In Texas, nearly 6,000 children in the foster care system await permanent families many facing extended waiting periods due to age, family circumstances or medical complexities.
In a partnership with Texas Social Work, its research institutions and scholarly centers, and the Heart Galleries of Texas, successful adoption programs are now being scaled state-wide.
The Heart Galleries of Texas is a collaboration between the Moritz Center for Societal Impact, located within Texas Social Work at The University of Texas at Austin, the Texas Institute for Child & Family Wellbeing, also located within Texas Social Work, and the Texas Center for Child and Family Studies, a non-profit supporting organization of the Texas Alliance of Child and Family Services.
At Heart Galleries of Texas, the process starts with a picture. Behind each case file is a future artist, athlete, scholar and everything in between who may be just one connection away from thriving. A beautifully captured professional portrait connects children and youth in the foster care system with adults, friends and communities, including potential adoptive families.
From there, the organization focuses on bringing communities together to build permanency for children, youth and families. Ultimately, Heart Galleries of Texas seeks to decrease the number of children raised in systems by increasing support for families.
Since opening its doors to the Central Texas region in 2014, the organization has connected more than 400 children with a caring family. The Central Texas region now boasts a 16% higher adoption rate than the rest of the state of Texas.
That program expanded to the rest of the state thanks to an infusion of $12 million from the Texas Legislature, with the support of the Texas Women’s Commission, the Office of the Speaker, and the Office of the First Lady, with the goal of establishing Heart Gallery programs in each of the 11 child welfare regions in the state.
On May 15, 2024, the opening of the Southeast region of the Heart Gallery marked the completion of that initial goal, supported by welfare advocate Kim Phelan, her husband and former Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan, and Cecilia Abbott, First Lady of Texas.
Allan Cole, dean of Texas Social Work, sees an ethical approach clearly in the work of the Heart Galleries of Texas that connects social work’s mission with significant legislative priorities and impact from The University of Texas at Austin.
“We talk about changing lives, but sometimes I think the language should be that we’re saving lives,” Cole said. “It’s really a miraculous situation for these children. People from other states are calling and talking about it. This can be a model for many, many states.”
By the end of 2025, in addition to statewide program support, the Heart Galleries will focus on providing support and training to local Heart Gallery leaders, caregivers, and child welfare professionals. Texas Social Work will continue to provide resources and assistance in this partnership to ensure social workers play a leading role in this work.
