NATION Heart Gallery attracts 10 states

Ohio hopes to expand its program to promote adoption.
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) -- The Heart Gallery, an adoption program that exhibits portrait photography to help hard-to-place children find homes, is being adopted itself -- by at least 10 other states.
The 54 children look bright, glamorous and energetic in portraits displayed at the Gerald Peters Gallery, one of Santa Fe's pre-eminent art venues in one of the nation's top art markets.
Since New Mexico began its Heart Gallery program in March 2001, Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Ohio, Texas and Washington have either begun a similar program or indicated they would, says Diane Granito, coordinator of foster and adoptive parent recruitment for the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department.
It met with success in Ohio, where 24 children's portraits were divided equally among four exhibits.
"It has drawn an awareness to children that we have available for adoption here in the United States. I think that's important to understand -- that people don't have to go overseas to adopt a child," said Carol Wheeler-Strother of the Hamilton County Department of Job and Family Services, covering the Cincinnati area.
Ohio hopes to expand its program in the next six months, she said.
Elsewhere
The Connecticut program debuted last November with featured portraits of 37 children, 19 of whom have been placed or are being placed with adoptive families, said Diane Del Vecchio, program supervisor for the Connecticut Office of Foster and Adoptive Services.
"We found great positive response to it, which has motivated us to do it again," Del Vecchio said.
The Hartford Courant ran an insert with photos and biographies of the children, including one boy who said he wanted a new bike.
"Someone read that in the newspaper and said, 'I want to buy that kid a bike,'" Del Vecchio said. "I think a lot of good came out of it."
Feedback from the program in Washington state was equally touching. One person called it "overwhelmingly emotional." Another said the photos "call to you from across the room."
Washington's program began April 27 in the Seattle area, offering services for seniors and mentoring for youngsters, as well as adoptions and other benefits.
Adoption programs in California, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, New York and South Carolina have also inquired, Granito said.
History
Since the first Heart Gallery in 2001, Granito said, 48 Heart Gallery families or individuals have adopted or begun the process, including two of the photographers and Peters Gallery coordinator Lisa Bronowicz.
Their prospective 16-year-old daughter has been living with Lisa and Don Bronowicz since October. Final papers are expected in June, Bronowicz said.
"It's a process of growth for everybody, I think," she said of adoption. "Some of the kids have special needs. Kids available for adoption come from so many different backgrounds. It's very rewarding to see progress."