Like many couples thinking about an engagement, Karen and Josh understood that they were weighing a commitment far greater than choosing flowers or signing a catering contract. They were preparing for a marriage, a family, and a future. This planning—much more critical than questions about place settings and cake layers—led them to seek education and screening from the Center for Jewish Genetics.

The Centerfor Jewish Genetics offers counseling and screening services appropriate both for persons of Jewish decent and for interfaith couples. The Center’s current test panel screens for 80-plus conditions and offers the highest detection rates for individuals of all backgrounds and ethnicities. All participants receive personal follow-up from the on-staff genetic counselor. The current test is non-invasive, using gene-sequencing on a saliva sample that participants collect at home and mail to the lab after completing a live webinar. Participants use their results to inform important decisions about their family planning.

Karen wanted as much information as possible to protect the health of her future family. Knowing her options well in advance made more sense to her than waiting until pregnancy. The Center’s accessible, affordable, and education-oriented program allowed her and Josh to go through the process together. They found that having a genetic counselor available for information and support made the process feel less clinical, and more like a natural part of the pre-engagement process.

Nothing in Karen and Josh’s results affected their plans, and today they are married with a healthy 15-month-old baby boy. Both are grateful that the Center’s program allowed them to make wise parenting choices even prior to the birth of their first child. For those with different screening results, the Center emphasizes that nothing in the panel means an end to family planning—only a beginning to more informed family planning.

Karen said she advises others to use the Center’s services. “If your vision of a future family includes children, then the Center for Jewish Genetics is a valuable resource for you and those you care about most,” she said.

Karen and Josh have advice for couples who are preparing to go through the education and screening process.

• Talk with your partner about how you envision your future family and the information that you’ll need before making that commitment.

• Take advantage of the accessible and affordable education and screening options offered by the Center. Share the education and screening experience with your partner.

• Going through the Center’s program together makes the experience more meaningful and opens the door for other conversations about family health issues that might affect you as a couple in the long term.

For additional information regarding the Center’s education and screening program, contact Leah Steinberg at [email protected] or (312) 357-4994.