Philadelphia Family Pride
Title: Paths to Parenthood: Navigating Alternative Family Building for LGBTQ+ Prospective Parents
Student Interns:
Katelyn Chen
University of Pennsylvania, School of Social Policy & Practice
Academic Preceptor:
Johanna K.P. Greeson, PhD, MSS, MLSP
University of Pennsylvania, School of Social Policy & Practice
Community Preceptor:
Melissa Charfadi, LPC, NCC, AC
Philadelphia Family Pride
Sandra Telep
Philadelphia Family Pride
Community Site:
Philadelphia Family Pride (PFP) is a grassroots nonprofit organization located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, dedicated to building community, providing support, and advocating for LGBTQ+ parents, prospective parents, and their children. PFP serves diverse LGBTQ+ individuals and families across the greater Philadelphia region through peer-led education, networking events, and legal and social advocacy.
Team’s Experience:
During the summer, the Bridging the Gap student intern supported Philadelphia Family Pride by designing and coordinating the Paths to Parenthood (PTP) Prospective Parent Summer Series, a structured six-session educational initiative. The project focused on demystifying complex financial, legal, and medical pathways associated with alternative family building, including surrogacy, adoption, foster care, donor selection, and legal protections. The intern created a comprehensive communication framework, including digital outreach flyers, weekly listserv updates, and educational resource materials (virtual brochures) distributed before each session. Additionally, the intern established partnerships with local LGBTQ+-affirming reproductive healthcare providers, legal experts, and community venues to facilitate accessible, free public workshops. The final deliverables included a finalized multi-week workshop curriculum, event marketing pipelines, and curated resource guides for community distribution.
Reflections
Navigating my summer placement as a solo intern at Philadelphia Family Pride pushed me to develop autonomy and self-reliance in macro social work practice. Coordinating the Paths to Parenthood series highlighted how systemic heteronormativity creates invisible barriers for LGBTQ+ families navigating healthcare, legal, and financial systems. Engaging with my interdisciplinary BTG peers during Wednesday sessions reinforced that true health equity requires breaking down professional silos. This experience deepened my commitment to advocating for structural, inclusive changes within public systems so that affirming resources are standard practice for all families.
Katelyn Chen
Partners
