15 Adoption Terms to Know
By Jaclyn Prasa
It can initially seem daunting if you are considering adoption in Colorado for your unplanned pregnancy. Where do you even start? Adoption Choices of Colorado is here to assist you throughout the entire adoption process and is readily available to help answer any questions that may arise. Stemming from its history, adoption has been associated with many untrue stigmas. Therefore, while starting the process, it is important to reframe your mindset by addressing the adoption process properly. Positive Adoption Language (PAL) is a way to verbally address adoption positively. Ultimately, when you choose a Colorado adoption, you are making a loving, positive choice for your child. Therefore, words and phrases associated with adoption should also be positive. Here are some positive terms to help you learn more about the process of adoption.
If you need adoption help now, please call or text us at 303-670-4673 (HOPE) or visit us at Adoption Choices of Colorado.
Practicing PAL: 15 Adoption Terms to Know
1. Adoption
This is the legal process when there is a transfer of parental rights. Typically, and when dealing with private adoption, a birth parent will relinquish their parental rights allowing the adoptive parents custody of their child. It is when a person who is not the biological parent is legally granted custody and raises the child as their own.
2. Adoptee
The adoptee is the person or child who is adopted.
3. Adoption Triad
This refers to the major three involved in the adoption: birth parents, adoptive parents, and the adoptee. The triad can also be referred to as the “adoption triangle” or “adoption circle.”
4. Birth Parent
Either birth mother or birth father describes the child’s biological parents. The term “real” mother or “real” father is not correct PAL in terms of adoption. It gives the impression that the adoptive parents are “not real” parents if they are not related by blood. That is false. In the adoption process, adoptive parents take in the adoptee and raise them as their own. The adoptive parent loves, protects, and guides the child and takes on the role of parent.
5. Adoption Plan
The adoption plan is part of the adoption process and is created by the birth parent, along with the advisement of a professional from the adoption agency. This is the birth parent’s decision to allow their child to be placed up for adoption. In doing so, they make a few decisions regarding what is best for their situation. Depending on the adoption agency, an adoption plan can vary based on resource assistance. Adoption Choices of Colorado can help birth parents with financial support, safe housing, medical care, and emotional support. Additionally, the birth parent will choose the type of adoption and, consequently, the adoptive family.
6. Relinquishment
Adoption Choices of Colorado is a licensed private adoption agency where birth parents voluntarily relinquish or terminate their parental rights to release the child to the adoption agency in order for the adoptive family to gain legal custody.
7. ICPC
ICPC, also known as Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children, is a legal agreement between all 50 States. It ensures that any child adopted in between states will be placed in a safe home.
8. Open Adoption
This refers to the level of openness in an adoption. An open adoption allows birth parents to choose the adoptive family as well as keep in direct contact with them. This can allow for long-term contact between birth parents, adoptive parents, and child. This is a great option for birth parents who wish to remain connected to their child.
9. Confidential or Closed Adoption
Refers to adoption that is confidential by all means. The birth parents and adoptive parents’ information are not disclosed, except for medical history. There is no direct contact in this arrangement. The adoption agency is the middleman between the birth parent and the adoptive parent.
10. Consent Form
A legal document that the birth parent signs of relinquishing parental rights. The birth parent signs this after a certain amount of hours, depending on the state, after giving birth to a child.
11. Private Adoption Agency
Non-government, state-licensed, and privately funded agencies. Adoption Choices of Colorado is a private adoption agency.
12. Home Study
An assessment of adoptive family to ensure a good fit for parenthood. This requires background checks, questions to discover moral character and history, as well as a psychosocial assessment. An in-depth evaluation involves several in-person meetings, and then the court will approve.
13. Post-Placement Supervision
After the adoptee’s placement and before the finalization of the adoptive parent’s legal custody, this is the supervision made by a social worker who will track the progress of placement.
14. Adoption Finalization
The finalization hearing is the legal process in which the court deems the adoptive parent’s permanent custody.
15. Reunion
Meeting between birth parents, adoptees, and adoptive parents.
Further Questions About the Adoption
Placing your baby up for adoption may be one of the hardest decisions you will make. By choosing adoption, you are ensuring that your baby is given more opportunities while being raised in a household that is ready to raise a child. Choosing adoption is a selfless and generous choice. Positive Adoption Language helps to care for each person involved in the adoption while also fighting outdated stigmatized ideas.
There are several adoption agencies in Colorado to choose from. It is important to choose the right agency for you. Adoption Choices of Colorado has agencies in Denver and assists in Christian adoption agencies. Most importantly, Adoption Choices of Colorado will care for your unique situation and help support you throughout the entire adoption process.
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.
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!