Heart Gallery Tampa Bay - Our Care Managers

Our Care Managers

Adoption care managers are dedicated child advocates that demonstrate a commitment to improving the lives of children in need of permanent, loving homes. Well beyond their daily job functions, Care Managers give their time and their hearts in hopes of creating happier tomorrows for children in their care. It is that common commitment on the part of Care Managers and the Heart Gallery that ensures successful outcomes for our most vulnerable children.

The Partnership

Adoption care managers are responsible for adoption recruitment, adoptive placement and finalization activities for the children on their caseloads. One of the recruitment activities is the annual Heart Gallery of Tampa Bay.

The Heart Gallery is a collaborative effort between the Children's Board of Hillsborough County, Camelot Community Care, Hillsborough Kids, Inc. and the local photographers who donate their time and skills to this cause. The children waiting for adoption who do not have an identified permanent home participate in the Heart Gallery. There are approximately 160 children in Hillsborough County who are not placed in adoptive homes and typically 100 of them can be featured in the Heart Gallery at one time.

Since the Heart Gallery's inception in 2004, this remarkable partnership has grown and developed into a highly successful recruitment tool for our children. In addition, the Heart Gallery has increased awareness about foster care adoption in general.

The adoption care manager is charged with caring for a child's ongoing needs, scheduling and transporting the child to the photo shoot and creating a biographical statement about the child. Once the child's photograph is displayed in the Heart Gallery, the adoption care manager also responds to and follows up on inquiries from families regarding a particular child.

Camelot Community Care, in partnership with Hillsborough Kids, Inc., presently employs 29 adoption care managers who participate in the Heart Gallery each year. Each of these individuals is dedicated to achieving permanency for all of the children who wait. Without the success and support of the Heart Gallery of Tampa Bay, the number of children waiting for adoption would be much greater.

"Working in partnership with the with Heart Gallery of Tampa Bay has been one of the most rewarding experiences Camelot Community Care's adoptions staff has experienced. The combination of creativity and professionalism in creating the perfect vehicle for finding forever homes for our children has made this partnership an incredible experience."

-Rebecca Jarmon, Executive Director, Camelot Community Care

2009 Care Manager of the Year - Ann Knott

Ann Knott has been a care manager with the Camelot Adoption unit for approximately 1 ½ years. Ann has been a member of the recruitment unit since it's inception in April 2008. She has found many children a permanent and loving family during this time and finalized approximately 7 adoptions this year alone and matched many more. Ann has found families for sibling groups and children with extensive special needs (for instance, the case being finalized today!). She continues to be a role model as well as a care manager to the children on her caseload. Ann's dedication to the children she serves is paramount and she works diligently to find not only a forever family but also the best home for children she works with.

2008 Care Manager of the Year - Penny Lucier

Penny was instrumental in gathering a large sibling group together so they could see each other and be photographed together for the Heart Gallery. She worked hard to coordinate the photo shoot for so many children and did it with a smile! Penny cared for the children on her caseload tremendously and it was important to her that her kids were safe and happy.

2007 Care Manager of the Year - Garet White

Garet White has been a dedicated advocate for all children she serves and has actively recruited loving families for many of them. Her maternal compassion for kids is endless and is expressed in her daily interactions and strong connections, giving each child a sense of belonging and nurturing. Garet ensures that any children in need of a family were actively involved with the Heart Gallery and always went above and beyond to ensure the safety and emotional well-being of her children.