How to Place Your Baby for Adoption in Colorado

Are you facing an unplanned pregnancy? One of the most important things to know as an expectant parent in Colorado is that you have options. No matter the circumstance, Adoptions With Love wants you to know that you do not have to make this decision alone. For more than 30 years, we have been matching expectant and birth parents with loving and devoted adoptive families. Our licensed, private adoption agency specializes in providing adoption services throughout the state of Colorado. If you are pregnant and hoping to learn more about adoption, we can help. Our caring staff is here to help you research your options, educate you about adoption in Colorado, and help you make the best possible decision for you and your baby – free-of-pressure and free-of-cost. We are available 24/7 to give you confidential and compassionate support, throughout your pregnancy and beyond.

To help get you started, Adoptions With Love has created this short guide to show you some of the steps you can take if you decide to make an adoption plan in Colorado:

1. Choose an adoption agency.

As you begin to explore your options and make an adoption plan, your first step will be to choose the right adoption agency. There are countless adoption professionals to choose from, but it is important to find someone you feel completely comfortable with – professionals you can trust. We recommend choosing an adoption agency that is fully willing to discuss your options, listen to your hopes and needs, and respect any choice that you make. Your adoption agency should also know and inform you on adoption laws in Colorado and provide you the guidance you need and deserve.

2. Meet with an adoption counselor.

After choosing an adoption agency that works in Colorado, you should begin meeting with a licensed adoption social worker. At Adoptions With Love, we believe this is an essential part of the journey. This is the person who will walk you through your pregnancy and adoption options, and who help you make an adoption plan that is unique to you. She will also be there to answer your questions, to answer the phone whenever you call, and to help you navigate any emotions along the way. At Adoptions With Love, we believe an informed decision is the best decision, and that you should be given the opportunity to consider your options, learn about your birth mother rights, and understand exactly what to expect before, during, and after the adoption process. Only then will you know if adoption is right for you.

3. Understand the adoption laws in Colorado.

Adoption laws vary by state. In Colorado, no parent can sign any legal adoption documents until after the baby is born. This gives birth mothers a chance to meet their baby and additional time to think about their choice. At Adoptions With Love, we encourage you to take this time to ensure you are comfortable with your decision.

There are many other laws about financial aid you may receive, your rights as an expectant parent, as well as the rights of your baby’s biological father. That is why, if you choose to make an adoption plan in Colorado, it is important to work with an agency that is experienced in the state. Adoptions With Love, for example, works with knowledgeable adoption attorneys who are specifically trained in Colorado adoptions.  We can meet with you – wherever you are – to help walk you through the legal process. Rest assured that our legal services, along with other birth parent services, are free of charge.

4. Choose an adoptive family.

At Adoptions With Love, you will have the opportunity to choose the perfect adoptive family for your baby. Your adoption counselor will listen to your wishes and vision for the ideal family, and send you detailed profiles and photo albums from the many families hoping to adopt. Once you have chosen the right family, you will have the option to meet or speak with them – over the phone, email, or in-person – if you would like. This is completely up to you! No matter which family you choose, you can rest assured your baby will be welcomed into a safe, secure, and loving home. All families at Adoptions With Love undergo a thorough screening process, which includes background checks, interviews, and a series of in-person visits to ensure the safety and stability of their home.

5. Make a post-placement plan.

At Adoptions With Love, expectant/birth parents can choose to keep in touch with their child’s adoptive family even after the adoption takes place. This is available through an open adoption plan. Open adoption means birth parents and adoptive parents stay in contact over the years. This level of contact, as well as the frequency contact, is defined by you. You may also decide you do not want contact right away, and opt for a closed adoption plan. You can always open this up down the road, with the help of your adoption counselor. All of the families at Adoptions With Love have agreed to at least a semi-open adoption, meaning we will have letters and photos of your child if and when you are ready.

Whether you choose an open adoption, semi-adoption, or closed adoption, our trained social workers will always be here for you, now and for years to come. Adoption is a lifelong journey. After placing your baby for adoption in Colorado, we encourage you to pursue counseling and support. Adoptions With Love offers ongoing, confidential counseling services at no cost to birth parents who chose adoption. We can help you navigate your emotions, as well as any post-placement communication and relationships.

Whether you just found out you are pregnant, are in your final trimester, or have already given birth to your baby, it is not too late to start an adoption plan. Contact Amy, Nancy, Nellie, Claudia, or Amelia today at 1-800-722-7731 for more information on adoption in Colorado.

This is our State by State Adoption blog series. To learn about the different areas we service, or to find the specific steps of adoption in your state, please visit: adoptionswithlove.org/areas-we-service.