About the Gallery
Missouri began the Heart Gallery project in 2006 as a way to allow children in foster care awaiting adoptive families to step from the shadows into the light. Stirring portraits, which reveal the children’s amazing spirits and individuality, have helped many find permanent, loving homes.
The Missouri Adoption Heart Gallery is a traveling display that can be featured in public venues to help reach people who may have never considered adoption before. It does not feature every child who needs a home, but it helps represent the many Missouri children who are looking for forever families. Our staff also accompany the display and provide more information about adoption in Missouri and help people who are interested in adoption or foster care begin the process.
The Facts
1,400
Children are waiting (on average) to be adopted in Missouri.
2 years
Is the average amount of time a child will spend in foster care in Missouri.
Teens
And sibling groups have a harder time finding their forever family.
Our Goals
The Missouri Adoption Heart Gallery features children of all ages in Missouri waiting to find the right family. Our goal is to recruit more foster and adoptive families and let people know that older children need loving, forever homes too.
Although the Heart Gallery does not feature every child awaiting adoption in Missouri, our hope is that when communities see the faces of the children in the gallery, they will want to learn more about becoming a foster or adoptive parent.