Considering Open Adoption with Gay Adoptive Parents
If you are a birth mother considering gay adoptive parents, you may be wondering if what an open adoption will look like. But, don’t worry, open adoption with gay adoptive parents looks just like any other open adoption!
Open adoption plans allow for you to choose the type of ongoing contact you want to have with your child and their adoptive parents. You will work closely with your Adoption Choices of Colorado adoption caseworker and chosen adoptive parents to create a plan that best suits you and creates the family you desire for your child.
Choosing Gay Adoptive Parents
Talk to your Adoption Choices of Colorado caseworker if you are considering choosing gay adoptive parents. Opening up this conversation will allow you to look through the prospective adoptive parents who’ve been pre-screened by our adoption agency. It will also help you narrow down what things you value in choosing your child’s adoptive parents as you review the profile books. Your adoption caseworker will then guide you through your options and conducting interviews.
Just as in any adoption process, focus on what you want your child’s life to look like. Ask questions and don’t feel like you need to compromise on what’s important to you. At the same time, keep in mind that no adoptive parent is going to be perfect. Choosing your child’s adoptive parents is a big decision, and there are gay adoptive parents of all backgrounds and beliefs to consider.
The Adoption Process in Colorado
Once you’ve chosen your child’s adoptive parents, the next step is to formalize your plan alongside your adoption caseworker. Talking through your preferences and getting your open adoption agreement down on paper will help reassure you and clarify the expectations of all parties involved. Be sure to also include any specific questions you want to ask your child’s chosen adoptive parents when you meet them. With an open adoption, it’s essential that everyone is on the same page.
Unfortunately, we can not legally require your child’s adoptive parents to adhere to these agreements. It is, therefore, deeply important to establish a good rapport with your chosen adoptive parents throughout the process. Cultivating this bond will reinforce the stability and harmony of the family you are all creating.
Post Adoption with an Adoption Agency in CO
After the adoption has been finalized, you may be wondering what an open adoption with gay adoptive parents actually looks like. This depends largely on the agreements you and your child’s adoptive parents have decided on together. For instance, you may receive occasional updates from your child’s adoptive parents, visit once a year, or be in contact more regularly. Your relationship with your chosen adoptive parents and your child will unravel according to the level of contact you desire.
Some birth mothers desire to be an active part of their child’s life and family, while others know that what’s best for them is to be in less regular contact. Regardless, if you choose an open adoption with gay adoptive parents, you can be sure your child will be loved and provided for in every way they need.
Considering Open Adoption with Gay Adoptive Parents
Open adoptions are beautiful processes that allow you to place your child for adoption, while still maintaining a relationship with him or her and their adoptive parents. Your adoption process, choosing your child’s adoptive parents, creating your adoption plan, and agreeing to an open adoption is exactly the same when choosing gay adoptive parents as it is for any other type of adoptive family.
Adoption Choices of Colorado is committed to serving all families and is here to support you in creating the open adoption you desire.
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: Kara Bringewatt is an English major and psychology minor at Queens University of Charlotte. She plans to get her masters in social work and work at a nonprofit as a case manager for at-risk youth. She loves using writing as a means of creating community and bringing attention to causes she’s passionate about.
Kara is particularly interested in educational and mental health interventions for young people in foster care. She’s worked as a tutor, professional caregiver, preschool teacher and acting instructor, and loves being able to utilize her wide range of passions to support young people and plans on being a foster and adoptive parent.
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!