‘Heart Art’ is a trauma-informed approach featuring artwork created by children in Pinellas and Pasco counties who are in need of adoptive homes.

The Heart Art Gallery is composed of various types of artistic expression capturing how children waiting for adoption in Pinellas and Pasco County wish to present themselves to the world and prospective adoptive parents.

We work with each child to help them discover the best way to portray themselves, their hopes, and their dreams. For some, it might be artwork they created, for others it may be a poem they have written.

For many children, professional portraits remain an option. To best serve our children’s needs, these portraits are available through the adoption inquiry process for viewing by those with an approved home study.

We utilize volunteer photographers to feature adoptive families. After finalization, we offer a portrait of the family as a gift to celebrate the family as a whole. The family portraits are also included in our galleries. All photos of children and their families are shared with permission.

How it works

Local Adoption Case Managers send referrals to the Heart Gallery for children most in need of recruitment efforts to help find families interested in adoption.

We work with local art programs who donate their time and talent to help youth available for adoption express themselves on canvas. Those pieces of art are displayed throughout galleries in the community, on our website, and on social media so potential adoptive parents can connect with them. When a potential parent–an individual or couple–sees a child they are interested in, they submit an inquiry using the “inquire about this child” button.

After an inquiry has been submitted, we are here to answer questions as well as offer links to resources and support. Please understand that we cannot provide more information about the children than you see here. If you are a potential match, you will be contacted by the Adoption Case Manager or directly through the lead agency, Family Support Services of Pinellas and Pasco Counties. 

The first step on your adoption journey is learning about what exactly the journey entails. Adoption is a unique way to build your family while changing children’s lives and enriching your own. While becoming a family is the biggest benefit, the State of Florida has many more to offer.