Adoption Choices of Colorado’s Financial Assistance Resources for Birth Mothers
If you are a birth mother looking for financial assistance, there are various viable resources for birth mothers through your state’s programs, your adoption agency, and your child’s adoptive family. Adoption Choices of Colorado is a wonderful agency that will be sure your adoption services are handled with care and minimal to no cost to you.
If you need adoption help now, please call or text us at 303-670-4673 (HOPE) or visit us at Adoption Choices of Colorado.
What kind of financial assistance do I qualify for if I am putting my baby up for adoption?
As a birth mother, you qualify for certain types of assistance. Some of this assistance can come through federal funding, which your caseworker at your chosen adoption agency can help you to get. Other financial assistance can come from your child’s adoptive family. They should have some money set aside for any needs you may have throughout or because of your pregnancy.
What kind of financial assistance for mental health issues do I qualify for if I am putting my baby up for adoption?
If you are in need of counseling due to Postpartum Depression or your emotional issues associated with putting your child up for adoption, your caseworker should be able to refer you to a psychiatrist or psychologist. Any counseling-related services and expenses will be paid for either by your adoptive family or federal or state funding which can be applied for by your caseworker. Otherwise, you can always go to your nearest free mental health clinic.
What kind of financial assistance for legal aid do I qualify for if I am putting my baby up for adoption?
If you are in need of legal assistance during the Colorado adoption process, any referrals can be given to you by your caseworker. There are many law firms that specialize in adoption law and often take on birth mothers as clients for an adjusted fee or pro-bono. It is not definite that there will be no legal fees, but many lawyers are willing to represent birth mothers for little or no fee. A lawyer is a great way to be sure your rights are being protected, but your caseworker is also meant to protect your rights as a birth mother in the adoption process.
What kind of financial assistance for pregnancy-related medical bills do I qualify for if I am putting my baby up for adoption?
If you are in need of financial assistance for medical bills due to your pregnancy, your adoptive family should have money set aside to help you with these fees. Otherwise, just as with counseling-related fees from your pregnancy, your caseworker can help you apply for Medicaid and other federal and state financial resources for birth mothers. This is, of course, all dependent on the state you reside in. Depending on your state of residence, income, and socioeconomic background, you may even qualify for disability benefits due to your pregnant status.
Do I qualify for disability if I am putting my baby up for adoption?
As mentioned above, if you qualify for disability benefits, these can aid in any rent or utility issues throughout your pregnancy. Your adoptive family and your adoption agency should also be able to assist you in these matters. If you are in need of a place to stay or are unable to work, your agency should have temporary housing for you and programs in place to help with this. Disability benefit programs help adoptive families to provide for their child’s birth mother throughout her pregnancy. Any money would not go straight to the birth mother but instead would be set up in a trust account by your adoption agency for the birth mother to use for any of her pregnancy-related expenses. Unemployment insurance through your state can also aid you through the months of your pregnancy, which you may not be employed. If you’re not receiving an income to support yourself throughout your pregnancy, state unemployment insurance is a good solution to this problem.
Can I afford my pregnancy if I am placing my baby up for adoption?
Pregnancy can be very expensive and can affect if you are able to do your job, especially if your work poses a hazard to you and your baby. This is why Colorado’s financial assistance programs are so important. Adoption Choices of Colorado understands this and wants to help you through this process and the fees associated with it. You are doing a brave and selfless thing and should not have to worry about the money associated with it.
If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy and want to learn more about your adoption options, contact Adoption Choices of Colorado by email, phone, or text: Email Us, Text us: 720-371-1099, Call us: 303-670-4673 (HOPE). If you are hoping to adopt, please contact us here.
Meet the author: Carly is a recent graduate of Connecticut College with a dual degree in Psychology and Italian Studies. Graduating Cum Laude with honors in both Psychology and Italian departments, Carly has a background in gender-related research through the Connecticut College Psychology Department and Honors Theses Program. When not trying to figure out life or working, Carly is reading historical fiction novels or playing with her black cat, Isabelle.
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!