Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado

Training Classes

Location

2801 Youngfield Street, Suite 320, Golden, CO. 80401

Overview

The State of Colorado requires 16 hours of face-to face training for all families adopting domestically.

We require that this is completed prior to the placement of a child in your home. The cost of this class is $1250 per weekend and is scheduled with our office. The Agency offers these trainings once a month.

Included in this training are guest speakers and a newborn trainer.

2022/2023 Training Dates Available

Aug 19-20th
Sept 9-10th
October 14-15th
Nov 11-12th
Dec 9-10th

Please contact us for more information and to reserve your spot in a class.

Birth Certificate(s)
Statement of Net Worth
Divorce Decree from previous marriages (if applicable)
Home Study (and update if applicable) (two copies with original signatures from your home study professional)
Income tax returns for the last three years (first pages only)
Verification of Employment and Current Employment History
Copy of Native American Heritage enrollment (if applicable)
Marriage License (if applicable)
Verification of medical insurance under which the child will be covered (copy of your insurance card)
Military Discharge (if applicable)
Physician Reports (for all family members)
Three reference letters, with phone numbers for purposes of verifying. Colorado Applicants: We will send the reference forms to the references you provide on your application.
Copy of Social Security Cards, Driver’s Licenses, or Passports
Copy of proof of auto insurance
State Bureau of Investigation report, fingerprint check, Sex Offender and Child Abuse Registry
Adoptive Parent Profile for Birth Parents (5 copies and a PDF)
Agency Application & State Application

Application and Required Documents

Fill out our Application 2023 & State Application
Birth Certificates
Statement of Net Worth
Divorce Decree from previous marriages (if applicable)
Home Study (and update if applicable) (two copies with original signatures from your home study professional)
Income tax returns for the last three years (first pages only)
Verification of Employment and Current Employment History
Copy of Native American Heritage enrollment (if applicable)
Marriage License (if applicable)
Verification of medical insurance under which the child will be covered (copy of your insurance card)

Military Discharge (if applicable)
Physician Reports (for all family members)
Three reference letters, with phone numbers for purposes of verifying. Colorado Applicants: We will send the reference forms to the references you provide on your application.
Copy of Social Security Cards, Driver’s Licenses, or Passports
Copy of proof of auto insurance
State Bureau of Investigation report, fingerprint check, Sex Offender and Child Abuse Registry
Adoptive Parent Profile for Birth Parents (5 copies and a PDF)
Certificate of Completion of Infant CPR/First Aid
Adoption Fee Acknowledgment

Nicole Ferlito, Paralegal

Nicole is thrilled to transition into the Paralegal role within the Adoption Choices team! With pervious adoption experience she understands the importance of working with people in a more intimate capacity. It takes all members of the triad to help assist with a positive adoption experience on all ends–both Expecting Parents and Hopeful Adoptive Parents. With a BA in Women’s Studies, she brings patience, strong interpersonal and communication skills, and the ability to empathize without judgment. Nicole is a Chicago Native and just relocated out to Colorado in February 2021. Outside of work, she enjoys, traveling as much as possible, attending concerts, cheering on her Chicago sports teams, hiking and enjoying the views of the beautiful Colorado Rockies. Nicole aspires to always be hands on and helping in any way that she can, by creating a supportive environment for others around her.

Stephanie Walker, MSW, Child Placement Supervisor

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, Executive Director & Birth Parent Case Worker

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.

Liv Mackenzie, MA, LPC

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.

Jennifer Rhodes

Jen joined the Adoption Choices family in 2017 but her journey into the adoption world really began from day #1. As an adoptee, Jen has experienced the life of adoption first-hand. She understands and relates to birthparents and adoptive parents, while always advocating for each baby lovingly considered for adoptive placement.

Jen has had a heart for adoption for as long as she can remember. Empowered by a supportive family, Jen confidently embraced being adopted, becoming an ambassador for adoption. In high school, she was invited to speak on an adoption panel that presented the adoption option to pregnant teens in surrounding high schools. She was also invited to train as a peer counselor, which unofficially began her career in the social work field and officially ignited her passion for building relationships and helping others.

Jen has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. Her professional background includes advocating for children in care of the state, implementing case plans, integrating families, and working with foster and adoptive parents. She has experience providing home studies for prospective parents wishing to adopt. Jen also has experience working with at-risk children and families in the public school system, providing counseling and small groups, administering grant programs and conducting trust development training in high school physical education classes.

Jen has a true passion for building relationships with each birth parent and providing hands-on support every step of the way. She has a heart for mentorship and growing leaders. In her free time, Jen loves hiding out in the mountains with her favorite people (and pets). She enjoys making, baking, and adventuring. Jen is dedicated to mindful living and making a positive impact on others. She loves the opportunity to be fulfilling her purpose with the dedicated and caring team at Adoption Choices.

Catherine A. Madsen, MA, JD, CWLS

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
graduated from the University of Colorado Law School in 2006 and began her legal career as a Guardian ad litem (GAL) representing abused and neglected children in the child welfare system. Catherine continues to do this work and finds her experience working in public child welfare to be an asset in working in the adoption arena and Adoption Choices’ Fresh Start program. Prior to law school, Catherine attained a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She completed her clinical training in a community trauma intervention where she counseled child and adult victims of domestic violence, physical and sexual abuse, rape, violent crime, and homicide bereavement. She later went on to serve as a victim-witness advocate for the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office Child Abuse Unit in Cambridge, Massachusetts where she counseled and advocated for child victims of physical and sexual abuse and criminal neglect. Catherine is a National Association of Counsel for Children (NACC) Board Certified Child Welfare Law Specialist (CWLS). Catherine has appeared before both the Colorado Court of Appeals and Colorado Supreme Court in cases pertaining to child welfare and adoption. She is also an active member of Jefferson County Juvenile Court’s Best Practices Committee and is a selected committee member of two-state sponsored pilot programs aiming to improve outcomes in child welfare proceedings

Virginia Frank, ESQ

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 Reiman

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!

Office Directions

Our office is located off of I-70 and Youngfield Street.

If you are arriving from westbound I-70:

Take exit 264-Youngfield Street- turn left onto 32nd Avenue (stay in the right turn lane).
Turn right onto Youngfield Street.
Continue on Youngfield Street for 0.2 miles.
The destination is on your right- 2801 Applewood Tech Center.

If you are arriving from eastbound I-70:

Take exit 264-Youngfield Street
Turn right onto Youngfield Street.
Continue on Youngfield Street for 0.4 miles.
The destination is on your right- 2801 Applewood Tech Center.

Finding our office inside the building:

If you have parked in the front of the building-once in the main door take the hallway to the left and go to the end of the hall. Turn right and Adoption Choices of Colorado is the first office on the right-suite 126.

If you have parked in the back of the building- once in the main door take the hallway to the right to the end of the hall. Turn right and Adoption Choices of Colorado is the first office on the right- suite 126.

Birth Mother summary of the adoption process

Orientation
Complete initial paperwork packet
Choose adoption plan and select the adoptive family for your baby
Build relationships specific to your adoption plan
Legal services and relinquishment counseling – provided to you at no cost
Delivery and hospital support
Post-Placement care

Updates

Home Study Update – One Year

Re-Application – Agency & Matching Clients

Re-Application – Home Study Only

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