Photo gallery provides face for children up for adoption in state

Looking at a photo of a 4-year-old named Jennifer, Frances Gould was moved to tears.

"There are people who have dedicated their life to taking in special needs children," said Gould, the Southeast region field support manager for the Missouri Department of Social Services Children's Division. "Adoption of these kids is a truly special thing."

The young girl is one of 248 foster children awaiting adoption who are featured in 188 photographs at the Missouri Adoption Heart Gallery, which started Monday inside West Park Mall. Shot by professional photographers, the gallery will be in place through Sunday.

"We're amazed at how amazing the kids featured in the gallery are, along with the outstanding photographers who gave their time are for this effort," Gould said. "In fact, many of the photographers see this as such a valuable effort that they have donated their time for this for consecutive years."

Pat Patterson, owner of Pat Patterson Photography in Cape Girardeau, has taken photos for the gallery since its 2006 inception in Missouri. Patterson said the gallery allows people to associate a face with the name of a child in need of adoption.

Staci Brugger of Cape Girardeau looks at portraits Monday in the Missouri Adoption Heart Gallery exhibit at West Park Mall. The gallery will remain in front of J.C. Penney until Saturday. (Elizabeth Dodd)

"Some of these kids may never get adopted and that's hard for them to deal with," Patterson said. "I do what I can do to make them feel good about themselves, offer some hope and allow them to have some fun in the process."

The gallery concept started in New Mexico eight years ago and spread to several states. The Heart Gallery last stopped in Cape Girardeau in 2007. Cape Girardeau is the 16th scheduled stop on the tour, which began in May and continues through November.

Since the gallery first stopped in Missouri, more than 100 children have been placed with potential adoptive families. So far, those attending the gallery have indicated an interest in adopting about 10 of the children featured this year.

Gould said the gallery is one of the Department of Social Services' major recruitment efforts.

"The best move for these kids is permanency," Gould said. "And that's what placing them in a permanent home does. It gives them a place to call their own."

The Missouri Adoption Heart Gallery exhibit is on display at West Park Mall. It features 188 photos of 248 children eligible for adoption. The gallery began in 2001 to help find permanent homes for children in foster care. It will be in the mall in front of J.C. Penney through Sunday.

Terri Mungle, a circuit manager with the Children's Division, said those featured in the gallery represent a small number of the 1,400 children in the state awaiting adoption placement. Mungle said he thinks interest generated by the exhibit makes it more likely the children will be placed in permanent homes.

Missouri licenses about 3,000 foster care and adoptive families each year. Gallery organizers hope the project will increase that number to 5,400 families in 2010.

"The kids featured in the gallery are looking for a safe and loving environment of their own," Mungle said. "We're hoping that someone will look at the pictures and consider the opportunity to make that adoption happen."

The Missouri Adoption Heart Gallery will be open during the mall's normal operating hours. For those interested in adoption, representatives will be on hand from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. through Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

bblackwell@semissourian.com

388-3628

Want to go?

What: Missouri Adoption Heart Gallery

Where: Near J.C. Penney inside West Park Mall, 3049 William St., Cape Girardeau

When: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Today through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday

Pertinent address:

220 N. Fountain St., Cape Girardeau, MO

3049 William St., Cape Girardeau, MO