2SLGBTQ+ Family Resources

Tuesdays, September 9, 16, 23 / October 7, 21

6:30-8pm, VIRTUAL

Guest Facilitator: Erin Perron, Interwoven Connections

Workshop Description:

Join us as we explore the journey of adoption and the unique and beautiful role you’re about to take on as parents. Whether you’re just starting to explore the adoption process, or you’re already matched with a child, this session will give you the tools, support, and insights to make this experience positive, empowering, and fulfilling – for you and for the child you’re welcoming into your family.

As 2SLGBTQIA+ parents, you bring a unique perspective to adoption, one filled with love, resilience, and authenticity. You are part of a larger, vibrant community of families who understand the importance of inclusion, openness, and connection.

By being open with your child and family, setting boundaries as needed, and building a strong support network, you are creating a home that will nurture and embrace your child for who they are.

This 5-week series aims to give you the tools and support you need to manage the early days, weeks, and months after being matched with your child and welcoming them into your home.”

Wednesdays – October 15 – November 27

6-9pm

Location: Hybrid – Online via Zoom; final session in-person (The Zoom link will be emailed to registrants closer to the event date; please see below for technical requirements).

Guest Facilitators: Karen Rybko, Kimberly Miller RSW

We are excited to invite you to our upcoming event:

Pathways to Permanence for LGBTQIA2S+ Families, hosted this fall by the Adoption Council of Ontario (ACO) in partnership with Sherbourne Health.

This opportunity is specifically for LGBTQIA2S+ families formed through public adoption in Ontario. This space offers education, connection, and community.

What to Expect:

• Resources and tools for supporting permanence and well-being
• Inclusive conversations led by experienced facilitators and community members
• Opportunities to connect with others walking similar paths

Pathways to Permanence for LGBTQ+ Families is here to support you.

Register Today: https://adoption.on.ca/event/pathways-2slgbtqia-fall-2025/

Thursday, September 25, 2025

6:30-8pm, VIRTUAL

Guest Facilitator: Gail Marlene Schwartz, Co-editor, Anthology Parenting Gender-Healthy Boys: An Interactive Webinar

Workshop Description:

As queer people, we have a vested interest in dismantling toxic masculinity. The family is one of the most influential spheres of influence on personal development, so we know that we need to parent our boys differently than we were raised. But what does that look like? How do we face critical moments in our sons’ lives to nurture a healthy sense of gender and selfhood? Join queer parent and author Gail Marlene Schwartz, co-editor of the recently released Boyhood Reimagined: Stories of Queer Moms Raising Sons, for an interactive webinar in which we explore some of these questions in community. Through writing, talking, and listening to excerpts from the book, we’ll unpack our own concepts of and connections to masculinity, our ideas about healthy gender development, and specific practices to nurture boys for a better world.

Tuesday, October 14, 2025
7-8pm, VIRTUAL
Guest Facilitator: Sam Leeson, Childbirth Educator, Doula, Parenting Coach, Fertility Coach, Infant Feeding Specialist

Workshop Description:
Parenting in the early years is full of milestones—and sometimes, those changes can feel like they all arrive at once. In this 60-minute class, we’ll guide you through some of the most common (and sometimes challenging) transitions you and your child will face.
We’ll explore:
• When and how to help your little one move from the family bed or crib to sleeping independently.
• What to expect—and how to ease worries—when a second child joins the family.
• Practical strategies to help your older child feel secure and supported while you meet the needs of a newborn.
This is more than a sleep or sibling prep class—it’s about giving you the tools, strategies, and reassurance to navigate multiple family changes with confidence. You’ll leave feeling empowered, supported, and ready for whatever the next stage brings.

Tuesday, October 28, 2025

6-7:30pm, VIRTUAL

Guest Facilitator: Dr. Laine Halpern Zisman (she/her) | M.A., M.F.A, PhD
Adjunct Assistant Professor  | Postdoctoral Fellow  |  Fertility Support Practitioner

Workshop Description:

For 2SLGBTQ+ intended parents, the early stages of family building are about much more than choosing a path to parenthood. They are also about understanding who you are, what you need, and how you relate to your partner(s), support systems, and the overall process. Family building is both personal and inherently relational.

In this interactive workshop, we will re-center your preferences, values, and needs within the family building journey. Together, we’ll explore potential routes for 2SLGBTQ+ family building while also focusing on strategies for communication, self-care, and coping with change or the unexpected. Through guided conversation and creative exercises, participants will gain tools for clarifying priorities, strengthening connections, and navigating options available for 2SLGBTQ+ Family Building in Canada.

Tuesday, November 4, 11, 2025

6:30-8pm, VIRTUAL

Guest Facilitator: Sam Leeson, Childbirth Educator, Doula, Parenting Coach, Fertility Coach, Infant Feeding Specialist

Workshop Description:

Facilitated by Sam Leeson, she brings 25+ year professional experience and certification to deliver this condensed series that focuses on preparing you for the perinatal journey.

In this series we will unmask some of the curiosities of pregnancy, labour and the postnatal period as they relate to Intended, Adoptive and Not-Biologically-related parents.

We will delve into understanding:

• The latter parts of pregnancy & birth
• Your rights through the journey to parenthood
• What you need for baby
• Navigating different parenting styles
• Communication as new parents
• Establishing boundaries for the people who wish to be involved in your lives
• What is “normal” in the first few days & weeks
• Processing emotions
• Basic newborn care
• Infant safety
• . . . and more!

Thursday, November 5, 2025

7-8pm, VIRTUAL

Guest Facilitator: Myroslava Tyzkyj, BA, RVT, Registered Psychotherapist

Workshop Description:

This session is designed for queer and trans individuals and families who are exploring or preparing for parenthood. Grounded in mental health principles and community care, this talk introduces the concept of Good Enough Parenting — a liberating framework that centers connection, attunement, and self-compassion over perfection.

Participants will:

• Learn what Good Enough Parenting means and how it supports healthy child development
• Explore the unique strengths and challenges of queer and trans parenting
• Reflect on how mental health, trauma, and identity shape parenting experiences
• Gain practical strategies to build emotionally attuned, affirming, and resilient family environments

This is a supportive and identity-affirming space that celebrates the diversity of queer and trans families. You’ll leave feeling more grounded, empowered, and ready to parent with confidence, care, and authenticity.

Thursday, November 12, 2025

7-8pm, VIRTUAL

Guest Facilitator: Myroslava Tyzkyj, BA, RVT, Registered Psychotherapist

Workshop Description:

This workshop is designed for queer and trans individuals and families who are exploring the journey of starting a family. We’ll hold space for the complex emotions, histories, and lived experiences that can surface during this process, with a focus on trauma and the triggers that may arise.

Whether you’re preparing to grow your family or simply seeking support, this session offers grounding tools and affirming strategies to help you navigate the path with care, resilience, and self-compassion.

Thursday, November 19, 2025
7-8pm, VIRTUAL

Guest Facilitator: Myroslava Tyzkyj, BA, RVT, Registered Psychotherapist

Workshop Description:
This workshop is designed specifically for 2SLGBTQ+ individuals, families, and allies navigating the emotional terrain of queer family-building. Whether you’re forging a chosen family, pursuing reproductive paths, or redefining what family means to you, this session offers space to reflect, heal, and celebrate. Together, we’ll explore the often-overlooked griefs and the powerful gains that shape our journeys.
Participants will:
• Name and validate the unique losses that can accompany queer paths to family
• Explore tools for emotional processing, healing, and community support
• Celebrate the joy, creativity, and resilience that emerge through queer family-making
• Reclaim possibility and hope through affirming reflection and shared storytelling
This is a supportive and identity-affirming space that centres 2SLGBTQ+ voices, lived experiences, and emotional truth. You’ll leave feeling more grounded, connected, and empowered to honour your full story—grief, joy, and everything in between.

Tuesday, November 25, 2025
6-8pm, VIRTUAL
Guest Facilitator: The Adoption Council of Ontario (ACO)

Workshop Description:
Discover the different types of adoption available to Ontario residents: public, private, and international. Joined by the Adoption Council of Ontario, you’ll gain insight into the processes involved in each option, as well as the unique set of challenges that come with each. Don’t miss this chance to embark on a remarkable journey towards understanding adoption and the beautiful families it creates.
Program Highlights:
• Home Study: Required for all adoption pathways, involving a thorough assessment of the home environment and family dynamics to ensure suitability for adoption.
• PRIDE Training: A crucial training program to help you understand the complexities of adoption and prepare you for the rewarding role of an adoptive parent.
Ready to take the next step? Join us to learn more, ask your questions, and start your adoption journey with confidence.

Tuesday, December 2, 2025

6-7:30pm, VIRTUAL

Guest Facilitator: Dr. Rhonda Zwingerman, Co-Founder & Chief Medical Officer, Twig Fertility

Workshop Description:

This workshop offers an introduction to fertility care, focusing on the range services offered by fertility clinics, initial diagnostic testing, and the types of treatments available to support people on their path to family-building. We will also discuss some of the common medical diagnoses that can make it more challenging to conceive.

Some info about Twig:

Twig Fertility is a Canadian fertility clinic dedicated to redefining the patient experience. Combining expert medical care, cutting-edge technology, and a welcoming environment, Twig supports the whole person throughout every stage of the fertility process — with a focus on compassion, inclusivity, and exceptional outcomes.

Thursday, Thursday, November 18, 2025

6-7pm, VIRTUAL

Guest Facilitator: Jenna Bly, MATCH Program

Workshop Description:

Join us for an open and informative workshop focused on fertility, early pregnancy, and navigating prenatal care in Ontario. This session will include an open discussion and Q&A, with the opportunity to explore key topics including:

• Cycle monitoring at home and understanding menstrual cycle physiology
  • Preconception nutrition and common nutrient deficiencies in early pregnancy
  • Early pregnancy bleeding and what it may indicate
  • What is and isn’t within your control in the first trimester
  • Accessing prenatal care in Ontario, including midwifery vs OB care and how to find a provider