How to Choose a Colorado Closed Adoption
By Carl Roth
Seeking adoption options for an unplanned pregnancy raises a great many considerations for expectant birth mothers. Along with evaluating adoption agencies in Colorado, you have to address questions about future contact with your child. Whereas an open adoption allows for free contact between birth mother and child, closed adoption keeps your contact information private. Some mothers wish to have a presence in their child’s life post-adoption, but this route is not for everyone. For a number of reasons, you may wish to stay anonymous during and after the adoption process.
Adoption Choices of Colorado realizes the sensitivity of each individual birth mother’s situation. We can help you realize an adoption plan that matches your personal desires when placing your baby for adoption.
If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a surrogate, please call or text us at 303-670-4673 (HOPE) or visit us at Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado.
What is a Closed Adoption?
When coming up with your adoption plan, there are several important determinations for you to make alongside an adoption expert. One such decision is the choice between an open, semi-open, or closed adoption path. Choosing a closed adoption means that the birth mother avoids contact with the adopting family before and after the adoption. This also means that the adopted child will be unable to contact the birth mother later on. Identity protection is a primary motivator for many birth mothers opting for a closed adoption. It allows for the adoption to transpire with as little visibility as possible with the fewest relational commitments.
Closed adoption is a decision that requires a strong will because you cannot contact your child post-adoption either. Remaining unknown to the adopting family and child can be an incredibly unselfish act that requires great maturity.
Why Choose a Closed CO Adoption?
A closed adoption appeals to many pregnant birth mothers for an array of reasons. You may not want to be in contact with the adopting family to avoid bringing unwanted attention to yourself. Remaining anonymous throughout the adoption process can help some mothers manage possible feelings of embarrassment stemming from their decision. These intrusive feelings are natural, and wanting to alleviate them as much as possible can lead to choosing closed adoption. Opting to keep distance from the adopting family is an appealing option for birth mothers wanting a clean slate.
You may decide that staying anonymous will make it easier to continue with your own life after this challenging ordeal. The adoption process can take a lot out of you, and having room to progress can be invaluable. Closed adoptions put both the legal and symbolic burden of child care in the hands of the adopting family. Your life can remain yours while your child’s life lies safely and firmly in the hands of a loving family.
How a Closed Adoption Shows that You Care
Closed adoptions show a particular emphasis on a birth mother’s assessment of her future. Accepting that your child will not be able to get in touch when they are older is an immense choice. However, you may decide that allowing your child to grow up without two families is ultimately best for them. Helping your child avoid a possible identity crisis later in their development is an invaluable factor in closed adoption decisions. You are deciding to put your child in the most stable position for their natural and healthy development. No birth mother wants to feel like a distraction to their child post-adoption, and this route eliminates that concern.
To place your baby up for adoption is a taxing personal ordeal that can represent a turning point in your life. Many birth mothers see their adoption journey as the beginning of a new chapter. The past may inform your future decisions, and giving yourself space to move forward may be highly beneficial. Closed adoptions provide the legal and symbolic barriers a birth mother is seeking to continue with her life.
Whether it’s turning the page or starting a new life, the closed route takes the adoption out of your future’s equation. Birth mothers seeing the opportunity to leave the past behind, may find closed adoptions to be their best option. By no means do closed adoptions represent a lack of care for their child on the part of birth mothers. The finality involved in a closed adoption shows just how much a mother cares for her child. Based on your personal desires and circumstances, it may be the option that best suits you.
Finding a closed private adoption in Colorado
Choosing a closed adoption could be one of the most significant decisions in your Colorado adoption plan. With Adoption Choices of Colorado at your side, you won’t need to evaluate these decisions alone. We can provide you with an expert to walk you through every possible scenario in the adoption process. Together, we can find a path that satisfies you and places your child in the hands of a loving family.
If you are interested in learning more about your gestational surrogacy options, contact Adoption and Surrogacy 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!