Frequently Asked Questions
How can you help me?
Do you do open adoptions?
Do I have to pay for your services?
What is adoption?
What is an adoption plan?
Do I have to be firm in my adoption decision before talking with a counselor at Hope's Promise?
Is there someone I can talk to?
What if I decide to parent?
What is open adoption?
What is semi-open adoption?
What is closed adoption?
Can I choose what kind of adoption I want to have?
What if I don't live in Colorado, can I still work with Hope's Promise?
Can I choose an adoptive family?
When can I choose a family?
How do I select an adoptive family?
How do you screen adoptive families?
Do I have to sign a contract to work with Hope's Promise?
Do I need a lawyer?
I haven't told my family that I'm pregnant, will you help me talk to them?
Do my parents have to know?
What rights do grandparents have?
Can I see my baby after he or she is born?
What services do you provide after my child is placed for adoption?
I think my parents may struggle with my adoption decision, can you help them?
Do I have to tell the birth father?
What if I'm not sure who the birth father is, can I still make an adoption plan?
I don't have medical insurance, can you help me?
Can you help me with financial assistance?
Q. How can you help me?
Our caring, compassionate staff will give you accurate information on all your options so you can make the best decision for you and your child. We can also help you with pregnancy related expenses, consistent counseling and support throughout your pregnancy, and wonderful families to choose from should you decide to make an adoption plan. All of our services are free to birth families, and we will come to you, wherever you are, in the state of Colorado.
If you do not live in Colorado, we can help you find support services in your area, help you relocate to Colorado, counsel with you by phone, and assist you should you want to make an adoption plan with one of our approved families.
Do you do open adoptions?
Yes, most of our domestic placements are open. The degree of openness, however, is mutually agreed upon between the birth and adoptive families.
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Q. Do I have to pay for your services?
No. All services to our birth families are free.
Q. What is adoption?
Adoption is the legal transfer of rights and responsibilities from the birth parents to another individual or couple who are willing to assume them. It is a permanent decision. It is a good choice, in many situations, for all parties involved.
Q. What is an adoption plan?
An adoption plan is a loving, selfless choice that some birth families make for their child when they do not feel prepared to parent a child at this time in their life for one reason or another. It is a loving choice that you and your child can live with. It helps to ensure that your child has the safe and stable home you want for them.
Q. Do I have to be firm in my adoption decision before talking with a counselor at Hope's Promise?
No. Our job is to give you accurate information about all of your options, and to help you examine each of these options in light of your unique situation. We are here to help you sort out your feelings, and help you make a plan that is right for you.
Q. Is there someone I can talk to?
Yes! You can call us toll free at 1-800-294-3930 to speak with a pregnancy counselor, and schedule a free appointment. If you prefer to contact us by email, please click here. We have a trained counselor on call 24 hours a day to better serve you.
Q. What if I decide to parent?
There are no obligations. Our goal is to help you make an intentional choice about your future and your child's future. We understand that adoption is not right for everyone, but it is right for some. We hope that the counseling and decision making process, will help you become a better parent than if you had not honestly looked at all of your available options. If you choose to parent, we can help you find community resources to help you.
Q. What is open adoption?
Open adoption is an adoption where full identifying information has been shared between the birth family and adoptive families (like last names, addresses and telephone numbers), the parties have personal contact with one another before the baby is born, and they have the option to continue with personal contact after the child is placed with the adoptive family. Open adoption varies from one case to another based on the degree of openness the birth and adoptive parents want to share.
Q. What is semi-open adoption?
Semi-open adoption means that full identifying information has not been shared, and that ongoing contact between the birth and adoptive families will be done through a third party, such as a licensed adoption agency. Birth families can still select an adoptive family, but may request that identifying information not be shared.
Q. What is closed adoption?
Closed adoption means that full identifying information is not shared between the birth and adoptive families, and they do not plan to meet or have any further contact with one another.
Q. Can I choose what kind of adoption I want to have?
Yes. Open, semi-open and closed adoptions are all legal in Colorado. This is a personal decision.
Q. What if I don't live in Colorado, can I still work with Hope's Promise?
Yes you can. We can help you relocate to Colorado for the duration of your pregnancy, and the delivery of your child. We can assist with travel arrangements, housing, and finding medical care, in addition to the counseling and support services provided by our agency staff. If you want to remain in your state of residence, you can select one of our waiting adoptive families (some profiles are available on this web site), we can counsel with you by phone and email, and together we will help you find the services you need in your state to assist with the adoptive placement.
Q. Can I choose an adoptive family?
Yes. We believe that it is a very important part in making a good plan for you and your child. We have wonderful, qualified families for you to choose from. You can visit some of these waiting families on this web site. If you have already selected an adoptive family, we can also help you complete a designated adoption, by providing the state required services for you and your designated adoptive family.
Q. When can I choose a family?
We recommend that you choose a family when you are ready to. One of our pregnancy counselors can help you with this.
Q. How do I select an adoptive family?
This is a great question! We think it's best to discuss this with your Hope's Promise counselor. She knows you, and she knows each of the adoptive families in our waiting pool. You may wish to consider whether or not you want them to live in Colorado, or out of state (or if it even matters), the degree of openness you would like, whether or not you want your child to have other siblings, and the lifestyle you would like your child to have. Perhaps religious and educational values are of utmost importance to you. We have profiles of many wonderful families for you to choose from. After selecting a family from their profile, we will set up a match meeting, if you choose, where you can meet them, and decide whether or not this particular family is right for you.
Q. How do you screen adoptive families?
We take this responsibility very seriously and we communicate that to each family that applies to Hope's Promise to adopt a child. At Hope's Promise we complete a Homestudy, on each family. That means we compile a detailed, confidential file on the family which includes references, employer verification, financial information, criminal records checks, family background information, and other documents that help us determine whether or not they are able to provide a safe and stable home for a child. In addition to this file, we also conduct extensive personal interviews (about 10 hours over five separate meetings), and we visit their home. We also provide each family with a minimum of 16 hours of adoption education.
Q. Do I have to sign a contract to work with Hope's Promise?
No. In fact, we do not believe it is ethical for any agency to ask you to sign a contract to work with them. We are here to serve you, and to help you make a good decision for you and your child.
Q. Do I need a lawyer?
No, in most cases you do not. Colorado is what is called an "agency state". That means that any person who wants to make an adoption plan for their child, or any person or couple that wants to adopt a child, must go through a licensed child placement agency like Hope's Promise. We will complete all of the legal steps necessary for your adoption. We believe this makes it easier for you since you will be working with your counselor. However, in the event that there are unusual, or adversarial legal issues with your case, we do have an excellent agency attorney.
Q. I haven't told my family that I'm pregnant, will you help me talk to them?
Yes. We know that this can be a very scary time. We will work with you to determine the best way to tell you family about your pregnancy.
Q. Do my parents have to know?
Legally they do not. However, if you are under 18 years of age, some Colorado judges require that your parent or legal guardian be advised, and consent to your adoption plan. Please call us if you have more specific questions. If you are over 18 years of age, your parents do not need to know. We are not required to notify them, and we will keep your case completely confidential.
Q. What rights do grandparents have?
In the state of Colorado, grandparents have no rights if you make a voluntary adoption plan for a newborn baby.
Q. Can I see my baby after he or she is born?
Absolutely! Whether or not you see and/or hold your baby in the hospital is completely up to you. We will work with the hospital staff to ensure that your wishes regarding your hospital stay are met.
Q. What services do you provide after my child is placed for adoption?
We are here for you as long as you need us. We provide on-going counseling, referrals, and overall support to you and your family.
Q. I think my parents may struggle with my adoption decision, can you help them?
Yes we can. Our counseling services to all birth family members (including your parents) are free, and we will come to them (in Colorado). We understand that many grandparents struggle and grieve, both for you, and for their grandchild. This is not the way most parents plan to become grandparents. Their issues may be different than yours. We can counsel with them independently, or with you, whatever your family prefers.
Q. Do I have to tell the birth father?
To make an adoption plan, the birth father must be notified that you believe he is the father of your child, and that you are making an adoption plan for this child. However, if you do not wish to have contact with him, your counselor can notify him on your behalf. We have no obligation to notify his parents, wife (if he is married), or any other family member. We will work very closely with you to make this notification process as easy and safe as possible. We know this may sometimes present concerns. Our laws have been established to protect all parties. Please call so we can better answer your individual questions.
Q. What if I'm not sure who the birth father is, can I still make an adoption plan?
Yes, and this is more common than you might think.
Q. I don't have medical insurance, can you help me?
Yes. If you do not have medical insurance through your parents, or your employer, we can assist you to submit a Medicaid application for you and your baby. If you are not eligible for Medicaid, and if you make an adoption plan, your medical expenses can be paid for by the adoptive parents that you choose.
Q. Can you help me with financial assistance?
Yes. In Colorado, we can help you with pregnancy related expenses. Please be sure to bring this up with your counselor.
