Modern Adoption vs. Past Adoption
By Mariam Sallam
You may think adoption is something that started existing recently. However, adoption dates back to Ancient Rome and the 1600s. Wealthy families used to adopt sons to ensure their wealth or give a child up for adoption if their wealth was compromised by having many children. Nowadays, adoption has become a lot more common, and there have been laws made in order to ensure that the child is obtaining a good lifestyle and is being treated well.
If you need adoption help now, please call or text us at 303-670-4673 (HOPE) or visit us at Adoption Choices of Colorado.
Why Didn’t People Adopt as Much in the Past?
Adopting a child used to be such a big deal. What was an even bigger deal was the reputation that surrounded birth mothers who had an unwanted pregnancy or put a child up for adoption—this whole process used to be carried out in secret because birth mothers were shamed.
Closed adoptions were also a lot more common in the past. It was rare for pregnant mothers to maintain a relationship with their child after they gave birth to them.
How has Adoption Changed Over the Years?
Adoption used to be something that was stigmatized. Birth mothers were shamed for having babies without being married, so adoption was conducted very secretively. Adoptions were barely beneficial to the child and were only seen as mothers “getting rid of their children.” Adoption started taking a modern turn after 1851 when Massachusetts started implementing laws that would benefit the welfare of children and made sure that their interest was the most important factor.
Adoption is now something celebrated rather than something shameful like how it used to be. There are numerous reasons why putting your child up for adoption can actually be really beneficial. You are ensuring that your child will be in a safe and loving environment growing up. At Adoption Choices of Colorado, we ensure that you are giving up your baby for adoption on your terms. We take into consideration what’s best for you and your child.
Is adoption still considered something shameful?
Ever since adoption started taking place in modern times, so have people’s thoughts on adoption. As a birth mother with an unplanned pregnancy, you might be worried about what people think about you. This can be very stressful, though, especially since it’s something that previously existed. As laws have changed, it has become evident over the years that adoption is a process that now considers the child’s welfare, and anyone who goes through the adoption process has their child’s best interest at heart. Therefore, adoption is something that is now encouraged, especially if you don’t have the financial needs or capacity to currently raise a child.
At Adoption Choices of Colorado, we are here to help your adoption dreams come true and will provide you with the emotional and financial support you need throughout the process.
Colorado Adoption
If you’re looking for a local adoption agency near you, then you found us! You might already be considering putting your child up for adoption. Here at Adoption Choices of Colorado, we have been assisting birth mothers and adoptive parents in finding the plan that’s right for them since 2002. We provide the appropriate resources, medical care, and other services that ensure the adoption process runs as smoothly and easily as possible. We have been extremely successful in helping birthmothers find the right family for their child.
Private Adoption in Colorado
Adoption Choices of Colorado is a private non-profit organization that’s there to aid you with the adoption process and make sure you and your child benefit the most out of it. You might be wondering how exactly you could start with this process or if there are any legal documents involved. At Adoption Choices Colorado, we spend time crafting the perfect adoption plan for you and are here to answer any questions you have along the way. We will provide you with the exact details of the Colorado adoption laws and will help you find the best legal counselor. All you have to do is contact us, and that’s when the adoption process begins.
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!