Working Together: SD Workshop with Family Matters!
Last week we announced our next FREE Family Building Conference at the San Diego LGBT Community Center and introduced everyone to one of our collaborators, Katherine Ellis-Hernandez, PhD, Family Health Psychology.
Today we want to introduce everyone to the Family Matters program at the San Diego LGBT Community Center.
We talked to Jane Schmoll who has been the Family Matters Program Coordinator for the last five years about the resources that the San Diego LGBT Community Center can provide for families considering parenthood.
Information about the San Diego Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Community Center
The San Diego Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Community Center, Inc., (d.b.a., The Center) is the nation’s second oldest and third largest LGBT community center. Functioning as the LGBT community’s leadership organization, The Center is led by an 18-member board of directors, employs over 40 paid staff and and utilizes more than 650 community volunteers to achieve its twin goals of promoting LGBT health and human rights. The Center provides direct program services to the many different facets of the LGBT community, including youth, seniors, families, LGBT Latino community members and their families, and those struggling with HIV. In the last year The Center served more than 30,000 San Diego community members, and through its events, activities and advocacy, touched the lives of thousands more.
Information on the Family Matters Program
Family Matters, the family program at the San Diego LGBT Community Center, is designed to provide resources, education, support and opportunities for community engagement for LGBT-headed families and those considering parenthood. From the provision of school supplies and basics to families impacted by the financial downturn, to workshops focused on parenting skills, school choice, resources for growing families through egg donation and/or surrogacy, adoption/fostering options and including family activities, Family Matters provides families growing up in LGBT-headed families the support and resources many need to develop and sustain healthy and affirming child and family development. This array of educational support and resources coupled with affirming social opportunities are provided to approximately 2,100 LGBT parents, grandparents, relatives and their children each year.
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Fertility Source Companies is beyond excited to partner with the San Diego LGBT Community Center on this event to provide family building and family building support information to our growing LGBTQ families in the San Diego area! If you have questions on growing your family through egg donation and/or surrogacy or are looking for support in the decision making process please come join us! There is no fee to attend and FREE childcare is offered with RSVP before April 17, 2013.
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Traci Medeiros-Bagan
Third Party Reproduction LGBT Coordinator
Traci’s academic background is in Gender Studies with a focus in Sexuality and her career background is in counseling and diversity education. She believes in the strength of families of choice and is passionate about offering affirming options for egg donation and/or surrogacy to the LGBT community looking to grow their families.
