OFC will be hosting our annual gala, Night Out on Saturday, May 6th. Mark your calendars...registration opening soon
If you can't make our event, please consider supporting our fundraising efforts by donating now and sharing the links with your friends, family, and professional networks.
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It's not too late to help us get off to a great start in 2023! We appreciate your support, anytime. |
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Letter from our Executive Director
Dear OFC Community
Happy Gregorian New Year! At the beginning of each new year, I like to reflect over the past year, think about what I want to take with me into the new year and to leave behind what no longer serves me. And given how personal the mission of Our Family Coalition is, I like to do the same when it comes to the work of the organization.
We had a full year of activities last year including a return to in-person programming. Thank you for trusting us with your families. Some of the highlights from last year include the release of our Community Needs Assessment finding. We learned a lot from that report and we started implementing some changes immediately. In fact, we launched our family navigation services and mental health services as a result of what you shared with us. In addition to this we learned that we need to do more to serve the diverse needs of our families in addition to providing more social events to counter the isolation felt by many of us during the pandemic. That is why last year we held over 100 events including a camping trip weekend.
Let’s not forget we also had a major policy win with the passing of SB 951, which OFC co-sponsored. These things were not small feats and we were able to do this thanks to you and to the hard work of the OFC staff.
Of course, last year wasn’t filled with only wins. In fact, the last two years has reminded us that barriers to accessing justice, health services, social & legal services, education services, and more continue to exist and that there continues to be a documented disparity of outcomes that disproportionately affects our community especially our Trans, Non-Binary and BIPOC members of our community. That is why we are continuing to dig deeper to learn and implement changes to the way we work in partnership with our Parent Action Boards while making sure we are doing everything we can to reduce barriers to services. We want to make sure that we move forward being both community driven and accountable to our community.
I know the last few years have been extremely difficult for many of us. For that reason, I thank you for staying close with Our Family Coalition and I want to remind you that we are here for you. And to our BIPOC, Non-Binary, Trans, Single, Poly families and those among us with accessibility challenges I know that there is more that we can do to serve you and we are committed in making this promise a reality.
We have an exciting lineup of programming planned in 2023 from camping trips to our sorely missed San Francisco PreSchool Fair. I am excited to start the new year strong and to welcome back our community. Thank you again for being part of our community and I look forward to seeing you soon.
Sincerely,
Mimi Demissew
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California Adoption Conference
The California Adoption Conference is a two-day virtual event featuring talks and workshops for adoptive, foster and kinship care families, adult adoptees and former foster youth, first/birth parents, and adoption professionals. Our Family Coalition is one of the five planning organizations for the conference.
The California Adoption Conference (CAC) is organized by a diverse group of non-profit organizations who are involved in pre- and post-adoption and foster care services for all members of the adoption triad including first/birth parents, adoptees and foster alum, adoptive and foster parents as well as extended family members, and the helping professionals who support them.
Registration opens January 10th for the 2023 conference!
Early Bird Pricing: January 1st – 31st
- 1 Day $100
- 2 Days $180
- CEUs $35 per day
Regular Pricing: February 1st – March 15th
- 1 Day $125
- 2 Days $230
- CEUs $35 per day
Follow the link below for more information.
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Men Having Babies & Our Family Coalition present:
2023 West Coast Surrogacy Conference & Expo in San Francisco
March 17-19, 2023
Known for its unbiased, comprehensive conferences for gay men, the nonprofit Men Having Babies (MHB) returns to for its annual Surrogacy Conference & Gay Parenting Expo in San Francisco. Interact and consult with gay dads, experts, and over 35 reputable gay-friendly agencies, clinics, law firms, and other surrogacy providers. Learn about the medical, legal, and financial aspects of ethical surrogacy, surrogacy destinations and options, budgeting & insurance considerations, discounts, and financial assistance, accessing benefits from employers and more.
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Our Family Coalition is offering thirteen events in the month of January, both virtually and in person. OFC programs are free to the public, but do require registration. Click on the links provided to register prior to the event to ensure your space! Check out our calendar for events!
*Please note that the gated parking lot at the OFC offices will no longer be available during business hours. Parking stalls are all currently reserved by neighboring tenants in the building. We apologize for any inconvenience.
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Weekly, IN-PERSON: SF - LGBTQ+ Parent-Child Playdate | Children 0-5 years | 11:30-12:30PM
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Description: We welcome parents and caregivers of children 0-5 years to our parent-child playdate. Join other LGBTQ identified parents in this weekly group to build community with other LGBTQ caregivers and families, share resources, and interact with their children to support their psycho-social developments, parent-child bonds, and protective factors that help strengthen our families. We will have facilitated circle time, snacks, free play, and community building.
This group will be facilitated by OFC Programs Coordinator Agua.
Dates: 01/13, 01/20, 01/27
Location: Our Family Coalition,
1385 Mission Street Suite 330,
San Francisco, CA 94143
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Bi-Weekly, IN-PERSON:
In-a-Pinch Childcare | 11AM-2PM
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Description: Feeling the pandemic fatigue? Need a break? Join us for our respite childcare offerings, available weekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11AM-2PM. This essential on-site service will be held at our San Francisco office.
IMPORTANT REMINDER: Parents/legal guardians utilizing the In-A-Pinch childcare services must stay onsite at Our Family Coalition's facility. Parents/legal guardians may utilize OFC's resources, i.e. computer, telephone, family building books and information, gender-inclusive parenting materials, LGBTQ inclusive children's books, etc.
Dates: 01/17, 01/19, 01/24, 01/26, 01/31
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Monthly, VIRTUAL: Prospective and Expectant Parent Peer Support Group | 6PM-8PM
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Description: Are you ready to start a family, but aren't sure where to begin? Or is a child on the way, and you want to connect with other queer and trans expectant families? Whether you're trying to conceive, using surrogacy, or going through the adoption process, come to connect with others and share what is on your mind in this peer support group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer prospective and expectant parents! Our group meets on the third Wednesday of each month from 6-8 pm virtually through Zoom.
Date: 01/18
Location: Virtual
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Holidays & Days of Observation
Observances and holidays in January:
- Jan 24 - International Day of Education
- Jan 26 - Chinese New Year
- Jan 26 - National Spouses Day
- Jan 27 - Commemoration of Victims of the Holocaust
OFC offices will be closed on the following dates:
- Jan 16: Martin Luther King Jr Day
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Our Family Coalition is hiring!
We are currently seeking:
To apply please email your resume, cover-letter, references, and work samples (where applicable) to info@OurFamily.org Attn: Edee Moore.
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Our Family Coalition's Mission |
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Our Family Coalition (OFC) advances equity for the full and expanding spectrum of LGBTQ+ families and children through support, education, and advocacy. Uniquely situated at the intersection of LGBTQ+ and family justice work, we are powered by community, and inspired by a love of children and families and a vision of a just society where we all belong and thrive.
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Our work is brought to you thanks to generous support from your donations,
and to the major funding partners below:
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with additional support from: |
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Ginna Brelsford & Jillian Marcellus |
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Katherine Delmar Burke School |
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• We give our respect to the Ramaytush and Chochenyo Ohlone people, on whose traditional and unceded land we are grateful to live and work, and on which our San Francisco and East Bay events take place.
• We strive to make our office and programs accessible to all families. Please let us know when you register what accommodations will help your family participate to the fullest. Read our Accessibility Statement here.
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