Choosing an LGBTQ+ Couple to Adopt Your Baby in Colorado
By Lindsay Parkoo
LGBTQ+ couples who are trying to grow their family find that adoption is a great way to do it. What’s great is that Colorado is one of the fortunate states that allow LGBTQ+ couples to adopt. Maybe you’ve decided to choose one to raise your baby, and you’re wondering what to look for. LGBTQ+ parents offer benefits when they choose to adopt that you should know about. Your Colorado adoption agency can help you choose a good adoptive family for your baby.
But if you’re struggling to figure out how to give up your baby for adoption, here’s a suggestion.
You can find that Colorado agency when you contact Adoption Choices of Colorado. We at Adoption Choices of Colorado will guide you through the adoption process. We walk you through how to get financial assistance and emotional guidance, especially if you’re going through an unplanned pregnancy. We’ll teach you how to be kinder to yourself through counseling and give you ways to cope. Make sure you contact us for more information on how to start.
Firstly, let’s break down the types of adoption available to you.
If you need adoption help now, please call or text us at 303-670-4673 (HOPE) or visit us at Adoption Choices of Colorado.
Colorado Open adoption
This type of adoption allows the most contact with your child and the closest relationship to the family. You have the opportunity for multiple visitations and open communication with your baby and their family. If you implement this in your adoption plan, you’ll meet the adoptive families in the process. You’ll be able to see first-hand if prospective families meet your expectations and preferences.
Colorado Semi-open adoption
Semi-open adoption allows some privacy, but you’ll still have the option of contact with your baby. After placing your baby for adoption, you’ll get updates and photos of your baby with their family.
Colorado Closed adoption
This type is the exact opposite of an open adoption, as the name describes. Closed adoption allows no contact between you and the child. They will not know who you are, and vice versa, and only birth records will be known. This option also means that you’ll have less control in choosing the adoptive family. That decision is in the hands of the adoption agency, which can be less stressful.
Now you’ve decided what kind of adoption is best for you. If you’re now wondering what you should look for in an LGBTQ+ adoptive family, here are some suggestions.
Things to Consider in a Colorado LGBTQ+ Adoptive Family
Ultimately, how a heterosexual couple and an LGBTQ+ couple raise a child isn’t that different. What matters is that the child finds themselves in a loving home. So, whatever qualities you would require in a heterosexual family should apply to an LGBTQ family. However, here are some things to look out for.
What values are important for you in an LGBTQ+ family?
Keep in mind what values you want your child to be raised on. LGBTQ+ couples tend to teach respect, tolerance, and respect. They have the experience to advise them on how to deal with prejudice or judgment from others. Are there certain religious values you care about that you want the family to uphold? If so, that might be something to bring up when figuring out how to give the baby up for adoption.
Is the number of LGBTQ+ parents important to you?
Think about whether you want a single LGBTQ+ parent to raise your child or a couple. Different kinds of LGBTQ+ couples adopt. You can choose between same-sex couples, a second-parent adoption, or a single LGBTQ+ person. Second-parent adoption is when one partner adopts the other’s child.
The Benefits and Challenges of Choosing a Colorado LGBTQ+ Couple to Adopt Your Baby
LGBTQ+ couples, unfortunately, deal with judgment and prejudice from others. This might be hard for your child to grow up with. Your child might develop mental health issues from the negativity. They might sometimes feel isolated from their peers because of their family. When they see other families that don’t look like theirs, they might be confused.
The best thing to remember, however, is that LGBTQ+ families can be a loving environment to grow up in. There are benefits when your child is being raised by them.
Children adopted by LGBTQ+ parents tend to be more confident and authentic about themselves. Because they seemingly come from an unconventional family, they are likely taught to have pride in themselves early on. That self-assurance will help them grow their social skills and deal with negativity from people. This also helps them become independent and strong adults later.
LGBTQ+ parents will give your child their undivided attention. Since they spend so long trying to grow their family and raise a child, they won’t take it for granted. They are particularly enthusiastic about being parents. That can bring a more positive upbringing to your child.
The Steps to Review Adoptive Family
Adoption agencies in Colorado will give you profiles of prospective families based on your considerations. You can also check adoptive family profiles on the websites. From then, the adoption agencies will conduct home studies to make sure the family is up to your standards. Your counselor can help you narrow it down from there and then begin the matching process. This all, of course, depends on the type of adoption. If there’s a certain level of openness, you’ll get to meet and talk to them to know more.
Choose an LGBTQ+ Couple to Adopt Your Baby
There are several reasons LGBTQ+ couples make wonderful parents for the baby of a birth mother. They teach tolerance and inclusivity, confidence and raise independent kids. Look into prospective LGBTQ+ couples looking to adopt with Adoption Choices of Colorado. Remember to look up “adoption Colorado Springs” to start the process and match with a family.
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!