Why Should I Create An Adoption Plan?
Creating an adoption plan is one of the most important parts of the adoption process. Many first-time birth mothers who have never placed a child up for adoption or know much about the adoption process have no idea where to even begin. There are a lot of important decisions to be made, and it can all start to feel extremely overwhelming. The last thing you should have to do during your pregnancy is be stressed about how to plan your adoption. Creating an organized, clear, and set plan that you feel comfortable with will help you ultimately be more confident in your decision to go with adoption. You don’t have to do it alone either. Adoption specialists at Adoption Choices of Colorado are ready to assist you from day one and will stick with you throughout your entire pregnancy. Together, you and an adoption specialist can create a plan that works for you.
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 an adoption plan?
An adoption plan is a detailed list that indicates preferences and wishes for your adoption journey. This includes:
- Type of adoption you want: Open, semi-open, or closed. Please refer to our website, which has articles to talk about the difference between these three and what each one entails.
- Preferences or non-negotiables for the baby’s potential adoptive family (race, type of family, household income, religious views, personal beliefs, etc.) However, based on the type of adoption you go with, your involvement in the decision-making process for the adoptive family may differ. If you will still be involved in the child’s life and connected with the adoptive family, you will most likely have more say as opposed to if you decide to have no contact or connection with the adoptive family.
- Support system throughout your pregnancy: This includes if you will need any financial support, transportation support, sheltering, or counseling, as well as contacts for friends, partners, family members, or adoption representatives who will be involved in helping you or be a part of the decision making process.
- Hospital & birth plan: This will entail where you plan to give birth, who you would like with you, how you plan to get to the hospital, and any support you will need after giving birth.
What are the benefits of an adoption plan?
There are so many benefits to creating an adoption plan. Not only will it allow you to have a detailed plan of the months leading up to giving birth, but it will also ensure that you are getting the most out of your adoption journey and increase your chances of placing your baby for adoption in the exact home you wish for. This can also ease a lot of stress, help you prepare for what type of support you will need, and make you feel more confident and comfortable in your decisions. The best thing you can do for yourself and your baby is getting a head start on planning in case there are any bumps along the way, as changes do happen and things do not always go as planned.
Where do I start with my adoption plan?
While this can all feel extremely overwhelming and possibly even scary, the first place you can start is by getting in touch with an adoption agency in Colorado representative who can help you get connected to counselors, doctors, and potential adoptive families. Our website offers a number and email to get in touch with a representative at any time. A simple email or phone call will put you on the path to a successful and happy adoption journey. The earlier you reach out for support, the sooner you will be able to stress less and feel comfortable during your pregnancy. Adoption Choices of Colorado wants you to feel supported, safe, and confident in every step of your adoption process.
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: Allie Nowak is in her senior year of undergrad at Illinois State University studying public relations, with a minor in health & wellness coaching. She is extremely passionate about writing, digital content creating, and all things related to lifestyle & wellness. In her free time, she enjoys serving as editor-in-chief and publishing articles for her university’s chapter of Her Campus, the nation’s largest media platform for college women. You can also find her spending time with friends and family, traveling, reading, and walking her two golden doodles. She currently lives in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago where she was born and raised.
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!