Exhibit puts face on adoption

Traveling show seeks to place 50 kids in permanent homes

Jennifer Miller, Rocky Mountain News

Published April 29, 2005 at midnight

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Grocery shopping was always painful for Brittany.

"I remember seeing families waiting in line at the grocery store," said the 15-year-old. "I'd picture myself standing with them."

She never had a family.

Brittany has bounced between different Colorado foster homes since she was 8.

She has always wanted to come home from school and hear Mom say, "Do your homework; dinner will be ready soon."

Now, after seven years of social services care, a national event gone local might help Brittany hear the phrase she has always dreamed of.

Brittany's smiling face will be traveling throughout Colorado this year in The Faces of Adoption exhibit of the Colorado Heart Gallery.

The exhibit, which debuts at an invitation-only gala this evening, features pictures of 50 Colorado children who have waited the longest for adoption. Most have been in foster care.

Collaborators - including five county human services departments; The Adoption Exchange, a nonprofit child welfare organization; and the Colorado Department of Human Services - hope this display inspires the community to act.

"We really hope the gallery will be a mechanism to bring these kids into the community's awareness," said Ted Trujillo, state director of child welfare services. "The public gets to view these children as the beautiful children they are, as opposed to the negative background they come from."

Originating in New Mexico in 2001, the Heart Gallery has had success linking children with families.

New Mexico has been able to give out adoption licenses to 50 percent of those who inquired through their Heart Gallery, compared with giving out licenses to 5 percent of those who applied through other methods, according to Heart Gallery records.

Oklahoma placed 29 children through its exhibit.

In Colorado, 29 professional photographers volunteered to take portraits of the children. Their work will tour several venues, including Denver International Airport, Denver's Santa Fe Art district and the Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library.

Brittany, whose last name must be withheld because of state law, says her picture was taken at Denver Botanic Gardens.

Finding someone to adopt an older child is difficult, said Trujillo.

"The data has shown us that a male boy over 9 has about an 80 percent chance of spending the rest of his years (until 18) in foster care," he said. "Girls reach the same percentage at about 11 years old."

Still, for an older child, adoption remains important.

"I don't know if I'm going to make it (alone)," said Brittany, whose current foster parents are retiring in June and can't afford to adopt her. "What if I hit a financial snag?"

The thought brings tears to her eyes.

Plus, she doesn't want to move from her day school in Aurora where she finally feels at home.

She's hoping for someone to adopt her despite set habits, such as smoking cigarettes and folding her comforter over her sheets because she doesn't like to make her bed.

And for someone to give her love.

"I'm a very needy person," Brittany said.

The exhibit kicks off at the Walnut Foundry Event Center, 3002 Walnut St. in Denver. Those wishing to see it need to make an appointment by calling (303) 394-3672.

Call Melicia Boer, spokeswoman for Denver Human Services, at (720) 944-1422 for more information about exhibit dates and locations.

Colorado adoption statistics

8 average age of children waiting to be adopted

23 number of months the average child waits for adoption once human services has consent to adopt

8% adoptable children who wait in care for at least 60 months

58% children adopted by their foster parentsSource: Colorado Department Of Human Services

millerj@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-892-5425

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