Are you considering adoption for your unplanned pregnancy, but unsure if your child would receive quality caretakers? Wondering what your first step would be to finding a wonderful and full life for your baby’s future with adoptive parents?
Here is what you need to know about the adoption process in Colorado.
What Requirements Are There for Adoptive Parents in Colorado?
Before adopting a child, prospective parents must receive a home study. This will include a thorough background check to review any criminal history. People who have previously abused children, been cited for violence, sex crimes or physical assault will not be considered. Drug abuse within the past five years will also eliminate the potential for adoption.
A home study also includes a check of their physical address. A case worker will make sure the environment is safe and healthy for children, looking for things like financial stability, enough food in the pantry, and ample bedroom space.
A potential parent will also need to provide health documentation that proves they are mentally stable and physically able to raise children.
Social Services will give detailed interviews to each prospective parent to find out about their social history, moral integrity, marital relationships, reasons for adoption, extended family and parental abilities. They really try to know the whole picture of each adult that will be involved in raising your child.
This home study assessment must be repeated annually until an adoption has been placed.
Adoptive parents are encouraged to learn everything they can about parenting. Many become CPR certified. The state offers 55 free courses about parenting and childcare to adoptive parents.
What Adoption Rules are Specific to Colorado?
In Colorado, a person must be at least 21 years of age in order to adopt a child. They also must be a resident of the state. The child must be under 18 years of age and legally free for adoption, and must be present in the state at the time the adoption request is filed.
What Do You Need to Do If You Are Considering Adoption for Your Baby?
If you are interested in placing your baby with adoptive parents, your first step is to obtain counseling from a county department of social services or licensed child-placing agency.
Then you need to petition the juvenile court, providing the name of both parents.
If known, the name of your child should also be included along with the reasons for choosing adoption. The petition must include a standardized affidavit of relinquishment that indicates the nature and extent of counseling obtained by the petitioner, a copy of the original birth certificate, and a statement disclosing any and all payments made in connection with the pregnancy, birth and adoption. If the child is of Indian heritage, this must also be indicated in the petition, along with information about the child’s tribe. Consent may be executed any time after the child is born.
This petition is something that the adoption agency can help you with.
At Life Choices we have helped thousands of women with their unplanned pregnancies. We can talk to you more about adoption and connect you with child-placing agencies that can help you find the best parents for your baby.
Please contact us today with your questions. We are here to help, free of charge.