The Importance of Genetic Counseling

With all the madness that goes along with taking care of kids and being in the daily parenting grind, we can often overlook taking care of one, very important, thing: ourselves!

Consider, as part of your own selfcare, getting genetic testing. JScreen, a non-profit program out of Emory University, is a national, public health initiative working to prevent Jewish genetic diseases and promote healthy families. JScreen provides access to an easy-to-use, affordable, at-home saliva test for new and current parents. Complimentary genetic counseling is provided when the results are ready.

Many parents don’t know that new diseases are being added to screening panels all the time, so it’s vital to be tested before or during each pregnancy, as each pregnancy is at an independent risk. Through early genetic testing, parents can find out if their future children are at risk for life-threatening genetic disorders and can be proactive to help prevent these devastating diseases.

If you're still not sure 100% sold on genetic testing, or you're wondering, "what's the big deal?" visit this page for videos, helpful graphics, and more information about why genetic testing matters.

To learn more about JScreen and the importance of genetic testing, visit their website or “like” JScreen on Facebook. You can also pay it forward and gift a test to someone else. Click here to do so.