How Adoption Has Changed
By Talia Washington
The adoption process and its handling continuously advances – and even more in recent years. While there is an intangible amount of reasons adoption has come this far, the article below covers some.
Early forms of adoption stemmed from practicality and survival. A family lacking the resources to feed or handle three children sent one to a relative. Another example of past ‘adoption’ would be a royal family without daughters adopting a young boy to overtake the kingdom.
The process has since been officialized and become a social and legal prospect. Laws have been placed to protect children, birth parents, and adoptive parents. Judges have the power to weigh in on adoption to sign and finalize adoption. The involvement of birth mothers has increased, along with the power to make decisions in their child’s best interest.
Adoption has gone from the infamous “love, labor, or property.” The adoption process is simply the process in which children are taken from inadequate situations and placed into nurturing homes.
The History of Birth Mothers’ Treatment – How was the Adoption Process for Birth Mothers in the Past vs. Now
The experience of birth mothers has changed drastically since the roots of adoption were placed. There were more incidents of women being non-consensually separated from their child (who was later given away) at birth. The birth mother had no rights, and there were no laws to protect against this. It was harder to achieve any outrage since religion deemed unplanned and unwed pregnancy a result of sin. Those victims were advised against looking for their children, and most never saw them again.
Women choosing adoption today are the point of contact for all decisions concerning their child. Adoption Choices of Colorado combats stigma with preventative measures like positive adoption language (PAL) and non-discrimination policies.
Society is progressing along with the adoption process as women reclaim control. Birth mothers choose adoption to give their children happier and more fulfilling lives. The women considering adoption are met with welcome, engagement, and involvement. In the adoption plan, it is required.
Changes to Adoption
Most people can name something that is illegal concerning adoption. For example, keeping a child away from their parents without permission is considered kidnapping. These are called adoption laws, and they did not always exist.
The first official law concerning adoption was passed in 1851, requiring abuse reporting and investigative procedures. More child welfare laws have been passed since then, protecting and prohibiting behaviors and policies to protect children and safety post-adoption. Judges signing adoption decrees are only a portion of the changes.
Communication Between Birth Mothers and Adoptive Families – Types of Adoption
Another notable change is the open communication between birth mothers and adoptive families. Birth mothers can choose the type of adoption and whether to stay in contact with the child.
Powerful movements against discrimination and feminine empowerment have torn back the layers of secrecy involving adoption. Women choosing adoption are more likely to choose adoption types other than closed or private. Selecting other adoption types means birth mothers and adoptive families may interact more. Working with adoption agencies in Colorado allows the birth mother to meet the adoptive parents and discuss adoption options. Open and closed adoption are the two main types of adoption.
Open adoptions allows for various degrees of communication between the birth mother and child. Closed adoption is the opposite; the adoptive parents and birth mother do not meet or share full names. Open communication during adoption planning is necessary to maintain healthy boundaries that work for all parties – including the child.
Adoption Choices of Colorado works with birth mothers to ensure the child will grow up in a household with similar beliefs and morals. Safety protocols, consent, and legal rights are established and openly enforced.
What Is the Adoption Process Like Today?
Adoption Choices of Colorado works with the birth mother and potential adoptive parents to transfer custody of the child. The adoption process begins with an unplanned pregnancy, then birth mothers exploring the many resources on adoption. Resources conclude there are three options when dealing with an unplanned pregnancy. Adoption agencies in Colorado. Birth mothers then choose between adoption, termination, and parenthood.
The birth mother chooses adoption and begins searching for resources. After searching through a multitude of adoption agencies, you can contact a nearby adoption agency. Adoption Choices of Colorado works with the birth mother and adoptive parents to detail a birth plan.
The next step includes the adoption plan, where the adoption type is determined. Birth mothers normally choose between open, closed, or private. The finalization is a legal process, including an adoption attorney, and ends with the judge signing an adoption decree. The child is legally adopted, and post-placement procedures are set in motion.
Adoption Choices of Colorado is consistent with birth mothers taking charge. Birth mothers have the power to assign the child to adoptive parents of similar cultures and beliefs.
How do I begin the adoption process?
Adoption agencies in Colorado are a good place to start looking for answers to your questions and concerns. The first step after selecting adoption is considering what type of adoption you are most comfortable with. Selecting the best adoption type for you and your child is essential for comfortability. After discussing this with your designated case worker, the next step would be coming up with a birth plan.
Dealing with an unplanned pregnancy is hard when you’re not in a good place to parent can be a tough decision. If you are a woman considering adoption and seeking information on how to give the baby up for adoption, contact Adoption Choices of Colorado.
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!