Parents who conceived with donor sperm or eggs often need help strategizing about how to help their children make sense of their biological origins. In this discussion we will address the developmentally appropriate language that can help children of all ages integrate knowledge of the donor side of their origins while strengthening their life long bond with their parents. We will also discuss donor siblings and how to negotiate these relationships to best benefit our children and different strategies appropriate for children with known and unknown donor.

In addition, COLAGE will provide separate programming for youth age 8 to 18 who were born through sperm or egg donation.  Jeff DeGroot, who will be leading the programming, is the 2009/2010 COLAGE fellow and was born through donor insemination.  Through his fellowship, Jeff has been working on the creation of resources for COLAGE youth born through these technologies.  The programming he will facilitate will focus on helping youth discuss insemination, dialogue with their family members about their donor and navigate situations at school.