PRE-BIRTH
Making Mishpacha Adas Israel Congregation
202-362-4433, ext. 112
www.adasisrael.org/lifelonglearning
Workshop for Jewish couples expecting their first child. Rabbi Lauren Holtzblatt and Natalie Merkur Rose, LCSW-C, director of Jewish community outreach at the Jewish Social Service Agency, lead a course designed to prepare and educate couples for the changes that accompany transformation into a family. Course begins Fall 2013.
L’Mazel Series for Jewish Parents-to-be B’nai Israel Congregation
301-881-6550, ext. 500
Coordinator: Sharon R. Safra
[email protected]
A series of informal gatherings that will include topics such as how to pick a Jewish name, preparing for the transition from couple to family, details for brit milah and naming ceremonies and values for Jewish parenting. One session is also dedicated to the topic of infant care. Facilitated by a family education director with presentations by rabbis, a community mohel, a JSSA professional, and a certified nurse. Single parents, interfaith couples and families considering adoption are welcome. One series held in fall and one in spring.
TAY-SACHS SCREENING
Tay-Sachs is an inherited genetic disorder, which is always fatal in children. Infants of Ashkenazi Jewish heritage are at a higher risk of having this disease. A simple blood test can determine if an individual carries the Tay-Sachs gene.
National Tay-Sachs & Allied Diseases Association, Inc.
800-906-8723
www.ntsad.org
Provides information about Tay-Sachs and places for screening.
GAUCHER DISEASE
Gaucher Disease is far more prevalent than Tay-Sachs with one out of every 450 Ashkenazi Jews affected. There is a simple test to detect Gaucher Disease and there is now a safe and effective treatment.
National Gaucher Foundation, inc.
2227 Idlewood Rd., Suite 6
Tucker, GA 30084
800-504-3189
Fax: 770-934-2911
www.gaucherdisease.org
Provides information and assistance for those affected by Gaucher Disease; also provides educational programs and outreach to the community.
JEWISH GENETIC DISEASE SCREENING
Victor Center for the prevention of Jewish Genetic Diseases
Einstein Healthcare Network
5501 Old York Rd.
Levy 2 West
Philadelphia, PA 19141
877-401-1093
www.victorcenters.org
Works to ensure ongoing access to comprehensive genetic education, screening and counseling services through Jewish community education programs and screening programs for healthy individuals at risk for being carriers of a gene mutation for any one of the 19 preventable Jewish genetic diseases.
ADOPTION
JSSA (Jewish Social Service Agency) Adoption Options
6123 Montrose Rd.
Rockville, MD 20852
301-816-2700
Fax: 301-770-0901
3018 Javier Rd.
Fairfax, VA 22031
703-204-9592
Fax: 703-204-9590
Email: [email protected]
www.jssa.org
Adoption Options is a licensed child-placing agency in Maryland and Virginia providing resources for adoptees and adopting families; offering information about adoption options; exploring the details of domestic agency, private or international adoption; and reaching informed decisions on achieving adoption goals. Services include private consultations to identify adoption alternatives; complete and thorough home studies meeting all domestic and international jurisdictional and legal requirements, as well as those of the USCIS and the courts; home studies for embryo adoption/placement; psychosocial assessments of surrogates and birth parents for private adoption; required post-placement supervision for domestic and international adoptions and court reports for re-finalization in Virginia; support and guidance throughout the adoption process; counseling for birth parents; counseling for adult adoptees and their families and adult adoptees and birth parent searches placed through JSSA.
BIRTH
Jconnect-New baby info
6101 Montrose Rd.
Rockville, MD 20852
301-348-7356
703-286-1022
Fax: 301-230-7260
[email protected]
www.jconnect.org
A program for the Greater Washington area that welcomes babies born, or adopted, into a family within the past 12 months with at least one Jewish parent. Provides booklet or pdf containing information for new parents and access to a virtual community connecting you to other new parents from the area. Jconnect is a community service program of The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington.
