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A JOINT MEMORIAL

URGING NEW MEXICANS TO SUPPORT THE HEART GALLERY OF NEW MEXICO

AND CONSIDER ADOPTING A NEW MEXICO CHILD.

WHEREAS, at any one time, between eight hundred and nine

hundred children are in the care of the children, youth and

families department awaiting adoption into loving families;

and

WHEREAS, in an effort to increase the number of children

adopted into their "forever families", the children, youth and

families department in 2001 sponsored the nation's first heart

gallery exhibit; and

WHEREAS, the professional exhibit of portraits of

children awaiting adoption raised awareness among caring

parents and potential parents of the need to step forward and

provide loving, permanent homes to New Mexico children; and

WHEREAS, the creation of the heart gallery of New Mexico

inspired more than forty other states to hold or plan similar

heart gallery openings, which will ultimately lead to

thousands of successful adoptions around the country; and

WHEREAS, the successful efforts of the heart gallery of

New Mexico pushed New Mexico's adoption rate well above the

national rate but, despite that success, fewer than half the

children awaiting adoption in state care each year find their

"forever families";

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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE

STATE OF NEW MEXICO that it applaud the efforts of the

children, youth and families department and the heart gallery

of New Mexico and urge New Mexicans to consider adopting a

child into their family; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be

transmitted to the children, youth and families department.