TYLER, Texas – Foster children in East Texas have a new advocate to facilitate permanent adoption with the launch of Heart Galleries of Texas’ newest location in Tyler.
Heart Gallery of East Texas will facilitate connections with potential adoptive families for children who typically have to wait longer for adoptions, including older youth, sibling groups and children with acute medical needs. The organization works in partnership with the Moritz Center for Societal Impact at The University of Texas at Austin’s Steve Hicks School of Social Work.
“The work that Heart Galleries is doing is truly life-changing for so many children who long for a loving and supportive family. We welcome them with open arms to our East Texas communities,” said Kevin Eltife, Chairman of the UT System Board of Regents and former mayor of Tyler. “This is a proud moment to see the impact that The University of Texas at Austin and the Steve Hicks School of Social Work are having by establishing a heart gallery in communities throughout Texas and developing practices that can be used nationwide.”
Heart Gallery of East Texas was launched on August 20, with the support of Chairman Eltife, the UT System Board of Regents and Texas First Lady Cecila Abbott and its expansion is supported by funding from the Texas Legislature. Heart Gallery programs use exhibits, portraits and media to introduce prospective adoptive families to children in foster care who want to be adopted. They also raise awareness about adoption and foster care by encouraging communities to help children and families.
“The Heart Galleries of Texas is dedicated to enhancing communication with local foster care professionals, a crucial step in the ongoing commitment to improve adoption outcomes,” said Abbott, one of the program’s original advocates. “We look forward to the lasting positive impact on adoption outcomes for children and families across the state.”
The Moritz Center received $12 million in funding from the Texas Legislature and opened Heart Gallery of El Paso, as the first of 11 statewide programs in 2023. In addition to the Moritz Center, Heart Galleries works in partnership with the Governor’s Commission for Women and the Texas Center for Child and Family Studies. The Office of the Speaker and Office of the First Lady have been strong supporters of the its expansion.
“We are excited to support the Heart Gallery of East Texas,” said Kori Gough, director of the Heart Galleries of Texas. “We are excited to bring a Heart Gallery to the community to help tell the stories of children waiting for adoption and reduce the numbers of children in foster care.”
“We were inspired by the success of the heart gallery model in central Texas and set out to replicate its achievements statewide,” said Nathali Parker Weisman, chair of the Texas Women’s Commission. “Today, we are thrilled to see how quickly this milestone was reached with programs now established in every corner of the state.”
CONTACT
Kori Gough
(512) 698-2627