There are 149 children in foster care in Dona Ana County, many of whom are older kids, according to New Mexico's Children Youth and Families Department.

CYFD and Gov. Susana Martinez are teaming up with one goal in mind: to get those children out of foster care and into a permanent home where they will be adopted.

The Heart Gallery is a display of photographs showing the faces of older children in need of homes.

The gallery will soon be on display in New Mexico State University's Pan Am Center.

"It's a really wonderful experience," adoptive parent Celia Chavez said.

Chavez is a foster and adoptive parent. She has fostered 41 children since 2006 and currently has three kids in her custody.

Chavez adopted 3-year-old twin boys who were abused as babies and is in the process of adopting her third foster child, a 10-year-old boy who is deaf and blind.

CYFD and Martinez said they want more parents like Chavez to adopt foster kids.

"Teach them what it's like to live in a home so when they are 18, they have those skills for their own family," Martinez said.

"Just do it because it's a really rewarding experience," Chavez said.

The Heart Gallery of New Mexico has placed nearly 5,000 children in permanent homes each year since 2001.