|
HOW MAY
I FIND MORE GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT ADOPTION & FOSTER CARE? |
| Visit the
state’s website. |
| back to questions |
| HOW ARE YOU ABLE TO POST PICTURES
OF FOSTER CHILDREN ON A WEBSITE? |
|
The children whose photographs are on AHG
are unable to return to their birth families. For each child,
no family has yet been identified who is able and willing to
adopt these children. In a real sense, they are orphans. A judge
has made a decision that it is in the best interest of each
child to seek an adoptive family through the use of media,
including the Internet, TV, radio, print, etc. As soon as AHG is
notified that a child is placed, the photo is removed in a
timely manner. |
| back to questions |
| HOW DO I APPLY TO BE AN ARIZONA
HEART GALLERY PHOTOGRAPHER? |
|
Submit your information via our secure
online form (coming soon). You will have to be approved by our Photography
Review Board. Our photographers are unique individuals who
volunteer their time and talent because they care about the
children. You do not have to be a professional photographer, but
most of our photographers are professionals. We are looking for
three important qualities: a heart for children, the ability to
connect with children so they feel relaxed, and the technical
expertise to produce quality photographs. Photo-shoots are
usually taken in the afternoons or on weekends, when the
children are not in school. They are planned to coordinate with
the child’s schedule as well as the photographer’s schedule.
Some of our photographers do one photo-shoot a year, while
others do several. You are welcome to apply even if you have a
limited amount of time to volunteer. The children are always
accompanied by their case manager, foster parent, child specific
recruiter or CASA volunteer. Photographers are never left alone
with the child. |
|
back to questions |
|
HOW DO I SUBMIT A CHILD'S NAME TO BE
PHOTOGRAPHED? |
|
The child’s case manager or child specific
recruiter must submit requests. You may contact the state’s
adoption registry at 602.542.2357 or you may
contact us
for specific document requirements and mailing address.
The decision to allow a child to be
photographed by Arizona Heart Gallery is made by DES and not by
AHG. |
| back to questions |
| HOW DO YOU PROTECT THE PRIVACY OF
THE CHILDREN IN THE GALLERY & WEBSITE? |
|
Arizona Heart Gallery does not release any
personally identifying information about the children. If an
inquiry is made, it is referred to the child’s case manager. |
| back to questions |
| WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP IF I AM
INTERESTED IN INQUIRING ABOUT A SPECIFIC CHILD? |
| You may call the state’s toll-free line at 1-877-KIDSNEEDU
(1-877-543-7633) and speak directly with a recruitment response
specialist. |
| You may also contact Arizona Heart Gallery by submitting a
secure inquiry form. If you are
already certified to adopt or licensed to foster, then the
information from the inquiry form you submit will be
forwarded to the child’s case manager. If you are not yet
certified or licensed, then you will be directed to attend a
parent orientation in your area to
learn more about the licensing and certification process. |
|
Please note: The Arizona Heart Gallery (AHG),
LLC, promotes the need for adoptive parents and foster parents in our
communities. While we occasionally undertake additional acts at the request of
individuals to facilitate foster and adoptive relationships, AHG cannot
guarantee or warrant that these acts will have any effectiveness whatsoever and
takes no responsibility for the accuracy of the information AHG passes on to
others while undertaking such actions. By requesting AHG to undertake such
actions, you understand that AHG does not make decisions regarding the matching
of foster children with prospective families and is not responsible for the
outcome of foster or adoption matching; any action you ask AHG to undertake on
your behalf regarding a potential or existing foster or adoptive relationship is
undertaken at your own risk and discretion. |
| back to questions |
| WHAT HAPPENS AFTER I INQUIRE
ABOUT A CHILD? |
| If you are licensed to foster or certified to adopt, then
the child’s case worker and your licensing worker will be in
contact with one another to see if your family might be a match
for this particular child. AHG is not involved in this
decision-making process in any way. |
|
If you are not yet licensed or certified,
then usually no more personal information about the child will
be given to you until after you have at least begun the process
and have a licensing worker. |
|
Please note: The Arizona Heart Gallery (AHG),
LLC, promotes the need for adoptive parents and foster parents in our
communities. While we occasionally undertake additional acts at the request of
individuals to facilitate foster and adoptive relationships, AHG cannot
guarantee or warrant that these acts will have any effectiveness whatsoever and
takes no responsibility for the accuracy of the information AHG passes on to
others while undertaking such actions. By requesting AHG to undertake such
actions, you understand that AHG does not make decisions regarding the matching
of foster children with prospective families and is not responsible for the
outcome of foster or adoption matching; any action you ask AHG to undertake on
your behalf regarding a potential or existing foster or adoptive relationship is
undertaken at your own risk and discretion. |
| back to questions |
|
WHERE DO THE
CHILDREN LIVE? |
|
The children portrayed by Arizona Heart
Gallery come from all over the state of Arizona. Many live in
foster homes, but some live in group homes
or kinship homes. |
| back to questions |
| WHAT IF I WANT TO HELP, BUT I AM UNABLE
TO MAKE THE COMMITMENT TO ADOPT? |
|
Children in foster care have many needs. There are ways to
contribute your time, your talents, your resources, and your
love. Please contact us and we can
give you more specifics about agencies and programs in your area
who seek to meet the needs of children in foster care. |
| back to questions |
| WHAT IF I WANT THE ARIZONA
HEART GALLERY TO TRAVEL TO MY HOME TOWN? |
|
We are always looking for venues in which
to display the photographs. The photos can either be mounted on
walls or on display grids that we can provide. We also have a
PowerPoint Presentation that can be used for a particular event.
There are specific guidelines, so please
contact us as soon as possible, so that all of the
arrangements can be made in time. The Heart Gallery display
cannot be used for fundraising or for the promotion of a
particular agency—its only purpose is to promote the adoption of
the children in the photographs, and to increase awareness of
the need for more adoptive and foster homes. |
| back to questions |
| |
| PLEASE NOTE: The answers here are designed to be a
brief overview. For further information about adoption or foster
care, please contact Arizona’s toll free line at 1-877-KIDSNEEDU
(1-877-543-7633). For more information about Arizona Heart
Gallery, please contact us directly. |
| |