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Heart Gallery director urges Grimes County to help find permanent homes for youth in DFPS care
Summary
Sarah Murray, director of the Heart Gallery of Central Texas, asked the commissioners court to support local outreach so children in state foster care who are legally free for adoption can connect with families; she said the program has raised adoption rates in Central Texas to about 63 percent.
Sarah Murray, director of the Heart Gallery of Central Texas, told the Grimes County Commissioners Court that the Heart Gallery is expanding outreach into counties it has not historically served and requested local coordination to spotlight children in the care of the Department of Family and Protective Services who are legally free for adoption. "Most people hear about adoption, they think about adopting internationally or adopting a baby and they don't realize that there are children here in Central Texas who are looking for permanent loving homes," Murray said.
Murray described the Heart Gallery as a community engagement initiative that pairs dignified portraits and strength-based stories with community exhibits and partner organizations to connect prospective families with children in foster care. She said the program has worked closely with DFPS Region 7 (30 counties) and that local adoption rates where the gallery has operated rose to about 63 percent. Murray offered to connect the gallery with county staff and community partners after the meeting and asked the court to consider help identifying display sites and outreach channels in Grimes County.
