Working with Our Adoption Agencies in Colorado
By Blessing E. Ikhimokpa
There will always be birth children that need to be placed into homes. Adoption made it safer and easier for that to happen. Adoption agencies were created for the birth parent(s). Who have decided they would like to place their birth child up for adoption. It’s not only for the birth parent(s) considering adoption. It has services that cover other areas of the pregnancy as well. For example, if the birth mother doesn’t know what their options are. There are adoption specialists that can help the birth mother come to a decision. While also having counseling for the birth parent(s) that would like to receive it. Adoption Choices of Colorado is a private adoption agency that helps birth mothers who are pregnant and considering adoption. Working with our adoption agencies in Colorado and our specialists can help bring you peace of mind. Our agency has licensed counselors that are glad to help the birth parent(s) throughout their adoption journey.
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 does it mean to be a licensed, local, and private adoption agency in Colorado?
A licensed adoption agency can help the birth parent (s) who are considering adoption. In any place in their state. As long as there is a birth parent (s) who would like to place their birth child up for adoption. Then the licensed adoption agency can help them.
Local adoption agencies are within the county and state. It doesn’t matter where you live in Colorado as long as there are adoption agencies in your area. If you’re dealing with an unplanned pregnancy. Then you can visit your local adoption agency and ask them what your options are.
Private adoption agencies are agencies like Adoption Choices of Colorado, where the agency has services catered to the birth parent (s). While also having counselors and adoption agents who will help the birth parent (s) throughout the adoption process. Since it’s a private adoption, it’s faster because the birth parent (s) are doing it themselves.
While also receiving help from the adoption agents if needed. Unlike with a public adoption agency. Where the birth parent (s) aren’t involved in the process, in a private adoption, the birth parent (s) get to decide what they would like to do.
Does location matter when it comes to adoption in Colorado?
Local adoption agencies are within the county and state. This means the location doesn’t matter. You could live in Denver and still be able to find a local adoption agency if you live in Denver and are considering adoption. Then you can check out Denver Adoption.
Local means in your area. As long as there is an Adoption agency available. Birth parent (s) can use them. There are two types of adoption agencies when it comes to location. There are local and national. Local is for people that want something close. While national is the whole country. If the birth parent (s) want an in-person experience. Then they can choose the local adoption agency in their area. Otherwise, they could go online and go to a national adoption agency website.
Advantages of birth mothers working with a private adoption agency like Adoption Choices of Colorado?
Adoption Choices of Colorado is a private adoption agency. Who works hand in hand with the birth parent (s) considering adoption. When birth mothers work with our agency, they get the advantage of:
- Taking control of their adoption process
- Picking and reviewing the potential adoptive parent (s)
- Deciding which type of adoption they would like
- Having financial, medical, housing and transportation help
- Getting a hospital/birth plan help
- Having the choice to spend time with the birth child before the adoption finalization
While Working with Our Adoption Agencies, Are birth fathers forgotten?
During the adoption process, people focus mainly on the birth mother. Making the birth father seem forgotten. But that’s not the case. When the birth mother (s) go to counseling, the birth father can go with them as well. Or the birth father can go to counseling by himself.
People don’t put too much focus on the birth father. When the birth mother is going through an unplanned pregnancy, they don’t see that the birth father could be having difficulties as well. Especially if the birth father doesn’t want to place the child up for adoption. But the birth mother does.
The reason birth father (s) seems to be forgotten is that:
- Not every birth father is in the birth mother (s) life
- The birth father doesn’t know the birth mother is pregnant
- The birth father is unknown
- The birth mother and birth father don’t have a great relationship
- The pregnancy was unplanned, so the birth father didn’t want to be involved
When the birth mother(s) feel guilty, regretful, or doubtful about the adoption, the birth father could be feeling the same emotions. But might not tell anyone, in case they get shamed for trying to take the focus off the birth mother.
You’re not alone in the adoption process. Contact your local adoption agency for help. 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!