Can Same-Sex Couples Adopt in Colorado?
Adoption is a great path to go on if you find yourself in an unplanned pregnancy and are unprepared. It’s a chance to give your baby the life they deserve. What’s more, depending on the kind of adoption, you can choose the adoptive family. There are a variety of couples and single parents that would love to raise your baby. Maybe you’re thinking of choosing a same-sex couple, but you have questions. Can same-sex couples adopt in Colorado? What are the benefits of same-sex adoption for your child? And many more. Well, look no further. We’ll talk about all the frequently asked questions about same-sex couples during an adoption.
Adoption Choices of Colorado will take you step by step through the adoption process. You’ll learn of valuable resources that will help you get through this time. Among other things, you’ll learn one of them is positive adoption language. This will tell you ‘how to put your baby up for adoption’ instead of ‘how to give up a baby for adoption .’That might sound unimportant, but it’s a way to help you cope and understand adoption better. So, make sure you search ‘adoption Colorado Springs’ to learn more about adoption in Colorado.
If you need adoption help now, please call or text us at 303-670-4673 (HOPE) or visit us at Adoption Choices of Colorado.
FAQ about Same-Sex Adoption in Colorado
Can Same-Sex Couples Adopt in Colorado?
Yes. Same-sex couples that are married have marriage rights and can adopt. They specifically have the right to joint adoptions to be able to utilize adoption agencies in Colorado. However, if a couple is not married, they will need separate petitions for each individual. A same-sex partner is also allowed to adopt the child of their partner. This is known as Second Parent Adoption, and the process is no different than any other.
How do I Choose a Colorado LGBTQ+ Family to Adopt My Baby?
In your adoption plan, you’ll have the option of choosing the parents for your baby depending on the type. Your adoption agency provides profiles of the families for you to look through. You can also visit the waiting families page on our site, which displays waiting for adoptive couples. This way, you’ll learn about the couple’s cultures, beliefs, and values and make your decision from there. While browsing the profiles, you can decide which family suits your needs for your child and filter through as you go along. You can check for location, educational status, job status, and more. All this will ensure you have the most information to make a well-informed decision.
Can I Stay in Touch With My Child’s Adopted Family?
Yes, you can under specific circumstances. If you opt for open adoption or even semi-open, you’ll be allowed to contact your child and their adoptive family. Your adoption agency can provide many different ways to stay in touch with them. You can utilize phone calls, letters, virtual face-to-face calls, and so on. If you’re inclined, we can help you set up visitations as well.
What are the Challenges of Same-Sex Colorado Adoption for My Child?
Unfortunately, some same-sex couples still face discrimination from others, especially when they want to adopt. Your child might experience some bullying or discrimination for having same-sex parents. This can have an emotional impact on them as they get older. They might feel isolated from other kids as well as same-sex parents aren’t common yet. However, it’s important to remember that their adoptive family is most likely prepared to handle this. They are more likely prepared to help your child deal with negative actions and emotions.
Are There Benefits to My Child Being Raised by a Colorado Same-Sex Couple?
Yes! Your child will grow up in a diverse and inclusive environment. Same-sex parents are just as capable of providing loving homes as any other parents. They are likely to grow up more accepting and empathetic to different kinds of people.
Are Children Raised by Same-Sex Parents More Likely to Question Their Sexuality?
This is a common misconception. There’s nothing to prove that LGBTQ+ parents will raise LGBTQ+ children. After all, those parents were raised in heterosexual households before. In that case, parentage has no hold on the sexual orientation of a person.
Will my Baby be Well Cared for by Colorado Same-Sex Parents?
Your baby will be taken care of as well as any other couple. Because of the rarity of same-sex parents in other states, those who can adopt might be less likely to take it for granted. Their focus, care, and attention will solely be on your child.
Why Might Colorado LGBTQ+ Parents Want to Adopt?
LGBTQ+ couples might want to adopt for the same reasons as anyone else. They might want to raise a child with their partner and grow a family together. Some might want to give a child a loving home and a better future. Adoption is one of the ways LGBTQ+ couples can develop a family of their own.
Are Colorado Adoptive Parents Required to Have Background Checks?
Yes. Just like any other couple looking to adopt, background checks will be required. All adopted families will be checked for any criminal history as well. There will be home studies conducted by officials to make sure the family will be able to properly care for and financially support your baby.
Are there Resources to Help Me Emotionally Cope When I Place My Baby in an LGBTQ+ Adoptive Family?
If you’re feeling emotionally overwhelmed during the process, your agency can provide resources to help. We can provide advice as well as counseling.
Learn more about LGBTQ+ adoption at Adoption Choices of Colorado
Same-sex parents have an opportunity to give their children the care and attention they need to grow into emphatic and inclusive adults. Why not give them that chance and choose a same-sex couple for your baby? Adoption Choices of Colorado strives to teach you how to give up your baby for adoption and know that you’re not giving them up. Look us up and start your journey.
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!