During National Adoption Month, Heart Gallery of Northwest Texas is highlighting the children waiting for permanent families and the community support that helps build lasting connections.
Every child deserves a place to call home, people they can count on and the opportunity to feel seen, valued and loved. For children in foster care, finding that sense of belonging can begin with something as simple as a photograph and a story.
That is the heart behind Heart Gallery of Northwest Texas, a program of 2INgage that works to connect children waiting for adoption with prospective families while raising awareness about the need for foster and adoptive homes throughout the Big Country and Texoma regions.
During National Adoption Month, the program is shining a light on the children waiting for permanent families and the important role communities can play in helping them find lasting connections.
Over the past year, Heart Gallery of Northwest Texas helped 35 children move into adoptive homes, up from 28 the previous year. The milestone reflects the power of community awareness and the importance of ensuring children and families have support throughout their adoption journey.
Helping Children Be Seen and Their Stories Heard
At its core, Heart Gallery of Northwest Texas is built around a simple but meaningful idea: every child has a story worth knowing.
Through professional portraits, personal biographies and community gallery displays, the program introduces children in foster care to prospective adoptive families. These galleries give children an opportunity to be seen as individuals while helping potential families learn about their personalities, interests and hopes for the future.
The outreach also brings attention to the ongoing need for foster and adoptive homes, particularly in rural communities where connecting children with prospective families can present additional challenges.
“By featuring youth in galleries, we are increasing their chances of connecting with an adoptive family and raising awareness for the need of foster and adoptive homes – especially in our rural communities,” said Maggie Brennan, community engagement manager at 2INgage.
The program is part of 2INgage, the community-based care contractor serving children and families in Region 2. Its work extends beyond helping children find permanent homes to ensuring families have access to resources that support stability and healthy relationships long after adoption.
A Year of Impact Across Northwest Texas
The impact of Heart Gallery of Northwest Texas reaches far beyond the gallery displays. Through outreach, family services and community partnerships, the program is helping create stronger connections for children and caregivers across the region.
The program’s 2026 regional report highlights several accomplishments:
- 35 children moved into adoptive homes, an increase from 28 the previous year.
- 39,194 people reached through outreach events sharing the stories of children waiting to be adopted.
- 140 children and family members received post-adoption support, including individual, family and group therapy services.
- 64 parent support groups and coaching opportunities supported 246 adoptive parents as they navigated the challenges and rewards of building permanent family connections.
These numbers represent more than annual milestones. They reflect children finding families, caregivers gaining support and communities becoming more aware of how they can make a difference.
Building Strong Families Beyond Adoption
Finding a permanent family is an important milestone, but the journey does not end when a child joins a new home.
Adoption and other permanent placements can bring significant adjustments for both children and caregivers. Building trust, strengthening relationships and navigating new family dynamics can take time. Having the right resources and support can make a meaningful difference.
Through 2INgage’s post-adoption and post-permanency services, families can access free, local resources designed to help them navigate these transitions and build lasting relationships.
Services include mental health support, respite care, assistance with basic and emergency needs and caregiver support groups.
“We are creating a community of support for our youth and families through post-adoption/post-permanency services by providing resources and support through local providers,” Brennan said. “Families have access to free, local services for mental health support, respite, basic and emergency needs and caregiver support groups.”
By connecting families with these resources, 2INgage helps ensure caregivers do not have to navigate the challenges of permanency alone. The goal is to give children and families the tools they need to grow together and develop a lasting sense of security and belonging.
How North Texans Can Make a Difference
Creating permanent connections for children in foster care is a community effort. During National Adoption Month, Heart Gallery of Northwest Texas encourages individuals, businesses and community organizations to learn more about the needs of children in foster care and explore ways to get involved.
There are several ways to make a difference:
- Explore the gallery. Visit heartgallerynwtexas.org to learn more about the program and the children it serves.
- Learn about adoption. Individuals and families interested in adopting can explore available resources and learn more about the next steps.
- Volunteer. Support community events, gallery displays and outreach activities.
- Share the mission. Help raise awareness by sharing the gallery and encouraging conversations about the need for foster and adoptive families.
- Support children and families. Learn more about opportunities to support 2INgage and its work throughout Region 2.
Whether someone is interested in adoption, volunteering at a community event or simply helping spread awareness, every effort can contribute to creating more opportunities for children to find permanent, loving families.
Every Child Deserves a Place to Belong
National Adoption Month is an opportunity to recognize the children waiting for families, celebrate the families who have opened their homes and acknowledge the communities working to make permanent connections possible.
For Heart Gallery of Northwest Texas and 2INgage, that commitment continues throughout the year. Through storytelling, community outreach and ongoing family support, the program is helping children find more than a permanent home. It is helping them find stability, meaningful relationships and a place where they truly belong.
This November, North Texans are encouraged to look beyond the photograph, learn the stories behind the faces and consider how they can help make a lifelong difference.
Because every child deserves more than a home. Every child deserves to feel seen, loved and part of a family.
To learn more about Heart Gallery of Northwest Texas and how to get involved, visit www.heartgallerynwtexas.org.
