The Indiana Heart Gallery, a traveling exhibit featuring compelling portraits of children in need of adoptive families, is stopping in Brookville.
The Gallery will be featured at the Franklin County Public Library for two weeks in May.
The Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS) uses the Heart Gallery to help bring attention to children in foster care in need of a forever home. Between 75 and 100 Hoosier kids need adoptive homes right now because they were removed from abusive or neglectful situations.
“Every child needs a family they can call their own. We need families that are not only willing to love our children, but are also prepared to commit to them, claim them as their own and hang in there through their ups and downs,” said Sandra Caesar, DCS’ adoption manager. “Today’s foster children will someday be our neighbors and co-workers. The stability and permanency that adoption provides is a critical step in giving these children the best possible chance at success in life.”
Nearly 400,000 children are in foster care in the United States. More than 100,000 are legally available for adoption and in need of adoptive families. Many of these children are older, in sibling groups that want to be adopted together or have special needs.
This year, as many as 20,000 young people will leave the foster care system without lifelong families—many at age 18. On their own, these young adults must navigate a weakened economy offering fewer jobs and less support for vital services such as housing. They deserve caring adults who love and support them. For some foster kids, getting adopted can mean the difference between homelessness or incarceration and transitioning successfully to adulthood.
The Indiana Heart Gallery will display a dozen portraits May 14 – 28 at the Franklin County Public Library, 919 Main St. in Brookville. Viewing times: Monday through Thursday, 9 am to 8 pm; Fridays, 9 am to 6 pm; Saturdays, 9 am to 3 pm; closed Sundays. There is no charge to see the Heart Gallery exhibit.
