The New Mexico Children, Youth & Families Department and La Familia, Inc. present
The Third Annual Heart Gallery.

A portrait exhibit to raise awareness about New Mexican children available for adoption.

LOCATIONS AND DATES:

Silver City Museum
Silver City, New Mexico
312 W Broadway St.
Silver City, NM 88061
Call 505-538-5921 for museum information
Call Diane Granito, 505-476-1045 for information 
on the Heart Gallery

Opening reception:
February 12th, 2005
10 am to 4pm (as part of the Chocolate Fantasia event)
Speakers begin at 1pm

Exhibit on display through March 26, 2005

At any given moment, there are over 2,000 children in the custody of the New Mexico Children, Youth & Families Department (CYFD) due to abuse or neglect. While most children are returned to their birth families after certain court-established requirements are met, some children can never return home again and CYFD must seek permanent homes for them.  

The Heart Gallery was created by CYFD in 2001 as a way to raise awareness about these “waiting children”. Thanks to widespread media coverage, the Santa Fe Heart Gallery has inspired over 40 other states to create similar projects.  See the Children’s Bureau website www.adoptuskids.org for more information about the Heart Gallery and adoption.

  For ten years CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), a local non-profit in the First Judicial District, has provided trained community volunteers to advocate for the best interests of children who come into the court system as a result of abuse or neglect. The program recruits, screens, trains and supervises these volunteers to serve as the eyes and ears of the court.  As a natural CYFD partner, CASA has established a Heart Gallery Fund and will provide vital support by co-hosting this year’s New Mexico Heart Gallery.