During this time of great uncertainty, you are no doubt feeling more worried, anxious and concerned than usual. These feelings are natural!
Here at Adoption Choices of Colorado, our hearts go out to all who have been affected during the coronavirus pandemic. We want to personally reach out and provide you with updates on how we are helping prevent the spread of the virus and supporting the health and well-being of our clients, employees and communities. If you are worried about what could happen to you, your baby or our agency – don’t worry.
Our very own Christy Ikeler, Executive Director and Birth Parent Caseworker, is here to put your mind at ease and answer several of the common questions about COVID-19’s impact on pregnancy, adoption and hospital experiences. In this interview, she shares why Adoption Choices is still open during the coronavirus pandemic, how birth mothers can communicate with the agency, and in what ways operations will look like moving forward.
TT: With so many businesses closing due to the coronavirus pandemic, will Adoption Choices close, too?
CI: No, our doors will not be closing. Adoption Choices is still open during the coronavirus pandemic. However, for the time being, please be aware that our physical office in Golden, CO is closed. We have moved to virtual communication to respect the importance of social distancing. That said, we will check our email on a regular basis and respond as promptly as possible. The same goes for any and all calls and text messages.
We believe it is our role and responsibility during this time to prioritize two things: 1) the health and well-being of our clients, employees and contract workers, and 2) to support the local health officials and government leaders as they work to contain the virus. We will continue to make decisions with vigilance and courage, stick to our mission and values, and stay up-to-date with the latest science-based information.
TT: Is Adoption Choices still operating fully during the coronavirus? How so?
CI: We are operating the best we can. We are doing all of our casework remotely in order to keep everyone safe.
TT: How do birth parents and adoptive parents get matched during the coronavirus?
CI: We are still following all matching procedures and will continue to match. The difference is that we are no longer scheduling in-person meetings.
TT: Because of social distancing, what happens if birth parents and adoptive parents want to meet in-person?
CI: At this time, we are assisting in Skype visits only.
TT: What are the available ways that a birth parent or adoptive parent can communicate with you during the coronavirus?
CI: You can communicate with us via any specific programs or forms of communication you use, such as – ZOOM, FaceTime, Skype, phone calls, texts and emails.
TT: What advice can you give to birth parents wanting to place their baby for adoption during the coronavirus?
CI: Continue to move forward with your plan if you feel it is in your baby’s best interest. We will support you throughout the entire process. We are here for you and will be a guiding light during this tough time.
Important Reminders
Please be sure you are following the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) protocol to avoid exposure to the infection: avoid people who are sick, wash your hands, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer and avoid touching your face.
While the CDC has identified older adults and people who have serious chronic medical conditions to be at a higher risk for complications from COVID-19, please keep in mind that social distancing should be practiced to protect the health and well-being of you and your baby. While pregnant women were placed in the “vulnerable category” on March 16th, there are no studies that have shown that you are at greater risk. But this recommendation is just a precaution. If you have further questions about potential risk factors of being pregnant during COVID19, be sure to check out our previous blog.
Our Doors are Open
Adoption Choices is still open during the coronavirus pandemic. We are always available to help you, talk with you and take care of you and your needs in the best way we can. Please do not hesitate to call, text or email us at any time if you have immediate questions or concerns. Rest assured that we are going to continue working remotely and doing our utmost to make sure your adoption journey goes smoothly. We will move through this challenging situation together. Please stay safe and know that you can count on Adoption Choices of Colorado.
Adoption Choices of Colorado
Adoption Choices, Inc. is a private, non-profit adoption agency licensed by the state and leader in the adoption community. We have been assisting birth parents, children, and adoptive parents in Colorado since 2002. Our staff has a genuine commitment to providing an empathetic, empowering, and progressive experience to all involved in the adoption process. For more information on adoption please contact Adoption Choices of Colorado. We can be reached via our website or phone 303-670-4401.
Support Adoption Choices
Adoption Choices, Inc. is partnering with Crowdrise, a fundraising website for nonprofits, to help our adoptive parents and birth parents with much needed financial assistance. We understand that expenses keep clients from fulfilling their dreams. Both with birth parents making a plan for adoption, and with adoptive parents growing their family. It is our mission to provide financial assistance through grants and scholarships, awarded annually in November, in honor of National Adoption Month. Funds assist adoptive parents with matching and placements, adoption finalization and helping birth mothers improve their lives through higher education — and much more.
However, we can’t do it alone. Please read up on our programs and donate money where you are able. Your donation will make a huge impact.
About the Author
Taylor Tsakopulos, the bestselling student. She has interned locally in Denver and internationally in Dublin, Ireland, taken classes/workshops and worked odd jobs and yet always comes back to being a student and the desire to learn or create.
She is a jack of all trades (i.e. a Gemini). She is a Denver-based writer, creator, artist and student. A graduate from Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU).
When she isn’t creating content she’s off dancing and hiking. Always chasing after new things and experiences. After living and working in Europe, she is hungry for more.
Stephanie joined the Adoption Choices family in 2014 as the Child Placement Supervisor. Her love for adoption began in first grade when she made friends with twins adopted from Vietnam. Her heart grew strong over the years for adopted children and ultimately led her to graduate school where she continued her focus to her dream of working in the adoption field. Stephanie earned a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Denver in 2001. Over the past 15 years, Stephanie has worked as a pregnancy counselor and as an adoptive parent counselor for foster care, international adoption and domestic adoption, writing hundreds of home studies for families, and helping build their forever families. Stephanie is married and has three boys ages 12, 9, and 5. Together with her family she enjoys riding bike, playing games, watching her three sons compete in their various sporting and musical activities and go on vacations.
Christy Ikeler, is our Executive Director and Birth Parent Director. Christy has been with Adoption Choices Team for 18 years, since opening the doors in 2002! Christy has a true passion for what she does and her true love is working with and helping each birth parent. Whether she is up all night on the phone talking with them, taking them to doctors appointments, out for their favorite treat, providing counseling or at the hospital during labor and delivery, Christy is very involved every step of the way. She has a contagious laugh and a spunky personality that our birth moms all can bond with and relate to. As an adoptive parent herself, adoption holds a very special place in her heart and she can relate on every level with both birth parents and adoptive parents. In her free time Christy loves spending time with her daughter, gardening, baking and taking vacations with her family. Christy is an excellent leader for our team at Adoption Choices and is truly one of a kind!! As Executive Director, Christy spends time with the staff, birth parents and adoptive families in order to ensure that the agency is running smoothly. She has placed a huge emphasis on community outreach and programs for birth parents. Christy loves the opportunity to lead the agency into a brighter future.
Ms. Mackenzie has built a successful counseling career over the past 20 years, supporting mothers and families, people of all ages and genders, students, community professionals and fellow clinicians. Liv values a diverse professional focus, including the entrepreneurial life of a sole proprietor, the evaluative process of certifying foster/adoptive homes, the insightful and mindful one-on-one one work with enthusiastic clients, and serving as an advocate for underserved populations. Liv is a Licensed Professional Counselor and holds a BA in Pre-Law and Economics from American University, an MA in Counseling from Adams University and a certificate in Human Resource Management from Villanova University. Away from work you will find Liv spending time in nature, biking to the farmer’s market and adventuring with her family.
Catherine A. Madsen, joined the Adoption Choices family as legal counsel in 2013. Catherine is responsible for providing legal guidance to the Agency, training and updating staff on developments in adoption law and legislation, and program development. Catherine
Virginia Frank is an adoption attorney accredited since 1991 with the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys. Ms. Frank is a leader in the field of private adoption and has completed over 4,000 adoptions in her career. Ms. Frank has a law degree from Oklahoma City University and a BA in both Political Science and Communications from the University of Oklahoma.
Cassidie has been with Adoption Choices since 2015, she has her bachelors in Interdisciplinary Affairs with concentrations in both Sociology and Business Management. Cassidie has additional training in Victim Advocacy, foster care and has been working in women’s services for over 10 years. Cassidie has always had a heart for adoption and it was her career dream to work in adoption. She started off doing volunteer work for advocacy programs, adoption organizations and worked in High Risk Maternal Fetal Medicine through the University of Colorado Hospital and Children’s Hospital of Colorado. Cassidie is also blessed to have personally experienced an adoption of her own in 2012, completing her family of five! Cassidie loves what she does as a case worker from initial phone calls, meetings, doctor appointments, interaction with the adoptive families to delivery and counseling. Cassidie has a passion for those in need and strives to help make a difference in the lives of the people she meets. She is a firm believer in being kind, compassionate and open minded in all situations. “Unless you’ve walked in their shoes, there’s no place for judgment. A kind word or compliment can go a long way!” The bittersweet moments in adoption reminds Cassidie each and every time, why she loves what she does!