Difficult Circumstances for Birth Parents and Choosing Adoption
By Madeline McRae
Whether it be loss of home, depleting income, or none, you or a loved one could be struggling with certain narcotics. Adoption can still be an option for birth parents. We at Adoption Choices of Colorado are here to help you find a laid out and explained version of what you can expect the adoption process will be like in Colorado. Difficult circumstances for birth parents can cause unwanted stress when experiencing an unplanned pregnancy. Our goal is to offer birth parents different resources and services to help the adoption process run as soon as possible.
What are the Steps of the Adoption Process in Colorado?
1. Contact Adoption Agency
Adoption Choices of Colorado will help guide you through the adoption process. Even if you are in difficult times and circumstances arise, they want to have your best interest in mind.
2. Schedule an Initial Meeting with an Adoption Specialist
This is where you’ll have a meeting with the specialist and fill out specific paperwork for the process.
3. Prenatal care, financial assistance, select type of adoption, and begin reviewing family profiles
Now there are many books and other “parenting how-to’s” out there that will tell you what to do and not to do, but the Colorado agency you choose will help you with any prenatal questions you might have. Also, if you are under financial stress, the agency will gladly find a suitable plan.
You can choose from many different types of adoption, but private adoption would be the best choice if you are dealing with difficult circumstances. Private adoption agencies provide birth parents with financial aid, medical care, and counseling if needed for the parents throughout the pregnancy and even after.
4. Choose the Right Adoptive Family
This is where you can narrow down which adoptive family you would want for the future child. Keep in mind religious preferences, adoptive family size (children and pets), and location of the adoptive family.
5. Unplanned Pregnancy, Birth, and Hospital Plan
Making a hospital plan can reduce the stress or anxiety you might have a lot less, as you have everything you think you need in front of you. For example, think of how many people you’d like in the room if you want alone time after, where you would like to give birth if you want visitors, if you want to name the baby, and if you are prepared for the emotions post-adoption.
6. Post-Placement Support
Even after the birth of the child, Adoption Choices of Colorado is still by your side. They would be more than happy to help you with any counseling or medical assistance you might need after the placement.
Choosing Adoption Under Difficult Circumstances
Although you or your loved ones might be suffering from difficult circumstances, that doesn’t mean you cannot go through with the adoption process. However, having the steps laid out can help ease your mind and help you understand what you can expect going on. The adoption agencies are there to help you with anything you might be struggling with. They have your future in mind and what is best for the future child.
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!