Chicago Center for Jewish Genetics Disorders - Events Calendar

Programs of Interest

Genetic Education and
Screening for Young Jewish Adults

About the Program
Education and Screening Dates and Locations
Recommended Reading
Frequently Asked Questions

About the Program:

Knowledge is Power...

You can now minimize your risk of having a child affected by a debilitating, if not fatal, Jewish genetic disorder with a simple blood test. Learn how genetic disorders may affect your family.

The Genetic Education & Screening Program includes:

Genetic screening for nine disorders

Bloom's syndrome
Canavan disease
Cystic fibrosis
Familial dysautonomia
Fanconi Anemia, type C
Gaucher disease, type
Mucolipidosis type IV (ML4)
Niemann-Pick disease, type A
Tay-Sachs disease

An informational presentation about Jewish genetic disorders
Genetic counselors from Children's Memorial Hospital (CMH) and the Center available to address both general and personal questions. Medical staff from CMH to take blood samples for screening.
Dinner (dietary laws observed)

Program fee: $90.00 per person*

*Please note: We can only subsidize the cost of screening for one partner per couple. Screening for the second partner is available at an unsubsidized rate. The second partner is also welcome and encouraged to attend the dinner and presentation without being screened.

For more information about the availability and cost of screening, please contact Rachel Sacks at 312-357-4988 or RachelSacks@juf.org.

View the Spring 2008 Flyer

On the dates scheduled below, the Center will be hosting the Genetic Education and Screening Program at convenient locations around the Chicago area.

Education and Screening Dates and Locations:

Monday, March 3, 2008 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Temple Sholom, 3480 North Lake Shore Drive, Chicago

Tuesday, April 29, 2008 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Chicago Sinai, 15 West Delaware Place, Chicago

Recommended Reading:

A Young Couple’s Guide to Jewish Genetic Disorders and Screening

Jewish Genetic Disorders: What You Should Know

Genetic Education and Screening for Young Jewish Adults is presented by the Chicago Center for Jewish Genetic Disorders and Children’s Memorial Hospital (CMH) in cooperation with the Hillels of Illinois, the Sidney N. Shure Kehilla Program and the Young Leadership Division of the Jewish United Fund.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About the Genetic Education and Screening for Young Jewish Adults Programs

The Program

What is the Genetic Education and Screening for Young Jewish Adults Program?
What does the program include?
What does the program cost?
Is this program the same thing as Dor Yeshorim?

Eligibility and Insurance

Who is eligible for the subsidized screening?
Should my non-Jewish partner attend your program?
I have already been screened for some of these disorders. May I attend your program?
How do I know if my insurance provider will cover this testing?
My insurance covers this screening. May I attend the program?

The Registration Process

How do I sign up for your next program?
How do I know when a program date is announced and registration is opened?
I was on the waiting list for your last program. Does that mean that I am automatically on the reservation list for your next program?
How long will it take to get my test results back after the program?
What if I cannot attend the entire program?
Do I sign up for a specific time slot?

Who do I contact if I have additional questions about the screening program?

THE PROGRAM

What is the Genetic Education and Screening for Young Jewish Adults Program?

Genetic Education and Screening for Young Jewish Adults is a subsidized genetic screening program offered by the Chicago Center for Jewish Genetic Disorders, in cooperation with Hillels of Illinois, the Sidney N. Shure Kehilla Program, and the Young Leadership Division of the Jewish United Fund. The program is funded by a priority grant from the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago.

What does the program include?

The program includes:

An informational presentation about Jewish genetic disorders
Genetic screening for Bloom's syndrome, Canavan disease, cystic fibrosis, familial dysautonomia, Fanconi anemia (group C), Gaucher disease (type I), mucolipidosis type IV (ML4), Niemann-Pick disease (type A), and Tay-Sachs disease
Genetic counselors from Children's Memorial Hospital (CMH) available to address both general and personal questions
Medical staff from CMH to take blood samples for screening
Dinner (dietary laws observed)

What does the program cost?

The subsidized screening costs $90, payable by credit card or check. At this time we can only subsidize the cost of screening for one partner per couple. Screening for the second partner is available at an unsubsidized rate. The second partner is also welcome and encouraged to attend the dinner and presentation without being screened.

Is this program the same thing as Dor Yeshorim?

No. Dor Yeshorim is a confidential genetic screening system used mainly by Orthodox Jews in which participants are given an identification number, but not their actual test results. Participants can then use the system to learn their genetic “compatibility” with potential marital partners. If individuals have received testing anywhere other than Dor Yeshorim, or are already engaged or married, they are not eligible to use the Dor Yeshorim system.

The Center’s Genetic Education and Screening for Young Jewish Adults is different from Dor Yeshorim in that participants do receive their test results and find out if they are carriers for a particular recessive trait. Additionally, many of our program participants are already in relationships and are therefore no longer eligible to use Dor Yeshorim.

For more information, see the Dor Yeshorim page of our website or call the Dor Yeshorim New York office at (718) 384-6060.

ELIGIBILITY AND INSURANCE

Who is eligible for the subsidized screening?

In general, individuals of Ashkenazi Jewish descent who have not been screened for these disorders and do not have insurance coverage for this testing would be eligible for the subsidized screening. In order to determine eligibility for this program, an individual must fill out a registration form and return it to the Center’s genetic counselor for review. Anyone who is found to be ineligible for this program will be provided with an explanation and will be able to discuss their screening options with the Center’s genetic counselor.

Should my non-Jewish partner attend your program?

At our program, we screen for mutations that are found almost exclusively in the Ashkenazi Jewish population. Therefore, if your partner has no Ashkenazi ancestry, he or she is not eligible to be screened. Appropriate screening for a non-Jewish partner can be discussed with the Center’s genetic counselor.

However, any partner who wishes to attend the program without being screened in order to hear the educational presentation, meet privately with the genetic counselor, and have dinner, is welcome and encouraged to do so for $18.

I have already been screened for some of these disorders. May I attend your program?

If you have already been screened for some but not all of these disorders, you may still be eligible for the subsidized screening. The Center’s genetic counselor will be able to determine your eligibility after reviewing your registration form. Anyone who is found to be ineligible for this program will be able to discuss their options for obtaining screening for the other disorders with the Center’s genetic counselor.

How do I know if my insurance provider will cover this testing?

Insurance coverage for these tests varies greatly by company and by plan, so please call your insurance provider and ask directly. If you would like the testing (CPT) codes for the specific laboratory procedures in order to verify your coverage with your insurance provider, please contact Rachel Sacks at (312) 357-4988 or RachelSacks@juf.org for the list of codes.

My insurance covers this screening. May I attend the program?

If your insurance covers these tests, you may set up an appointment to meet privately with the Center’s genetic counselor at Children’s Memorial Hospital, or may be referred to another convenient genetics center. The subsidized spaces in the program are designated for individuals whose insurance does not cover the screening. If you are being screened privately but wish to attend the program without being screened in order to hear the educational presentation (and have dinner), you are welcome to do so for $18. Please make sure to contact Rachel Sacks at (312) 357-4988 or RachelSacks@juf.org if you wish to simply attend the presentation and dinner, so that we may ensure there is enough food and space.

THE REGISTRATION PROCESS

How do I sign up for your next program?

Once registration is open, you may sign up for the screening program by contacting Rachel Sacks at (312) 357-4988 or RachelSacks@juf.org. You will then be sent additional information about the program and a registration form. Please follow the directions and return the registration form within one week in order to determine eligibility and confirm your spot in the program. Payment is not required at the time of the reservation, but is due prior to the program date.

How do I know when a program date is announced and registration is opened?

Our bimonthly email newsletter is the best way to keep informed of our upcoming programs and events, including but not limited to our genetic screening programs. You may ask to be added to the newsletter distribution list by contacting Rachel Sacks at (312) 357-4988 or RachelSacks@juf.org. Once you receive the newsletter announcing the program, please contact Rachel to register, as spaces are limited and fill up very quickly. Information about upcoming programs is also available on the Center website.

I was on the waiting list for your last program. Does that mean that I am automatically on the reservation list for your next program?

No, our waiting lists are program-specific and do not carry over to subsequent programs. If you are on a waiting list and do not receive a call or email stating that there is space for you by the program date, then you will not be attending that program and will no longer be on a waiting list. Please contact Rachel Sacks at (312) 357-4988 or RachelSacks@juf.org to register for the subsequent program once it is announced.

How long will it take to get my test results back after the program?

Test results can take 6-8 weeks to reach our genetic counselor. She then calls all individuals who are carriers, and mails a hard copy of the results and a letter explaining their meaning to both carriers and non-carriers. Letters are generally mailed out several weeks after results are available. If more than six weeks have elapsed since you attended our program and you wish to check on the status of your testing, feel free to contact our genetic counselor.

What if I cannot attend the entire program?

In order to be screened, you must attend the entire program. Our educational presentation occurs at the beginning of the evening and is necessary for informed consent. Therefore, those who arrive more than 15 minutes late will not be eligible for screening.

Do I sign up for a specific time slot?

No, all participants must plan on attending the entire three-hour program. Following the informational presentation and dinner, participants meet with a genetic counselor and have their blood drawn in the order in which they arrived that evening. Individuals are free to leave after they are screened.

Who do I contact if I have additional questions about the screening program?

Please contact Rachel Sacks at (312) 357-4988 or RachelSacks@juf.org with any questions concerning the screening program.

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