Kenzi will be speaking at the National Council for Adoption's National Adoption Conference in Fort Worth, Texas. For many adoptive parents, the path to parenthood began with the struggle of infertility. With 1 in 6 individuals globally experiencing infertility, there is a widespread, societal misconception that adopting a child resolves its painful impact. In reality, these ripple effects can last a lifetime and also affect the adoptee who joins the family. As the founder of Growforth Family Building, an organization dedicated to supporting all family builders and the professionals who serve them, as well as a former program manager of one of New York's most esteemed adoption agencies, the simple trope "just adopt" has come up in many conversations with those outside the adoption constellation. This presentation will draw on research and clinical experience to outline the enduring significance of infertility and reproductive trauma on adoptive parents and adoptees at different life stages. Additionally, it will offer comprehensive practice recommendations to support adoptive parents and adoptees as they move forward in navigating the circumstances that wove their family together.

I’m thrilled to be speaking to Anna Levin - an attorney, bioethicist AND donor-conceived person! Anna is going to be answering a few of the most common questions I get on ethical family building through donor conception - and we want to hear your questions too! - What are the biggest ethical issues that recipient families should consider when it comes to donor conception? - When and how should recipient parents share their child’s donor conception story with them?- -- - What is the most surprising piece about being a donor-conceived person? ⬇️ + YOUR QUESTIONS

There's a lot to think through when deciding if you're the right fit to be an adoptive parent. ⁠ ⁠ For an adoption to take place, there is always a level of family separation for a child and their first family...making adoption an inherently traumatic process for a child (no matter their age or how loved and wanted they are within their adoptive family.) When coming from a history of infertility and possibly reproductive trauma yourself - there are plenty of emotional considerations to think about before moving forward. ⁠

Kenzi Locks, LCSW, HWC, is a licensed clinical social worker, health and wellness coach, and consultant in New York State. She’s the founder of Growforth Family Building, a virtual coaching practice committed to serving those growing their families through fertility treatments, donor conception, adoption, and surrogacy In this webinar with Hayley, Kenzi shares how part of the Torah, the religious text within Judaism, suggests that in life one should “be fruitful and multiply” – to go and have children. She explains the three branches of Judaism, and how people within each of these branches of the religion may view donor conception differently. She discusses the potential hurdles that Jewish people may come up against on their path to parenthood via donor conception, included having very limited choices when looking for egg donors who are also Jewish, seeking approval from their Rabi, or feeling pressure to keep their children’s conception story a secret. This webinar is a really interesting insight into the Jewish faith, and will be reassuring for anyone who has struggled with feeling able to be open about their fertility journey within their community. Kenzi talks about the various online communities that are now available to support Jewish people through infertility, and donor conception. If you’d like to visit any of these for more support, Kenzi suggests: Yesh Tikva (where she runs supportive spaces for recipient parents) Jewish Fertility Foundation I Was Supposed to Have a Baby Kenzi provides 1:1 coaching, virtual events, free tools, and more that centre on making difficult decisions, navigating toxic positivity, and setting boundaries. With the strong belief that the future child’s potential needs must be brought into every conversation and that those with lived experiences are the experts, Kenzi is proud to support family builders and the professionals who serve them. You can find Kenzi at www.growforthfamilybuilding.com, and on Instagram @growforthfamilybuilding

Kenzi Locks, LCSW, HWC - a family building coach and founder of Growforth Family Building and Dr. Shara Brofman, PsyD - licensed psychologist specializing in infertility - will be answering YOUR questions on infertility and mental health.

Kenzi Locks, LCSW, HWC, is a licensed clinical social worker, health and wellness coach, and consultant in New York State. She’s the founder of Growforth Family Building, a virtual coaching practice committed to serving those growing their families through fertility treatments, donor conception, adoption, and surrogacy. In this webinar, Hayley and Kenzi discuss the importance of communication between partners when you’re on the path to parenthood via donor conception. Kenzi shares her thoughts on having clear expectations of both yourself and your partner from the very beginning of the journey, and to remember that although you are both striving for the same goal, you may still have things you disagree about, need to move through the process at a different speed, or even need different levels of support, and that’s ok! Kenzi shares her tips for communicating with your partner when you may be at different stages of readiness, and how to avoid resentment as you move along the path. She also notes that along the process there are so many small decisions to make, and that it’s really common for couples to be surprised when they don’t agree on something they previously thought would be a given. Kenzi also shares her thoughts on what you can do if you reach a real sticking point, where there doesn’t appear to be a compromise. She gives an overview of how be an “active listener” and shares how learning to listen in this way can help you to keep the conversation going when things get tricky. This webinar will be so valuable for couples at whatever stage of the journey you’re at. It is packed with really practical advice from Kenzi about how to navigate these sometimes tricky conversations, which will continue to be important as our children grow, because as Kenzi says, our children will always be donor conceived! Kenzi provides 1:1 coaching, virtual events, free tools, and more that centre on making difficult decisions, navigating toxic positivity, and setting boundaries. With the strong belief that the future child’s potential needs must be brought into every conversation and that those with lived experiences are the experts, Kenzi is proud to support family builders and the professionals who serve them. You can find Kenzi at www.growforthfamilybuilding.com, and on Instagram @growforthfamilybuilding

Welcome to the Growforth Family Building Holiday Party! While we don’t have a gingerbread house contest or festive music playing, you’ll leave far more prepared for your other upcoming holiday events! Worried grandma will pinch your cheek and tell you that your biological clock is ticking? Planning out how to avoid your coworkers showing off their holiday photos filled with their kids Know holiday-themed baby announcements are about to hit your feed when the Thanksgiving ones just ended?Just know the We’re going to run through 8 steps to survive the holiday season when you’re struggling to build your family - and there will be time to talk about your worries (and even your specific relatives!)

"Be grateful for what you have." "Everything happens for a reason." "You can always try again." "Time heals all wounds." "Look on the bright side." Far too often, those walking through infertility are met with statements of toxic positivity - simple platitudes meant to draw silver linings around painful emotions and experiences. Sometimes, we can even begin internalizing and echoing these statements to ourselves. "Other people have it worse. I have no right to complain." "I don't have time for grief. I need to move forward. We'll explore the challenges of dealing with toxic positivity while going through the difficult journey of infertility. We'll share insights and strategies to help you navigate the emotional rollercoaster and handle toxic positivity with grace. Whether you're just starting your fertility journey or have been trying for a while, this event is for you. Don't miss out on this opportunity to connect with others who understand and gain valuable tools to cope with toxic positivity.

"Be grateful for what you have." "Everything happens for a reason." "You can always try again." "Time heals all wounds." "Look on the bright side." ​Far too often, loss moms are met with statements of toxic positivity, simple platitudes meant to draw silver linings around most people's worst nightmare come true. Sometimes, we can even begin internalizing and echoing these statements to ourselves. "Other people have it worse. I have no right to complain." "I don't have time for grief. I need to move forward." These phrases attempt to stifle the genuine, complex emotions that arise after a baby dies. Instead, they serve as a flimsy band-aid on a gunshot wound. In this Loss Mama Connection Event, the creator of Growforth Family Building, Kenzi Locks, LCSW & HWC, will host a discussion about toxic positivity, realistic optimism, and the many authentic and, at times, conflicting emotions in the aftermath of loss.

As it is, going through fertility treatment at all is not the route you intended to take to build your family. But does that make it "imperfect"? What if you need to use third party reproduction, such as donor eggs or sperm, or surrogacy? What about adoption? How does one reconcile all the big, heavy, and sometimes conflicting feelings about a parenthood journey that's not looking at all how you pictured? And how do you set loving boundaries to care for yourself during this process?