Choosing Adoption at Any Age
By Edward Harding
Unplanned pregnancy is a scary thing. Raising a child requires a lot of work, and you may not be ready for that kind of commitment. Know that you are not alone. Hundreds of women each year choose adoption to provide care for their children. Fortunately, the adoption process is not age exclusive and can be a valid choice for women of any age range. Meaning choosing adoption at any age is an option. There are hundreds of potential adoptive families eager to give your child the care they deserve. Placing your child for adoption does not mean you are giving up control. Adoption Choices of Colorado believes that you have a right to be involved throughout every step of the process. We are here to advocate for your needs and provide thorough information to make informed decisions. Whether you are pregnant and considering adoption or a new parent feeling trapped by your increased responsibilities, this guide can help.
If you need adoption help now, please call or text us at 303-670-4673 (HOPE) or visit us at Adoption Choices of Colorado.
How does Adoption in Colorado work?
The initial step after contacting an adoption agency is to begin working on your personal adoption plan. This will act as your outline detailing your specific goals and wishes every step of the way. Your adoption specialist can help you to construct this plan if needed. Our specialists are committed to advocating for you and will ask you to complete paperwork and answer questions. It’s important to be open and honest during this interview. These details are meant to help our specialists to better assist you and include things such as:
- How long have you been pregnant?
- Why are you choosing adoption?
- Financial situation
- How much external aid might you need
Next, you will choose an either open, semi-open, or closed adoption. Doing so will indicate the level of involvement you wish to have with the adoptive family. At Adoption Choices of Colorado, we specialize in newborn and infant open adoptions.
Open Adoptions of Colorado
Upon choosing an open adoption plan, you will then work with your professional to choose a prospective adoptive family. Colorado adoption law requires families to meet specific requirements, but you also have the power to dictate additional preferences. In some cases, even upon choosing closed adoption, you still have a right to select an adoptive family. Once your decision is finalized through open adoption, you can remain in contact with the adoptive family after placement.
Final steps of the Adoption Process
Once you have selected your family, it’s then time to plan for the birth. Your final steps will begin by constructing a hospital plan. This acts as an expansion on the initial adoption plan and details aspects surrounding your delivery. Adoption Choices of Colorado can provide assistance for medical expenses that occur during pregnancy or as a result of delivery.
Following delivery, your adoption professional will then begin the legal process of finalization in a court of law. This procedure may take some time and will require you to relinquish your parental rights to the adoptive family. Adoption Choices of Colorado provides legal support at no additional cost to you.
Adoption Agency resources
Our Colorado adoption agencies offer generous pre and post-placement resources, including;
- Financial support
- Housing assistance
- Medical Care
- Legal representation
- Post placement counseling
- Monthly support groups
Many of these options are available to you even if you already have health insurance. If you do not have health insurance, you may be eligible for additional coverage through Medicaid. Placing your child for adoption is a stressful time, so it’s important to understand all of your options. Each of these resources can help to ease the emotional, economic, and social strain you may experience during this journey. We encourage you to take full advantage of each tool at your disposal.
Choosing Adoption at Any Age: Options that Work for You
It’s important to understand that adoption is not something to be ashamed of. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Placing a child for adoption takes incredible foresight and maturity. Not everyone can recognize they may not be the best primary caregiver for their child. If anything, choosing adoption indicates that you are committed to offering the best life possible for your newborn. We challenge you to break free from judgemental stigmas surrounding adoption discourse and contact a professional today.
Additionally, don’t be intimidated by external pressures. This is your baby, which means you have primary control over each step of the journey. Be sure to speak up and advocate for your foremost desires.
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!