Types of Adoptive Families in Colorado
Who will adopt my child? Will they live in a different state? A different country? Do they share my values? These are questions that every expectant mother considering adoption has at one point along their journey. It’s perfectly normal to have concerns like this but rest assured you will find the answers. Adoption is not exclusive to people of a specific race, religion, or sexual orientation. As the birth mother, you have the power to choose whatever environment you wish for your child to grow up within. No matter your circumstances or background, we can help you find that perfect family.
At Adoption Choices of Colorado, we can offer you a wide range of adoptive families to choose from. It’s up to you to find what works best. However, by familiarizing yourself with various options ahead of time, you can not only save time but be better prepared during the selection process.
If you need adoption help now, please call or text us at 303-670-4673 (HOPE) or visit us at Adoption Choices of Colorado.
Potential Adoptive Families of Colorado
Pregnant and considering adoption in Colorado? These are some of the family options that will be available to you.
- Transracial Family- The adoptive family is a different race from the child’s birth parents
- LGBTQ+ Family
- Traditional Family- Categorized under the same race as the child and consists of a mother, father, and potential children.
- Single Parent- Unmarried individuals over the age of 21 are eligible to adopt in the state of Colorado.
- Military Family- Family is employed by the armed forces of their country of residence. The child may be raised on or around military bases.
- Transcultural Family- The adoptive family is of a different culture or ethnicity. Often the case with international adoption.
Additional Considerations for your Adoption Plan
Shortly after visiting our adoption agency, you will begin to create an adoption plan during the initial meeting. There may be other important requirements you may want to consider for an adoptive family. Don’t be afraid to discuss them with your professional. They can include things such as;
- Religious affiliation
- Location (interstate, domestic, international )
- Age range
- Existing children
How does Placement work in Colorado Adoption Agencies?
The adoption placement process begins when a prospective family submits an application. This provides identifying information to the agency for background checks. Worry not, for adoption is strictly monitored by state and federal regulations. These protect against potentially harmful candidates seeking to abuse the system.
Following approval, the adoptive family must then undergo a home study. The home study is typically an assessment conducted through a series of collaborative meetings between the agency and family. Think of it as similar to your own initial meeting when you constructed an adoption plan. Home studies can typically take two to three months and assess many aspects of home life. Personal goals and desires are also taken into consideration.
All home studies are conducted by either a social worker or a trained caseworker from the agency. Keep in mind that the home study is meant to be a positive experience for all parties involved. A thorough home study will help the agency to construct more informative family profiles that will eventually find their way into your hands. Additionally, Colorado Adoption requires families to complete 16 hours of adoptive training. At Adoption Choices of Colorado, these sessions are in person and offered once per month.
Once the home study is completed, adoptive profiles will be exchanged between the waiting families and birth parents. You have the final say in whether or not you wish to share your profile with any adoptive family.
Choosing Open Adoption Gives You the Power
In today’s internet-centric world, it’s easier than ever to stay connected to others. Open adoption is a great choice if you are suffering from severe anxiety over placing your baby for adoption. Most modern adoption agencies, including Adoption Choices of Colorado, encourage open adoption. By choosing this form of adoption, you may get to know your adoptive family personally or even maintain contact with your child after placement. With open adoption, there is no need to always utilize the agency for communications. Instead, you can feel free to communicate through emails, texts, phone calls, or even in-person visits. Remember, you have the power to dictate every step of how the journey unfolds.
Adoption Choices of Colorado is committed to finding the best family for your child. We offer a diverse range of adoptive families to choose from and will always strive to meet your specific goals. All would love nothing more than to treasure your child as you would yourself. So, turn your unplanned pregnancy into something worth celebrating and choose Adoption Colorado today.
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!