart Gallery of America. As of 2025, Heart Gallery exhibits operate in nearly every state, from California and Texas to Maine and South Carolina, often under names like “Heart Gallery of {State/County}.” Together, these exhibits have helped increase foster care adoption by focusing attention on the most overlooked kids – typically older children, sibling groups, and those with special needs​. By one estimate, there are now more than 125 Heart Gallery chapters in 47 states, and their combined success has “inspired hope in the heart of any self-identified altruist”​. The project has even started to expand internationally, with a pilot Heart Gallery in Canada​.

Crucially, the Heart Gallery network works closely with other adoption initiatives. It complements government efforts (the model is cited as a “best practice” by the U.S. Children’s Bureau​ and partners with campaigns like Wendy’s Wonderful Kids (via the Dave Thomas Foundation) and AdoptUSKids, all of which aim to recruit adoptive families for waiting foster youth. The collaborative adoption project nature of Heart Gallery is evident: each success story is shared by the photographers who captured the child’s smile, the social workers who advocated for them, and ultimately the parents who step forward. “It’s not about finding the right child for a family, but finding the right family for a child,” as one Heart Gallery social worker put it – a guiding philosophy across the network.

The Power of Portraits: Inspiring Adoption Awareness

At the heart of every Heart Gallery exhibit is the photography itself – images that convey hope, resilience and potential. These foster youth portraits do more than just show a cute or smiling face; they tell a story. Dressed in their favorite outfits and photographed in meaningful settings (a park, a basketball court, a library), the children are encouraged to be themselves. The resulting portraits radiate personality and adoption awareness, helping viewers imagine the child as part of their life. This emotional connection is key to overcoming the hesitation many prospective parents feel about adopting an older child or a sibling group they’ve never met.

Professional photographer Cathy Maier, who helped spark the Heart Gallery concept, described one of her experiences photographing a boy named Austin: “When I began photographing Austin… he was quite shy. As he became more comfortable, he became energetic, animated and relaxed. His sense of humor and kind heart emerged.” His photo ended up being featured in a national Heart Gallery exhibit in Washington, D.C., where countless people saw it. Maier said it was “deeply gratifying… knowing that others would see the photograph and be inspired by the incredible gift that The Heart Gallery has provided. Through the art of photography, the unique spirit of these children shines, engaging the hearts of prospective families.”​

Her words capture why these portraits matter: they allow each child’s unique spirit to shine through and touch someone’s heart.

The visuals challenge stereotypes. Many Americans hold misconceptions about kids in foster care, assuming they all have severe behavioral issues or that teens don’t want families. But a portrait can powerfully counter those assumptions. You might see a 16-year-old girl beaming in her cap and gown, proud to be graduating high school and hoping to go to college – and realize she just needs a family to cheer her on. Or a pair of brothers, arms around each other, clearly bonded and simply wanting to stay together with adoptive parents who will love siblings as a unit. These images, often accompanied by audio interviews or short videos in modern Heart Galleries, help prospective parents form an emotional bond before meeting the child.

The Heart Gallery exhibits also raise adoption awareness in the general public. Passersby who see the displays in a mall or at a community event learn that there are real children in their own community who are waiting for homes. It sparks conversations: “I had no idea there are kids in foster care right here who need adoption. How can I help?” That increased awareness is critical. In fact, in a national survey on adoption attitudes, 69% of Americans agreed that society should do more to encourage foster care adoption​ – heartgalleryofamerica.org. The Heart Gallery is one eye-catching way to prompt that encouragement.

Success Stories: From Waiting Children to Forever Families

Behind every photograph in a Heart Gallery, there is a child with a story – and nothing is more inspiring than when that story finds a happy new chapter. The true measure of the Heart Gallery’s impact is the children who go home with adoptive families as a result. Since the project’s launch, an estimated 5,000 children have been placed into adoptive homes directly due to Heart Gallery efforts​, and countless more have gained exposure leading to eventual adoptions. These outcomes range from infants to teenagers, single children to groups of siblings. Here are a few of those remarkable stories and moments that highlight the Heart Gallery’s legacy:

• Sisters Find a Home Through a Photo: Jorianne (age 13) and Jaleesa (age 8) were sisters featured in the Heart Gallery of Northeast Louisiana. They had spent years in foster care hoping for a family. After their portraits and bios were shared on the national Heart Gallery website, the response was overwhelming. “Jorianne and Jaleesa have found an adoptive home, and it wouldn’t have happened so soon without your assistance in putting them on the national site,” wrote their local coordinator in a thank-you note. “We received numerous interests in them strictly from your website. Thank you for your assistance with finding them a home… Thank you again for all of your help and support.”​ Shortly afterward, the girls were adopted by a loving family. Two lives changed because a wider community saw their faces and heard their plea for permanency.

• Five Siblings Kept Together: In an extraordinary case in 2014, one couple adopted five siblings – three girls and two boys, ages 2 through 10 – who had been featured in a Heart Gallery. The siblings had been living in separate foster homes for over a year, desperately hoping to reunite in one family. When the adoption workers told the oldest sisters that this family wanted all five of them, the girls’ reaction was pure joy. Arms shot up in the air and shouts of, “Yes! This is what we’ve been waiting for!” mingled with tears, recalled the adoptive mother​ – iframe.afamilyforeverychild.org. Thanks to the Heart Gallery and determined advocates, these brothers and sisters were able to grow up together, and not a single one was left behind. Today, their mom reports, the kids are thriving and “it feels like they’ve always been there” as part of the family​.

• Older Youth and Unexpected Connections: The Heart Gallery has also helped older teens and even young adults find families. In one New Mexico story, a young woman had just aged out of foster care on her 18th birthday – meaning she thought her chance at a family was gone. But fate intervened: at a Heart Gallery photoshoot event, her portrait caught the eye of an aunt she had lost contact with. The aunt recognized her long-lost niece and ended up adopting her, giving this youth a family after all​. In another case, two brothers in foster care – nicknamed the “Growley Rowley Boys” for their new last name – were asked by the judge at their adoption finalization if they had anything to say. One of the boys eagerly asked, “We are Growley Rowley Boys forever now, right?”​ Their new parents nodded, confirming they were indeed a family forever. These moments underscore what finding a forever family truly means to a child: a sense of belonging that lasts a lifetime.

• From Photographer to Parent: The volunteers behind the lens sometimes find themselves so moved that they become parents themselves. The Heart Gallery of America noted that on multiple occasions, the very act of taking a child’s portrait has led a photographer to adopt that child​. These unforeseen happy endings illustrate the Heart Gallery’s ability to turn advocates into family. When people truly see these kids – their smiles, their personalities, their perseverance – hearts open in amazing ways.

Each success story is a celebration not only for the child and their new family, but for the whole adoption community. They fuel the passion of Heart Gallery organizers to keep going. Local galleries often share updates on kids who were adopted: graduations, weddings, even next generations. One can find walls of former Heart Gallery photos with a big red “FOUND FAMILY” stamp across them – a visual reminder that behind every face is the potential for a miracle match. “Family to us is love. Love makes a house a home,” says one mother who adopted a 19-year-old through the Missouri Heart Gallery​ – moheartgallery.org. For the children who appear in the Heart Gallery, that love and home are the ultimate prize at the end of a long journey.

Foster Care Adoption in the U.S.: By the Numbers

While stories of individual adoptions are powerful, it’s also important to understand the broader landscape of foster care adoption that makes the Heart Gallery’s mission so vital. Every year, child welfare agencies release statistics that tell a sobering tale of how many kids still need families. Here are some key figures about foster care and adoption in the United States:

Each number in the table above represents real children. For instance, those 108,000+ “waiting children” are kids whose birth parents’ rights have been terminated or whose case plan is adoption, and who are hoping for a new forever family. Tragically, each year around 18,000 youth age out of the system into adulthood without that family support​. These teens enter the world alone, and research shows they face higher risks of homelessness, unemployment, and other challenges without a family’s safety net​. This is why initiatives like the Heart Gallery focus not just on young children but also on teens and sibling sets – groups traditionally harder to place. As the Heart Gallery motto emphasizes, every child deserves a family, no matter their age or circumstances.

The good news is that adoption from foster care is happening for thousands each year (over 53,000 in 2022)​, and public awareness is improving. A recent survey found 67% of Americans now agree that “no child is unadoptable,” up 9% from a few years prior​. More families are considering foster care adoption than ever before​. However, the gap between kids waiting and families available remains significant – roughly two children wait for every one that gets adopted​. This is where adoption awareness efforts become so crucial. Heart Gallery exhibits, media campaigns, and advocacy events (like National Adoption Month each November) all serve to close that gap by encouraging more people to step forward to foster or adopt.

Heart Gallery of America’s presence online also means that a family in one state can see and inquire about a child in another state. The organization’s website (HeartGalleryofAmerica.org) features photo listings of children from various regions and directs prospective parents to the appropriate local agencies. This nationwide reach is important because sometimes the right family for a child isn’t in the child’s county or even state – they might be across the country. By leveraging the internet and social media, the Heart Gallery network greatly expands the pool of possible “matches.” In fact, during the COVID-19 pandemic, many Heart Galleries moved to virtual exhibits and online events, which increased their visibility and resulted in inquiries from farther afield. The adoption community has learned that technology and heart can work hand in hand to find families.

The ongoing challenge, however, is ensuring every child gets that chance. Child adoption advocates often use Heart Gallery statistics and success stories to lobby for more support and funding for adoption recruitment. They argue that relatively small investments – like hiring a recruiter or organizing a photo event – can yield incalculable rewards if even one child finds a family. As the Heart Gallery has proven, a striking portrait in a community display can change the course of a life.

Connecting Families and Children: How You Can Help

The mission of the Heart Gallery of America, and foster care adoption in general, is one that invites community involvement. You don’t have to be a social worker or a wealthy donor to make a difference – everyone can play a part in helping foster youth find forever families. Here are some ways you can get involved or support this life-changing work:

• Consider Adoption or Fostering: The most direct way to help is to adopt a waiting child or become a foster parent. If you feel a tug at your heart seeing these profiles, explore it. Resources like the Heart Gallery of America website (which can connect you to local agencies) and AdoptUSKids​provide information on children waiting for adoption and the steps to qualify. Typically, you’ll need to undergo a home study, training, and background checks – and while the process is thorough, the cost to adopt from foster care is often minimal (usually state-funded). Many families who adopted through Heart Gallery say they just “knew” when they saw a particular child’s photo that it was meant to be. If that could be you, don’t be afraid to reach out and make an inquiry. Even if adoption isn’t right for you now, fostering a child (even temporarily) can provide a loving bridge to their permanent home, and many foster parents end up adopting children in their care.

• Volunteer Your Skills or Time: Perhaps you’re a photographer, graphic designer, event planner, or just someone with a bit of time and passion – Heart Galleries always need volunteers. Photographers can volunteer to shoot portraits of kids (professional equipment and experience is welcome, but even hobbyists can sometimes help with local portrait days). If you have a knack for organizing, you might assist in setting up a gallery display or a fundraising event. Students and artists have created Heart Gallery exhibits for school projects, and businesses have hosted exhibits in their lobbies. Even sharing Heart Gallery posts on social media is a form of volunteering through advocacy. (Internal link: Find volunteer opportunities or start a gallery through the Heart Gallery of America site heartgalleryofamerica.org). Every bit of help counts, and you might be the link that connects a child to their future family.

• Support Foster Youth in Other Ways: Not everyone can adopt, but anyone can support the cause. Donations to organizations like Heart Gallery programs, A Family For Every Child or the Dave Thomas Foundation go toward efforts in recruiting families and providing adoption-related services. Mentoring a teen in foster care, donating Christmas gifts or supplies, or becoming a court-appointed special advocate (CASA) are all ways to improve the lives of kids who are waiting. Advocacy is another powerful tool: you can write to local officials to support funding for adoption recruitment and post-adoption support (since adoptive families often need access to resources like therapy or respite care). By spreading the word that fostering and adoption are rewarding and vital, you become part of the promoting foster care movement that the Heart Gallery embodies.

• Host or Attend Heart Gallery Events: Keep an eye out for Heart Gallery exhibits or adoption events in your area. Attending these events not only shows support, but you might also meet waiting youth or families who have adopted and hear their stories, which you can then share with others. If you belong to a community group, church, or civic club, consider hosting a Heart Gallery exhibit or informational session. The Heart Gallery of America provides guidance for communities that want to start their own exhibit​. By bringing the gallery to new venues, you expand its reach and impact.

• Simply Care and Share: One of the simplest but most meaningful things you can do is to be an informed advocate. Bust the myths when you hear them (for example, the idea that “foster kids are too damaged” – in truth, they are just kids who’ve been through hard times and are incredibly resilient and loving). If you know someone considering adoption, point them to Heart Gallery stories or profiles. Use your social media to share profiles of waiting children (many Heart Gallery programs post photos with permission) or uplifting adoption stories. Your share could be seen by someone who is ready to parent. As the Heart Gallery proves, awareness leads to action.

The thread uniting all these ways to help is the belief that every child deserves a chance at a family. The Heart Gallery of America has built a remarkable bridge between promoting foster care adoption and making it happen, one photograph at a time. But it relies on ordinary people hearing the call – people who are willing to open their hearts, homes, or efforts to ensure no child is left without a family. As one Heart Gallery slogan declares, “You don’t have to be perfect to be a perfect parent.” What matters most is showing up for these kids.

FAQ

What is the Heart Gallery of America?

The Heart Gallery of America is a national nonprofit organization and network of over 80 local Heart Gallery programs across the U.S. Its purpose is to help children in foster care who are available for adoption find permanent families. The Heart Gallery does this by featuring professional portraits and stories of waiting children in traveling exhibits and online. It started in 2001 in New Mexico and has since expanded nationwide. Each local Heart Gallery works with adoption agencies and volunteers to host exhibits in their community and recruit adoptive families.

How do Heart Gallery exhibits work?

Heart Gallery exhibits are typically displays of large, high-quality photos of children and teens who need adoptive families. These exhibits might be set up in public places like libraries, malls, galleries, or events. Each child’s photo is accompanied by a brief bio or description. Some galleries also include audio recordings or videos of the kids. The exhibits are free and open for the public to view. The idea is to introduce these children to people who might not otherwise know that kids in their community are waiting for a family. When someone sees a child’s portrait and wants to learn more about adoption, they can contact the organization or website listed (often the local agency or Heart Gallery of America’s site) to start the inquiry process. Exhibits are rotated and updated regularly as children get matched or new portraits are taken.

Who are the children featured in the Heart Gallery?

Heart Gallery primarily features “waiting children” in foster care – meaning kids whose plan is adoption and who do not have an identified adoptive family yet. These children range from infants to teenagers, but the majority are school-aged children, sibling groups, or older youth (pre-teens and teens). Many have been removed from abusive or neglectful situations and have spent months or years in foster care. Heart Galleries especially aim to highlight children who traditionally have a harder time finding homes, such as sibling groups (who need to stay together), children with special needs or medical conditions, and teens. However, even some younger children are featured if they are legally free for adoption and waiting. All children showcased have consent from the appropriate guardians, and their identities are handled with care. The message the Heart Gallery tries to send is that these kids are normal, lovable children – they like to play, laugh, and dream just like any child, and most of all they dream of having a family.

How many children has the Heart Gallery helped get adopted?

Thousands of children have found families through Heart Gallery efforts. Nationally, the Heart Gallery of America estimates that around 5,000 adoptions (and counting) can be directly attributed to the program’s work​. This includes many cases where a family first discovered their child’s profile via a Heart Gallery exhibit or the website. On a local level, each Heart Gallery keeps track of its “success stories.” For example, a Heart Gallery in Florida or Oregon might announce that dozens of featured children were adopted in the past year thanks to their program. Since the Heart Gallery’s start in 2001, some children who were featured early on are now grown adults – a number of them were adopted and even have families of their own. It’s important to note that Heart Gallery is one of several tools used in foster care adoption, so sometimes a child’s adoption may happen through a combination of efforts. But the Heart Gallery’s influence in bringing attention to kids who need families has unquestionably led to thousands of “forever family” matches that might not have occurred otherwise.

How can I adopt a child I saw on the Heart Gallery?

If you are interested in adopting a particular child you saw in a Heart Gallery exhibit or on the Heart Gallery of America website, the first step is to reach out to the contact listed for that child. Typically, there will be a phone number or email for the child’s caseworker or the agency responsible for their adoption. You will need to go through the standard process to become an approved adoptive parent (which usually involves attending an orientation, completing a home study, training classes, and background checks through your state’s foster/adopt system). If you are already a licensed foster or adoptive parent, you can inquire and have your worker send your home study to the child’s worker. It’s important to act quickly if you feel a connection with a profile – popular profiles may get many inquiries. However, even if the child you inquired about is matched with another family, the agency can often suggest other children with similar needs who are still waiting. To get started, you can also register on national photolisting websites or contact your local department of children and families to express interest in foster care adoption. (Internal link: Visit Heart Gallery of America’s Waiting Children page on their official site for inquiry details and links to state adoption contacts​). Keep in mind that the adoption process is governed by state laws, so working with your local agency is key. Patience and persistence are important – the paperwork and approvals can take time, but the reward of providing a loving home to a child is immeasurable.

What if I can’t adopt right now? Are there other ways to help?

Absolutely. Not everyone is in a position to adopt, but everyone can do something to support foster youth and the Heart Gallery mission. Here are a few ideas:

• Volunteer: Offer your time with a local Heart Gallery or foster care agency. This could include helping organize exhibits, taking photographs, designing flyers, or supervising kids at events. Even offering to transport portraits and easels to display locations is a help.

• Mentor or Tutor: Many foster teens could benefit from a consistent adult friend. Mentoring programs (like Big Brothers Big Sisters or specific foster mentoring programs) connect volunteers with youth for regular meet-ups, help with homework, or just someone to talk to. This stable relationship can greatly improve a foster youth’s confidence and future outlook.

• Donate: Contribute financially if you can. Organizations like Heart Gallery programs, adoption exchanges, or foster youth scholarship funds depend on charitable gifts. Even small donations can fund new photo shoots, frames for portraits, or travel expenses to help siblings meet prospective families. You can also donate in-kind goods: cameras or printing services to a Heart Gallery, suitcases or school supplies for kids in care (many foster kids move with trash bags for their belongings – donating luggage is a kind gesture), etc.

• Advocate: Use your voice. Share posts on social media about waiting children (with respect for privacy guidelines), celebrate adoption stories, and encourage others to support or consider foster care adoption. If you belong to a community group, invite a speaker from a local Heart Gallery or foster agency to educate others. Sometimes, just correcting misconceptions among your friends and family can lead to new foster or adoptive parents coming forward.

• Support Foster Families: If you know someone who fosters or has adopted from foster care, offer them help. Something as simple as cooking a meal, offering babysitting, or being a supportive listener can prevent burnout and help retain the wonderful families already doing this important work.

Every effort – big or small – contributes to the ecosystem of finding kids families. As the Heart Gallery has shown time and again, when caring people come together, forever families are found and lives are changed. Whether through adoption, volunteering, or spreading the word, you can be a part of that change.

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