Choosing Adoption in an Abusive Relationship in Colorado
If you are in an unhealthy relationship or you know of someone who is in an unhealthy relationship, it is important to know that you have options to make the situation better. One of these options is adoption, and our staff here at Adoption Choices of Colorado is ready to help. It does not matter what type of abuse you are receiving. Any type of mistreatment or abuse to you is wrong. It is okay to feel afraid to reach out for help, but it is important to know that reaching out for help is the right thing to do in order to protect you and your unborn baby.
If you need adoption help now, please call or text us at 303-670-4673 (HOPE) or visit us at Adoption Choices of Colorado.
First, You Want To Acknowledge You Are In An Abusive Relationship
The first step towards getting out of your relationship if you are being mistreated is to identify what makes your relationship abusive. It could be because of a number of things or just a single thing. Does your spouse hurt you physically or emotionally in any way? Does your spouse blame you or someone else for things that are not in your control? Has your partner ever tried to minimize physical or emotional violence? Does your partner make you nervous about your safety and your unborn baby’s safety?
The Next Step Is To Reach Out For Help
If you said yes to any of the reasons listed above, then your next step is to reach out for help. Here at Adoption Choices of Colorado, we know that you might feel afraid to reach out for help. It is important for you to know that there are people out there who want to help you. Another thing you want to do is remove yourself from the unsafe environment as soon as you can—unfortunately, any forms of mistreatment or abuse start or increase during pregnancy. We want you to be in a comfortable environment where you feel safe, and your unborn baby is safe.
How Adoption Choices of Colorado Can Help You
If you decide to work with us on your Denver adoption journey, we can help you in a number of ways. Here at Adoption Choices of Colorado, it is our mission to make sure you have a smooth and rewarding adoption process. If you are having a hard time finding a safe environment where you and your unborn baby can be safe, we are happy to help. We will help you find an affordable and safe place for you to live during your pregnant adoption process. When it comes to the adoption plan, you can proceed with or without the birth father’s support depending on your situation and what you think is best. We want you to do what is best for you, and we will not deny your wishes if you want to make your adoption plan without the birth father involved. If you are struggling financially because of your situation as well, we can help you with groceries and help you find an affordable, caring doctor. We can also help you with transportation to and from your appointments during your pregnancy.
Another thing that we provide to you and other birth mothers that work with us is free counseling. We offer free counseling because we know that you are going through a difficult time with the adoption process, and your abuse situation can be stressful. We want you to have a safe place where you can talk about your feelings on the adoption process, your feelings about your situation regarding abuse, and where you can ask any questions that you may have.
What Happened To You Is Not Your Fault
Going through the adoption process and dealing with your situation is not an easy thing to do. It is important to know that you are not going through this alone and that none of the things that have happened to you is your fault. You did nothing wrong to cause your relationship to play out the way it has or did, and there are people willing to help you. Adoption Choices of Colorado is here for you, and we will do our best to help you and support you in any way that we can.
If you or anyone you know is in an abusive situation please reach out to any of these outside sources to get the help you need.
- National Domestic Violence Hotline & Chat Line: 24 hours: 800-799-7233 (SAFE) or 800-787−3224 (TTY)
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: Nickolas Cooney is a senior at Arizona State University working through his final semester to get his bachelor’s degree in Sports Journalism. Nick also attended the University of Alabama for his first year and a half of college when he was a biology major. He decided to move back to Arizona and transfer to ASU when he changed his major because he saw more opportunities at the Walter Cronkite School of Mass Communication and Journalism. Since transferring to ASU, Nick has been a reporter for the AIA in Arizona for a semester and worked with the Phoenix Suns and Rising for stories. While writing about sports and creating content about sports is Nick’s passion. He also is very passionate about playing sports as well. He grew up playing baseball, basketball, and racing motocross. Nick still does his best to ride and race motocross when he has time, but he has been focusing on his schooling and another one of his passions, gaming. Nick is an avid gamer, and he is even a streamer on Twitch. He has built up a fan base to be a part of the Twitch Affiliate program
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!