On Saturday, October 16, 2010, Philadelphia Family Pride will host a Family Matters Conference for LGBTQ parents and prospective parents at the Bryn Mawr Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research [1] from 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. The address is 300 Airdale Road, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010-1697.

REGISTRATION

REGISTER NOW TO ATTEND [2]
Suggested early registration fees range from $5-$15 per family. You may register for a half day or full day. Bryn Mawr students get in free with a student ID. Pre-registration ends October 10, so register today!

REGISTER AS A VENDOR [3]
Vendor fee is $50; free for non-profits and presenters.

PRESENTERS REGISTER HERE [4] for free vendor table, lunch and child care.

WORKSHOPS

There are over 20 different workshops and panels planned for the day, including:

- "Safeguarding the Legal Rights of LGBT Families" with attorneys and PFP members Tiffany Palmer and David Berman

- "No Eating Disorders: Starting Healthy Habits with Young Children" with psychologist Dr. Robin Hornstein and social worker Hollie Levy-Mack

- "How to Thrive as a Stay-at-Home Parent" with PFP members and stay-at-home veterans Stephanie Haynes and Chrissy Bushyager.

- "Searching for Your Child's Half Siblings Through Donor Insemination" with Patricia A. Harnett, LCSW.

- "Probiotics, Anti-oxidants and other Evidence-Based Ways to promote Your Child's Health" with pediatrician Dr. Alexis Lieberma.

- "Sex Matters: Tips and Tools for Talking About Sexuality in Your Family"with Damon Constantinides, LSW, M.Ed..

- "Our Families: Stories from the Youth's Perspective" from kids of LGBT parents, run by Mountain Meadow's Youth Speakers Program.

- "Co-parenting after Divorce" with Randi Platt and Ally Richman.

- "Wise Up: How to talk about being adopted"with Jane Cramer.

- "Listening and Staying Connected: Navigating our children's big feelings" with Pattie Duncan.

- "Parenting Adolescents:  Understanding the Teen Brain (without losing your mind)"

- "Transition to Parenthood"

- "Spirituality and Families"

- "Keeping the Fire Going: Sex and Romance for Parents"

- "Sensory & Behavior: Parenting Your Active (and/or Quirky) Child" with Occupational Therapist and PFP member Jennifer Santisi.

Prospective LGBT parents are welcome at all workshops, but there will be three panel discussions specifically for prospective parents:

- "Babymaking in the 21st Century: Assisted Reproductive Options"including PFP Membership Committee Chair Wendy Forbes and a representative from Fairfax Cryobank.

- "Adoption Options"

-  A showing of the film "Transparent [5]" followed by a panel discussion led by Dr. Joe Ippolito.

 Check back for updates to the workshop list. E-mail conference organizer Marla McCulloch [6] with questions.

There will be two workshops sessions in the morning, followed by lunch. In the afternoon there will be two more workshop sessions.

CHILD CARE

Mountain Meadow [7] will be on hand to provide free child care for kids 3 and over. Pre-registration [8] by October 10 required to a hold a spot in the kids zone. For those who can, we request you make a donation to support all of Mountain Meadow's great work.

Kids' author Sandro Isaack will host a special story time reading of his book "Stork MIA [9]."

LUNCH

Lunch is only $5 with pre-registeration: turkey wrap, ham and cheese or garden veggies and hummus (vegan). You may also bring food from home.Specifiy which lunch you would like when you register [10].

During lunch, attendees will have a chance to eat in small affinity groups that they choose, including Dads, Moms, Trans Parents, Waiting to Adopt and more that people suggest.

HALLOWEEN FAMILY DANCE

After the conference, from 4 p.m. - 6 p.m., LGBT parents and their kids will boogie down at a Halloween-themed Family Dance [11] with DJ and Karaoke whiz Doctor Thunder.

SPREAD THE WORD

Help us spread the word about this conference to your LGBT parent and prospective parent friends. 

Download, print and distribute our flyer for the conference [12].