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Westchester Library Displays Faces Of Foster Children, Potential Adoptees

GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- A traveling photo exhibit showing the faces of Westchester County children in need of "forever families" is on display this week at Greenburgh Public Library.

Jacob is among 90 children in Westchester County awaiting adoption or a "forever family" in foster care. His photo is on display this week as part of the "Heart Gallery" at Greenburgh Public Library, 300 Tarrytown Road. (Route 119)

Jacob is among 90 children in Westchester County awaiting adoption or a "forever family" in foster care. His photo is on display this week as part of the "Heart Gallery" at Greenburgh Public Library, 300 Tarrytown Road. (Route 119)

Photo Credit: Provided/Westchester County
Jayda is among 90 children in Westchester County awaiting adoption or permanent foster care. Her photo is on display this week at Greenburgh Public Library as part of county government's "Heart Gallery."

Jayda is among 90 children in Westchester County awaiting adoption or permanent foster care. Her photo is on display this week at Greenburgh Public Library as part of county government's "Heart Gallery."

Photo Credit: Provided/Westchester County
Nijulon is among 90 children in Westchester County awaiting adoptive or foster care parents. His photo is on display Wednesday through Friday in the "Heart Gallery" at Greenburgh Public Library, 300 Tarrytown Road. (Route 119)

Nijulon is among 90 children in Westchester County awaiting adoptive or foster care parents. His photo is on display Wednesday through Friday in the "Heart Gallery" at Greenburgh Public Library, 300 Tarrytown Road. (Route 119)

Photo Credit: Provided/Westchester County

The "Heart Gallery" is designed to attract adoptive and foster parents.

More photographs and biographies of the children can be found online here.

The county-sponsored exhibit will be shown on Wednesday Oct. 7 through Friday at the library, located at 300 Tarrytown Road (Route 119) in Greenburgh.

As of last month, there were 90 children in Westchester eligible for adoption. Several of those children are expected to be adopted on Nov. 20, as part of National Adoption Month.

A reception is planned for 2 p.m. on Thursday Oct. 8, when Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino will declare it “Adoption Awareness Day.".

“The Heart Gallery gives a face to children in need of a loving ‘forever home’ to call their own,” Astorino said in a press statement. “Our hope is to inspire people to open their hearts and their homes to our foster children, especially those that may be harder to place – such as teenagers or those with special needs.”

Adoptions are on the rise in Westchester and the county wants to build on that success, Astorino said.

The county Department of Social Services recorded 275 adoptions between 2010 and 2014, up from 239 between 2005 and 2009.

“The need for good homes is always there,” Astorino said. 

By calling the United Way's 2-1-1 helpline, residents can begin the screening process to see if they would qualify to be a foster parent. To learn more about becoming a foster parent, visit the United Way of Westchester and Putnam online here.

This is the 11th year that Westchester's Social Services department has participated in the Heart Gallery -- a nationwide effort designed to increase the number of adoptive families. Once again this year, Orange County's DSS has joined Westchester in displaying portraits of children available for adoption. 

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