Children’s Division

Text from Candy Shively message

Hello, I’m Candy Shively, director of the Children’s Division of the Department of Social Services. I am joining Gov. Jay Nixon in thanking our foster parents for their efforts as he proclaims May as foster care month in Missouri.

I am struck by the generosity of our foster families, as they open their homes and lives to Missouri’s children who need care when they are separated from their biological families. We recognize your service does not come without some sacrifices by your family, yet you readily make those sacrifices for the good of others. Your efforts are appreciated by all Missouri citizens.

Missouri’s Adoption Heart Gallery begins in May, national foster care month, and continues through November, national adoption month. For me, it is fitting to recognize this continuity of care in our efforts to find permanent homes for young people in the state’s care. For those children in out of home care who cannot safely return to their own homes, foster care provides stability, warmth and love.

When reunification is not possible, foster families often step forward to make their temporary family more permanent through adoption. For others, our efforts—like the Heart Gallery—to find permanency through adoption offer them lifelong connections and forever families.

The gallery allows prospective families to see the children and young people awaiting permanency through the amazing talents of our state’s professional photographers. Through their lenses, the spirits and personalities of these young people speak from the photographs to the hearts of those who view them.

On behalf of all of Missouri’s children who await reunification or an alternative permanency, I want to thank you for welcoming the state’s children into your homes and giving them a safe, nurturing home in which to learn, grow and flourish.