Library display features children available for adoption

In April, the Selma-Dallas County Library has a display packed with pictures of children up for adoption through Heart Gallery Alabama.  

Heart Gallery Alabama Director Michelle Bearman-Wolnek said the organization is a statewide nonprofit whose mission is “to help find permanent adoptive families for children living in foster care.”  

Heart Gallery also connects the kids in foster care with mentors while they are waiting to be adopted.  

Currently there are some 6,000 kids in foster care in Alabama, according to Bearman-Wolnek. Heart Gallery Alabama is working with 300 foster kids whose parental rights have been terminated and are looking for forever homes. Right now, many are not living in traditional foster homes because there are not enough foster families.   

“For every four children, we have one licensed foster family,” she said.    

Bearman-Wolnek said these kids are living in group homes or behavior facilities, not because of any behavioral problems, but because there is nowhere else that they can live.  

The kids that Heart Gallery Alabama typically works with Bearman-Wolnek said are usually 8 and older or part of a sibling group. She added that they try hard to keep the siblings together when they are adopted out.  

The display at the Selma Dallas Public Library is made up of pictures of kids currently needing a family to adopt them. Each picture has a QR code that takes you to the bio of the child in the picture, which is on the Heart Gallery Alabama website. You can also go straight to the website at www.heartgalleryalabama.com.  

On the website, you can see the kids up for adoption and even see a video on each kids’ bio. There is also information about mentoring, fostering and adopting these kids. There is also information about donating.  

Those interested in adopting, becoming a foster family or mentoring can contact Heart Gallery Alabama through their website.