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Picture Me

Picture Me

By: The Heart Gallery of Central Texas
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About this listen

 Picture Me is a podcast from the Heart Gallery of Central Texas that amplifies voices across the world of child welfare. Hosted by Jon Vineyard, each episode features stories and perspectives from those who live and work within the foster care and adoption community—professionals, foster and adoptive parents, state partners, and adults and youth with lived experience. Whether you’re considering fostering, adopting, or simply want to better understand the system and the lives it touches, Picture Me offers real conversations and heartfelt stories from the world of child welfare.The Heart Gallery of Central Texas Economics Management Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • Yareli Mendieta - CPS Adoption Caseworker

    Yareli Mendieta - CPS Adoption Caseworker
    Dec 16 2025

    In this episode we interview Yareli, an adoptions case worker for DFPS. Yareli has been a case worker for 9 years, 7 of those being in the adoptions unit. She has walked side by side with children in foster care from first contact all the way to reunification or adoption. Join us for an inside look of the day to day as a CPS case worker with Yareli.


    Heart Gallery of Central Texas: www.heartgallerytexas.com


    Texas Adoption Resource Exchange (TARE): https://www.dfps.texas.gov/Adoption_and_Foster_Care/About_TARE/Adoption/


    Foster Community (foster care and adoption resources): www.fostercommunity.org

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    26 mins
  • Ali

    Ali
    Dec 2 2025

    In this episode we interview Ali, a motivated and caring 14 year old who has spent nearly half of her life in foster care. Ali loves sports and is driven to do well in school to secure her future. She has goals to have a career that makes a difference in other people’s lives since so many people have made a difference in hers. The big thing Ali is missing from her life is an adoptive family who will love her and support her through everything.


    Ali’s Heart Gallery Profile: https://partnershipsforchildren.org/heartgallery/alissandra/


    Heart Gallery of Central Texas: heartgallerytexas.com


    Texas Adoption Resource Exchange (TARE): https://www.dfps.texas.gov/Adoption_and_Foster_Care/About_TARE/Adoption/


    Foster Community (Foster care and adoption resources): www.fostercommunity.org

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    25 mins
  • Katherine Squires - Overcoming Abandonment

    Katherine Squires - Overcoming Abandonment
    Nov 18 2025

    In this episode we interview Katherine Squires, a proud Baylor graduate who was adopted from foster care as a toddler. Katherine had a hard childhood, even after adoption, and once she was separated from her older sister, she had to navigate life on her own. Unfortunately, every adoption story is not all sunshine but you will hear how Katherine persevered and became her own best advocate, which lead her to attending and graduating from her dream college, where she studied to have a career helping children who were just like her.


    Heart Gallery of Central Texas: heartgallerytexas.com


    Texas Adoption Resource Exchange (TARE): https://www.dfps.texas.gov/Adoption_and_Foster_Care/About_TARE/Adoption/


    Department of Family and Protective Services: https://www.dfps.texas.gov/
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    31 mins
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