What Are The Adoption Services in Colorado?
By Gabrielle Maya
Are you a birth mother living in the state of Colorado? You have an unexpected pregnancy and plan on choosing adoption as an option. However, you may not be aware of any adoption agencies in Colorado or the provided adoption services. Adoption Choices of Colorado is an agency you can count on. We will help answer all your questions regarding adoption and unplanned pregnancy services. We understand and empathize with you. Adoption can be an overwhelming decision. You are doing a selfless act for your child. We will help every step of the way. For more information on how to start your adoption, keep reading.
What Is an Adoption Plan?
An adoption plan is a step a birth mother must complete until the entire adoption process is finalized. The first two steps you will be asked to do are: figure out what type of adoption you want and what kind of adoptive family to choose.
There are three basic adoption types you can choose from. Do any of these types resonate with you?
Open Adoption
I am a birth mother interested in having a relationship with my child and the adoptive family in the future. I want consistent close communication with my child. Types of contact options are personal emails and letters, in-person visits, and phone/video calls.
Closed Adoption
I’m a birth mother who chooses that no contact form is best. I think the child will have a healthy, happy life with the adoptive family I chose.
Semi-Open Adoption
I am a birth mother who wants a relationship with the adoptive family and my child. However, I think I should schedule communication on a professional basis. Forms of communication can be professional emails and letters with photographs, video and phone calls, and scheduled in-person visits. All contact forms are updates on the child’s well-being and are mediated through Adoption Choices of Colorado.
Five common questions to consider when choosing an adoptive family are:
1. Location
Do you want the adoptive family to be near you? In the same county, state, or city?
2. Values and Morals
Having similar values and morals is an essential preference for you. Does it matter if they have some different opinions about living a well-balanced life?
3. Upbringing
Do you want an adoptive family that shares the same views on how a child should be raised? Are you flexible and will accept if they have some differences in raising a child?
4. Race/ Ethnic background
Would you prefer an adoptive family with the same background as you, or does it not matter?
5. Religion
Is religion an essential part of your life that you want a family with the same religion to raise your child? Do you think any family with any type of religious background is fine? If you are an atheist, do you want your adoptive family to be atheists?
Consider these questions very carefully, including other kinds of preferences you have in mind. Once you have completed this checklist, your adoption specialist from Adoption Choices of Colorado will find the adoptive families that are a good fit for you.
Colorado Adoption Services: What’s Involved?
Adoption Choices of Colorado offers several unplanned pregnancy services for you and your child. We understand that this entire adoption process can be overwhelming. You may not be financially stable or have any resources to rely on. We are here to offer you eligible resources to apply for. From the start of your adoption to post-placement, our agency is here to provide the support you need.
Financial Aid
If you don’t have enough financial stability or savings to help support your adoption, we offer loans and grants. We encourage you to check your eligibility and apply to our financial resources. We can pay off your rent, groceries, maternity clothes, phone bill, transportation fees, and medical expenses.
Medical Assistance
We understand that medical expenses can be burdensome. Whether you have a reliable doctor and insurance, know that we have doctors who are happy to take your case and watch over you and your child’s health. We can help you stay on track with your checkups and other appointments.
Housing
Your home may not be accommodating for an adoption. You want safety and comfort and plenty of space for yourself. We offer potential accommodation near you. We have a list of locations that you can choose from and discuss with your adoption specialist.
Birth Plan
This is one of the steps of the adoption plan. Your due date will be getting closer. One of your discussions with your doctor is about planning the birth. We want you to feel safe and comfortable when giving birth. All decisions are final and made by you. The location of the birth, who is in the delivery room, if you choose to breastfeed, if you want an all-natural birth or c section; the doctor will make it happen.
Free Counseling
With an adoption process to think about, all your emotions and feelings may have been tossed to the side. Whether you went through the push and pull of adoption, these thoughts and feelings are valid and common for a birth mother. There are counseling sessions you can go to 24/7. You can choose one or group counseling. We are available to you after the adoption and during. Learn to accept, cope, and acknowledge your adoption.
Adoption Choices of Colorado is a reliable agency that you can trust. Our unplanned pregnancy services offer step-by-step guidance on completing your adoption and finding the right adoptive family. You are brave, courageous, and strong. Adoption is an option for all birth mothers alike. Regardless of your circumstances, we support and validate your decisions, emotions, and feelings.
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!