What is a Colorado Closed Adoption and How can Adoption Agencies in Colorado Help Me?
By Gabrielle Maya
Adoption can be intimidating for anyone with an unplanned pregnancy. Some questions you may have can be about what an adoption process is and how to start. We at Adoption Choices of Colorado can help. If you are a birth mother in Colorado, choose our adoption agencies in Colorado. We provide information that will answer your questions.
If you need adoption help now, call or text us at 303-670-4673 (HOPE) or visit us at Adoption Choices of Colorado.
What Adoption Types Can I Choose?
You may know the names of our adoption types but don’t know what they represent. We have three basic types: open, closed, and semi-open. Below see which type caters to your feelings about the adoption and what is best.
- Open Adoption: I would like a close and personal relationship with the adoptive family. I want to get to know them personally and schedule consistent communication with them and my child. Forms of communication can be in-person visits, phone and video calls, personal/professional letters, and emails that include pictures. I have control of the consistency of these forms of communication.
- Closed Adoption: I don’t have the desire to know the adoptive family I chose or the child. I think it’s best to avoid any conflict or concern that I am not part of the child’s life. I do not wish for any personal information to be exchanged. No form of contact is best for me.
- Semi-Open Adoption: I would like a close relationship with the adoptive family. However, I do not want to exchange anything very personal. I want to limit forms of communication and control the consistency of these contacts. The adoption specialist provided by the adoption agency will mediate forms of contact. Contact forms are phone and video calls, in-person visits, formal emails, and letters, including photos of upbringing. I set the boundaries.
Once this part is complete, you can begin choosing an adoptive family.
How Do I Choose an Adoptive Family?
The agency will typically choose who adopts your child when choosing a closed adoption. On some occasions, the birth parents can choose who adopts their child. That means based on your list of preferences. The agency will determine if an adoptive family can provide our child’s love, support, and needs on their own. This list can vary from person to person. Many women have different preferences they prioritize and abide by. Your list of requirements and preferences will also be other.
At Adoption Choices of Colorado, we want to make sure your preferences are met. Some examples of what you might consider when choosing an adoptive family are religious affiliation, no religious background, race and ethnic background (similar or different, will it matter to you?), shared interests, similar ideas of upbringing and discipline, similar jobs, a specific type of job. These examples can be used when considering an adoptive family that fits your wants and needs. Let’s look at the Colorado adoption services we provide that you are eligible for and can use.
Colorado Adoption Services
Adoption Choices of Colorado has several services that you may be eligible and apply for. Depending on finances, medical, or living situation, we can help give you options based on your circumstances. We are here to help and provide safety and comfort for this adoption process to go smoothly and have you feeling secure about your decisions and planning.
Financial Assistance
Having an unexpected pregnancy isn’t something you can financially prepare for. Everyone’s financial situation is different. If you are having trouble paying off any necessary expenses that have to do with your pregnancy or any other situation, we can provide financial assistance if eligible. You can apply for our loans or grants. We can also help pay for rent, transportation, medical checkup appointments, groceries, maternity materials, phone bills, and other essential expenses.
Medical Checkups
Whether or not you have a primary doctor or medical insurance, we offer a list of potential doctors who will work with you during your adoption pregnancy and prepare your birth plan. We want you to have the opportunity to get daily medical checkups to make sure you and the baby are physical.
Housing
If you do not feel safe in your home if you do not have a home or space, we can offer you temporary housing until the duration of your adoption is complete. Once your adoption is complete, we want to make sure you find a permanent place to call home. We have lists of potential housing based on your location. Apply and see what you are eligible for.
Birth Plan
When visiting your doctor, you will discuss the preparations for the birth plan. Some questions you have to think about are the location of the birth, who you want in the delivery room, and if you require a natural birth or c-section. Your safety and comfort are our top priority. We want to make sure the birth is a success and accommodate all your requests.
Free Counseling
You may be feeling overwhelmed by the unexpected pregnancy and the adoption process altogether. We offer free counseling options for you to talk about your emotions and feelings one-on-one or with a group of birth mothers. In addition, you can use it anytime you want. There is no timeline to mental health and working on yourself. We encourage you to seek out any source that gives you an outlet.
Choosing a Closed Adoption in Colorado
Adoption Choices of Colorado is a great agency that helps all birth others with their adoption process. We answer your questions and make sure all your decisions are met. In addition, we provide unplanned pregnancy services and make sure you are safe and comfortable. For more information on adoption, the process, and how you can start yours in the state of Colorado, go to our site.
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!