dbachman@observer-reporter.com

Glance at the portraits featured in the Pennsylvania Heart Gallery at Washington Crown Center, and it's hard not to notice the sparkling smiles of the youngsters.

But upon closer inspection, it becomes apparent the smiles belie the heartache these children have endured during their young lives.

The 42 children featured in the traveling photo exhibit are among the 3,000 youngsters throughout the state who are hoping to be adopted into a loving family.

"Right now, of those 3,000, 900 don't have a family identified. We're actively recruiting for those kids," said Carrie Keiser, program specialist for the Department of Public Welfare Office of Children, Youth and Families.

The Pennsylvania Heart Gallery is modeled after a concept created in New Mexico in 2001. This is its second statewide tour, and it will be on display through May 15 at Washington Crown Center in North Franklin Township.

Each portrait is accompanied by a detailed profile, including information about the child's interests, personalities and dreams.

Meet Aisha, 14, who is described as a "hard-working social butterfly who loves smiling and good jokes." She enjoys reading, dancing to hip-hop music, playing dress-up, singing to the radio and "typing away on the computer."

Then there's Alex, a 14-year-old who loves to swim and play football, and he always roots for the Pittsburgh Steelers. "Alex needs a home that can provide consistency and structure, as well as unconditional love. He would like to be placed with a two-parent family, preferably with younger siblings."

Or how about 10-year-old Braden, "a curious little boy who has experienced a lot in his short life and is struggling to piece it all together." Braden, who receives services to help him work through his delays and needs, "is looking for a loving family willing to provide him with plenty of attention."

Ten of the children featured in the exhibit are from the Pittsburgh area, including two from Washington County.

In Pennsylvania, children enter the foster care system if for some reason, through no fault of their own, Keiser said, they are unable to return to their own homes.

"On any given day, there are 20,000 kids in the Pennsylvania foster care system," Keiser said.

The heart gallery has been well-received, Keiser said, and some of the children highlighted in the exhibit have an adoption pending. She said the state Department of Public Welfare is planning to add 25 more portraits this month.

"I can't speak to the number of calls we've had," Keiser said. "It's just the awareness of the businesses who have been willing to host the exhibit. We're getting information out there for adoption.

"My job is to pick children who have been waiting a little longer, and they're usually older. Most of our kids are 5 and older. With younger children, we typically don't have an issue finding a home for them."

So far, 77 children have been featured in the exhibit. Of those, 28 have either completed their adoption or have been placed in pre-adoption homes. Statewide, 29 of the 67 counties have participated in the gallery.

Before the state launched its gallery, the Philadelphia Department of Human Services and the Three Rivers Adoption Council had traveling exhibits in place. There's also a permanent exhibit in Harrisburg.

"It's a unique child recruitment tool," Keiser said.

All of the portraits were taken by photographers who donated their time, and each portrait will be presented to the adoptive family.

From Washington, the gallery will travel to Strawberry Square in Harrisburg (May 16-28), then Erie International Airport (May 29-June 25).

For more information, visit the Pennsyvlania Adoption Exchange Web site, www.adoptpakids.org, and click on Pennsylvania Heart Gallery.

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