We at Boston Birth Village are thrilled to announce that Jscreen will be joining us as a sponsor for our annual fundraising event, the Climb, on October 27, 2024. From the moment we connected with the Jscreen team, it was clear that their mission to educate and support parents about genetic testing aligns perfectly with our values. We believe every parent deserves a supportive community, and we are excited to welcome Jscreen into our village.
Jscreen is a national non-profit genetic screening and education program providing access to comprehensive, at-home testing and genetic counseling. From your personal health to family planning, genetic tests will give you information you need for a healthy future. They work with individuals and couples to help them gain education, testing, and personal support that helps with family planning.Â
Discover More About Jscreen
What inspired the founding of Jscreen?Â
In August of 2009 the Gold family’s life changed forever when their 18 month old daughter was diagnosed with Mucolipidosis Type IV (ML4). Apart from the devastation of this news, the Gold’s were also surprised and confused; they had been screened for common Jewish genetic diseases prior to conceiving. It turned out, unfortunately, that their previous testing had only included eight conditions, and Mucolipidosis Type IV was not one of them. At that time, education around, and access to reproductive carrier screening were difficult and confusing waters to navigate, even inaccessible. Jscreen was initially founded to focus on providing genetic education and counseling.
In 2019, Havi, Dr. Matt Goldstein and Myra Sack’s daughter was diagnosed with Tay-
Sachs disease. Like the Golds they were devastated, but also shocked and confused. The couple had known that Myra was a carrier for Tay-Sachs disease, but Matt had been tested and was told he was not a carrier. After Havi’s diagnosis the couple discovered that Matt had not had the testing that should have been ordered for him, and it missed the mutation that he carried, ultimately resulting in Havi’s diagnosis. Using his medical background and expertise, Matt joined the Jscreen mission in order to continue to impact the landscape of genetic testing to ensure that couples and their families are offered the right testing, counseling, and help with care navigating when it matters most.Â
What should new parents know about Jscreen?Â
Jscreen is here for you! For individuals or couples planning to start or expand their family, reproductive carrier screening is a crucial step to prevent passing on genetic conditions. If a person or couples’ risk is elevated, genetic counselors will privately address the results, options and resources to help plan for a healthy future.Â
Why is Jscreen excited to be part of the Climb?Â
Jscreen is honored to sponsor the Climb and provide vital information about the role of genetic testing and counseling in family planning and personal health. We are excited to engage with the community and share how our services can make a difference.
How can new parents or those interested in genetic screening get started?Â
Visit Jscreen's website and click on "Request Your Kit" in the top right corner of the homepage. If you’d like to support Jscreen's mission, consider donating or exploring our gift options to make a meaningful impact.
Join us at the Climb to https://www.jscreen.org/https://www.jscreen.org/ and learn more about how they can support your journey to a healthier future!
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