Considering Adoption in La Plata County, Colorado?
Get the facts so that you can choose an adoption path with confidence.
Adoption is a deeply personal and sometimes challenging journey, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. At Pathways Pregnancy Resource Center, we understand that choosing adoption requires careful consideration, comprehensive information, and unwavering support. We’re here to ensure you have the facts and connections you need to choose the right path for your unique situation.
Finding the Right Fit
Our team is committed to providing you with compassionate care and guidance. We work closely with trusted adoption partners who will educate you about your rights as a birth parent and help you create a personalized adoption plan—completely on your terms.
When considering adoption, it’s essential to know that there are three distinct types of adoption, each designed to meet different needs and preferences. Understanding these options will help you choose the adoption path that aligns with your values and long-term desires for ongoing relationship with your child and adoptive family. Let’s explore the comprehensive range of adoption options available to you.
Your Adoption Options
Open Adoption
Open adoption is the most transparent and communicative option available today. In an open adoption arrangement, the birth parent(s)… (more)
Semi-Open Adoption
Semi-Open adoption offers a middle ground between open and closed adoption, providing structured communication while maintaining some boundaries… (more)
Closed Adoption
Closed adoption involves minimal ongoing contact between birth parents and the adoptive family. In a closed adoption arrangement… (more)
Your Rights and Choices as a Birth Parent
Understanding your rights throughout the adoption process is fundamental to making informed decisions. As a birth parent considering adoption, you have numerous rights and choices that remain protected throughout the entire process.
Do I Get to Choose the Adoptive Parents?
Yes! As the birth mother, you get to choose the adoptive family for your child. This selection process is one of your most important rights and involves several key considerations:
Family Characteristics: You can specify preferences regarding:
- Age range of adoptive parents
- Marital status and relationship stability
- Geographic location and lifestyle preferences
- Educational background and career aspirations
- Religious beliefs and spiritual practices
- Parenting philosophy and child-rearing approaches
Values and Lifestyle: You can look for adoptive families whose values align with your own:
- Approach to education and extracurricular activities
- Views on discipline and child development
- Cultural background and traditions
- Communication styles and family dynamics
- Financial stability and future planning
Special Considerations: You may also consider:
- Whether there are other children in the home
- Whether there are pets in the home
- Extended family relationships and support systems
Adoption agencies can provide you with detailed family profiles, allowing you to make an informed choice based on your specific criteria and preferences.
Creating Your Adoption Plan
Your adoption plan is a personalized document that outlines your preferences and expectations throughout the adoption process. This plan includes:
- Your choice of adoptive family
- Desired level of ongoing contact and communication
- Hospital and delivery preferences
- Post-placement contact arrangements
- Financial support and assistance needs through the adoption agency
- Counseling and emotional support services through the adoption agency. (Counseling is required for any parent who is relinquishing parental rights in Colorado).
Can a Birth Mother Change Her Mind?
Before she can consent to the adoption, the birth mother must receive counseling from a county department of social services or from a licensed child-placing agency. After that, she can consent to the adoption (or change her mind) at any time after the birth of the child and before the legal documents are filed and signed by the courts. This usually happens between one week to one month after birth.[1]
Additionally, in Colorado, a birth mother must wait for 4 days after giving birth to confirm her choice to place her baby for adoption. This requirement ensures that she is not making her decision out of duress or under the influence of pain killers taken during child birth. (While the legal document cannot be filed until after four days, placement can still happen from the hospital if she is in support of that).
If, within 90 days, she presents clear and convincing evidence that her consent was obtained by fraud or duress, a judge or magistrate can overturn the termination of parental rights.[1]
Legal Support and Advocacy
It’s important to understand that adoption laws are designed to protect both birth parents and adoptive families while ensuring the best interests of the child. Working with experienced adoption professionals ensures you understand your legal rights and timeframes specific to Colorado.
Throughout the adoption process, you have the right to:
- Legal representation through the agency, paid by the adoptive family
- Full explanation of all legal documents
- Time to consider your decision without pressure
- Access to counseling and support services
- Understanding of your state’s specific adoption laws
- Clear information about revocation periods and procedures
Start Your Adoption Journey in La Plata County, Colorado
Our compassionate team is here to answer your questions and give you the support you deserve, so you can make an empowered choice for your unintended pregnancy.
If you would like to learn more about adoption in Colorado, give us a call at 970-247-5559 or schedule your appointment online today.
Frequently Asked Questions About Adoption
How long do I have to change my mind after signing adoption papers?
After receiving counseling from a county department of social services or from a licensed child-placing agency a birth mother can consent to the adoption or change her mind at any point after the child is born and before the documents are filed in court and/or signed by a judge or magistrate.[1]
Can I choose adoptive parents from a different state?
Yes, interstate adoptions are possible, though they involve additional legal requirements and procedures. A national adoption agency can find an adoptive family in another state. The biological mother must work with a local agency for her counseling and they can work with the out of state agency.
Is counseling required during the adoption process?
Yes. In Colorado, any parent seeking to place their child for adoption must receive counseling from a county department of social services or from a licensed child-placing agency.[1]
Sources:
- Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2021, October). Consent to Adoption – Colorado. https://www.childwelfare.gov/resources/consent-adoption-colorado/