National Adoption Month in Colorado
Did you know there was a month set aside in the year to celebrate adoptions and bring awareness to adoption agencies? November is national adoption month, and more specifically, November 20th is national adoption day! Adoption is a wonderful choice Adoption Choices of Colorado want to bring awareness to that for both sides and we have testimonies from birth mothers and adoptive families.
If you need adoption help now, please call or text us at 303-670-4673 (HOPE) or visit us at Adoption Choices of Colorado.
What is National Adoption Month and When Did it Begin?
Colorado adoption first began back in 1976 and it started out as adoption week. In the beginning, it was the first week in November and has similar missions as the national month does now. There was an entire week dedicated to hosting adoption events to bring awareness and to promote adoptive families. It soon became popular and too busy to fit into one week, transforming it into National Adoption Month in the late 90s.
The main goal of this month is to spread awareness. There are many lives that have been impacted by adoption and it is important to acknowledge those lives. Adoption is not an easy process from either side and can be a very emotional time. It is important to use the month of November to encourage others to educate themselves on the adoption process and to celebrate those who have gone through the process. They are strong individuals and are doing wonderful things. Adoptive families are able to grow their family and spread more love. The children are introduced to a warm and healthy environment. It is truly an uplifting process and brings joyful tears to everyone’s eyes.
We at Adoption Choices of Colorado care for all the children under our care and we want to see them grow up living their healthiest lives. Our mission is to ensure they live a long life filled with lots of love, care, and support. While we start out as their support system, we hope to find them a family that wants to do more for them and provide them with unconditional love and support.
How To Celebrate Adoption
There are many ways that people celebrate the month of adoption. As mentioned before, adoption agencies in Colorado personally honor adoption. They like to feature adoptive families to hopefully encourage others and spread awareness about adoption. There is a strong need for families to adopt and you don’t necessarily have to be a resident in Colorado to adopt from the state.
Ways that current adoptive families and birth parents celebrate national adoption month are retelling to your child their adoption story and being open with them about where they came from. It can also be celebrated with a party, much like when families have an adoption day party. Also, consider showing your gratitude to the specific adoption agency for helping you through the process and making it possible for you to let a new loved one into your life.
While it is important to celebrate your own family’s adoption, consider celebrating others’ adoptions and support future adoptions. A lot of adoptive families donate every November to their own adoption agency in Colorado or other families donate to their neighboring adoption agencies. It is a very kind gesture and supports everyone involved such as the children, birth mothers, and employees. If you’re interested in supporting Adoption Choices of Colorado, consider donating so that we may continue our mission and find more loving families for a child in need.
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: Gabriella Dobson was born and raised in Ohio. She is currently a senior at Miami University majoring in professional writing with a focus on editing. She also minors in criminology and general business. She is a skilled barista and enjoys sipping her coffee with a good book in her hand. She is passionate about helping others and making a difference in the lives around her. With her involvement in St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Women Helping Women, she is able to provide resources for those in need of support.
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!