BY LeAnn Askins

Sun staff writer

JONESBORO -- As the ADOPTION COALITION continues to take shape in Northeast Arkansas, there have been some challenges along the way, members of the group learned Wednesday.

The group met at St. Bernards Auditorium to discuss the steps that have been taken to place more children with adoptive families since the ADOPTION COALITION was first organized in December.

More than 100 people have attended orientation meetings about the group, said Sylvia Richards, a co-chair of the coalition.

Her co-chairwoman, Sharon Stallings, said that while progress has been made over the past three months, there have been some obstacles along the way.

"We all know that with every worthy endeavor you will have some challenges," she said.

Stallings said there have been some problems obtaining the contact information for foster children in the area to put together a heart gallery, a mobile group of photographs of children waiting to be adopted.

After making the request to the Arkansas Department of Health and Human Services to get the names, the Coalition only received first names and no contact information about the children's foster parents, Stallings said.

DHHS officials locally and from Little Rock originally prompted the formation of the ADOPTION COALITION and had offered to help in gathering the contact information for the heart gallery, she said.

However, Stallings said the information has not been forthcoming.

"We proceeded to contact all of the area attorneys of foster children to ask which children have parental rights terminated and are up for adoption," she explained. "They are being very helpful as they want to see the children adopted as much as we do."

Plans are moving slowly forward with the heart gallery, said Dia Sawyer, a member of the heart gallery committee.

So far, eight of the estimated 100 children in the area waiting to be adopted have been photographed.

Sawyer said a number of local photographers have offered to photograph the children.

"I was stunned when the volunteers started calling me," she said.

Local beauty salons have also offered hair and make-up services for the photographs.

Sawyer said once the coalition is able to obtain more children's information and then pictures, the heart gallery will be placed throughout the area, giving prospective parents a chance to see the children available for adoption.

Stallings said there have also been issues with families who are interested in adopting not being informed of when training classes, which are required prior to fostering or adopting a child, are taking place.

She also discussed a plan by the faith-based committee to have churches pray for specific foster children until they are adopted.

The group also learned about guardianship as a "Plan B" when a situation arises where a child cannot or does not want to be adopted because of unusual circumstances.

The next meeting of the coalition will be at noon May 16 at St. Bernards Auditorium.

leann@jonesborosun.com