Adoption Information and Resources
Every woman facing an unplanned pregnancy has her own questions and concerns about adoption. In the articles and links below, you will find answers to many adoption questions. Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado is committed to providing you the information and resources that you need during this time. If any of your adoption questions aren’t answered in these articles, our Adoption Specialists are here to help.
Call us at 303-670-4673(HOPE) or text us at 720-371-1099 anytime, for free, and with no obligation!
Adoption Topics A-Z
Adoption & COVID-19
Adoption Gifts
Adoption Language
Things to Never Say: To an Adoptive Dad
Things to Do and Say Instead: To an Adoptive Dad
Things to Say to an Adoptive Parent
Encouraging Things to Say to a Grieving Birth Mother
Adoption Law
Packing for Your Interstate Adoption
The Court Process of Adoption Finalization
Recent Laws Passed:
Adoption & Group Health
Adoption Tax Credit:
Adoption Tax Credit 2019
Adoption Tax Credit 101
Adoption Myths
Adoption Process | Plan
For Birth Parents:
6 Important Things to Put into Your Adoption Plan in Colorado
How to Create an Adoption Plan
Best Practices for Your Adoption Plan
Placing Baby for Adoption in the Hospital: Last Minute Adoptions
Placing Your Child for Adoption with Adoption Choices of Colorado
A Birth Mother’s Role in the Adoption Process
Understanding Your Adoption Plan and the Adoption Process
A Birth Father’s Role and Responsibilities in the Adoption Process
Birth Mother Adoption Plans: What to Expect
For Adoptive Parents:
Starting the Adoption Process
Preparing Your Home when Adopting
Reasons You Shouldn’t Give Up while Waiting to Adopt
For Both:
Adoption Stories
Birth Parents:
He Deserves the Best Life Possible
A Life-Changing Decision
6 of the Top Benefits of Adoption for a Birth Mother
Military Adoption Success Story
Adoptive Parents:
Meant to Be
An Amazing Path to Family
Katie Sullivan’s Adoption Story
Opening Pandora’s Box:
Part I
Part II
Part III
Part IV
Addiction, Pregnancy, and Adoption
Baby Names
Birth Parents
Who is a Typical Birth Mother in Colorado?
Your Rights as a Birth Mother
Who are Birth Mothers?
Making a Plan for Adoption
Bringing Baby Home
Ways to Bond with Your Adopted Child
Essentials Needed for Your Newborn
Adoption Transition
Benefits of Skin to Skin Contact
Adoption Baby Shower Etiquette
How to Bless Your Child’s Birth Mother
Communicating Adoption
Talking to Birth Mothers
Questions to Avoid Asking Birth Mothers
Talking to Your Child:
Talking about Adoption with Your Son or Daughter
Talking to Friends/Family:
Teaching Your Friends and Family about Adoption
Handling Criticism with Your Choice of Adoption
Adoption at its Core:
The Top 5 Questions Adoptees Ask
Considering Adoption
Birth Parents:
Reasons to Place Your Baby for Adoption
How do I Know Adoption is the Right Choice
The Top 6 Most Common Questions Birth Mothers have about Adoption
Adoptive Parents:
Things You Should Consider before Adopting
Important Questions to Ask
Everyone:
Am I Eligible to Adopt in Colorado?
Benefits of Adoption
Difficult Pregnancy|Adoption Circumstances
Consider Adoption from Prison
Finding a Safe Environment for Your Baby as a Homeless Birth Mother
Financial Assistance
Birth Parents:
Birth Mother Adoption Assistance
We Provide Pregnant Women Housing when Choosing Adoption in Colorado
Financial Assistance for Birth Mothers in Colorado
Adoptive Parents:
Adoption Assistance for Adoptive Families
Adoption Financial Assistance
Adoption Tax Credit:
Adoption Tax Credit 2019
Adoption Tax Credit 101
Holidays & Adoption
Gotcha Day
Mother’s Day
Honoring Your Child’s Birth Mother on Mother’s Day
A Guide for Self-Care during Mother’s Day
National Birth Mother’s Day
A Month to Celebrate All Mothers
Father’s Day
8 Ways to Celebrate Birth Fathers on Father’s Day
Holiday’s
Starting an Open Adoption Holiday Tradition as a Birth Mother
Finding Support as a Birth Mother during the Holidays in Colorado
Waiting to Adopt during the Holidays
National Adoption Month
Home Study
Colorado State Requirements for Home Studies
Red Flags in an Adoption Home Study
How to Prepare for Your Home Study
Home Study Interviews
Part I
Part II
Hospital | Birth Plan
A Birth Mother’s Hospital Plan
Making an Adoption Hospital Plan as a Birth Mother: Important Tips for You to Know
Adoptive Parents’ Hospital Plan
Matching Process
Mental Health & Adoption
Postpartum for Birth and Adoptive Moms
Adoptive Moms Emotions and Coping Skills
Post Adoption Depression Syndrome
Open Adoption
Ways to Bond with Your Child as a Birth Mother in an Open Adoption
6 Facts about Open Adoption that Might Surprise You
Understanding Open Adoption as a Birth Mother
Six of the Most Common Questions Adoptees Ask: For Birth Mothers in an Open Adoption
The Role of the Birth Father during an Open Adoption
Your Rights as a Birth Mother with Open Adoption
Parenting Toolbox
Post Adoption Support
Resources for Birth Mothers Post Placement
Birth Mothers: Coping Skills Post Adoption
Lifetime Healing with Ashley Mitchell
Transracial Adoption
The Importance of Your Child’s Birth Culture
Weighing the Pros and Cons
The Benefits of Transracial Adoption
Is Transracial Adoption the Right Choice for Me?
Myths about Transracial Adoption
Resources on Transracial Adoption
Types of Adoption
What Type of Adoption Do You Want
Foster Care vs. Private Adoption
ICWA Adoption
Semi-Open Adoption
Semi-Open Adoptions: Pros and Cons
Unplanned Pregnancy
Are You Facing an Unplanned Pregnancy?
Unplanned Pregnancy in Colorado
6 Reasons to Place Your Baby for Adoption
More Reasons to Choose Adoption as a Birth Mother in Colorado
Placing Another Baby with the Same Adoption Agency
Resources Available to Birth Mothers Choosing Adoption in Colorado
Placing a Baby for Adoption in Colorado
8 Top Reasons Birth Fathers Choose Adoption
How You Know Placing Your Baby for Adoption is the Right Choice
Pregnancy
Eating Healthy during Pregnancy
Pregnancy Support through Your Adoption Journey
Exercising during Pregnancy:
Sleep during Pregnancy:
Finances
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!