ATLANTE, January 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — JScreen, a national nonprofit public health initiative dedicated to the prevention of genetic diseases, announced plans to participate in the third annual Jewish Genetic Screening Awareness Week (JGSAW) February 1st – 7, 2022. Initiated two years ago with organizational partners across the country, JGSAW serves to educate the Jewish community on the importance of genetic disease testing and raise awareness of testing resources through a week of events powerful and timely information. Jewish Genetic Testing Awareness Week will be officially recognized in Morning Orders by the Georgia State Legislature according to the Proclamation declaring Jewish Genetic Testing Awareness Week passed two years ago.
Mike Wilensky, Georgia State Representative HD79, who presented the resolution declaring Jewish Genetic Testing Awareness Week
JScreen makes genetic testing simple, accessible and affordable by offering easy-to-use home saliva kits. JScreen’s reproduction test gives expectant parents an in-depth understanding of their genetic makeup and the risk of having a child with a genetic condition. If a couple’s risk is high, genetic counselors share their results privately by phone or videoconference and offer options to help them plan for the health of their future children. JScreen’s Cancer Genetic Test alerts a person to their hereditary cancer risk. If the results are positive, this allows them to act for the prevention or early detection of many common cancers. By providing convenient, in-home access to cutting-edge technology in genetic testing, patient education, and genetic counseling services, JScreen strives to prevent devastating genetic diseases and ensure a bright, healthy future for all.
“Our #1 goal is to ensure a healthy future by preventing genetic diseases through screening and education,” says Karen Arnovitz Grinzaid, Executive Director of JScreen. “For the third consecutive year, we are proud to promote Jewish Genetic Testing Awareness Week. We’re asking for your help to make this healthy future a reality by raising awareness and showing your support for the life-saving power of genetic testing. This week will feature valuable resources and events to get more people tested and save more lives.
“It is an absolute pleasure to work alongside JScreen to raise awareness of the vital importance of genetic screening,” said mike wilensky, Rep. of state of Georgia HD79 which introduced the resolution declaring Jewish Genetic Testing Awareness Week. “In our third year of promoting Jewish Genetic Testing Awareness Week, we are working to ensure the message is heard loud and clear: take action, take control and get tested.”
During JGSAW, JScreen offers a $72 coupon code for testing. People can register for the tests at www.jscreen.org and use the code JGSAW72 at checkout to receive the discount.
For more information, please visit www.jscreen.org.
Proclamation declaring Jewish Genetic Testing Awareness Week
Senate resolution
Through: Michael Wilensky
A RESOLUTION
Designate the week of February 3 as Jewish Genetic Testing Awareness Week in Georgia and for other purposes.
WHEREAS everyone is a carrier of a number of genetic diseases and some genetic diseases are more common among certain ethnicities.
WHEREAS Jews are among the ethnic groups at high risk for certain genetic diseases, some of which cause early death or severely debilitating symptoms. Non-Jews can also carry these and other genetic diseases.
WHEREAS, genetic testing is recommended for any couple planning to start or expand their family.
WHEREAS carriers are healthy people who unknowingly have a mutation in a disease gene. They don’t have symptoms, so the only way to know if they’re a carrier is to get tested or have an affected child.
WHEREAS carrier couples have a twenty-five percent risk, with each pregnancy, of having a child affected by the genetic disease of which they are both carriers.
WHEREAS many couples are only offered genetic testing once they are already pregnant and for a limited number of conditions. Educating the community on the importance of comprehensive preconception screening is key to providing couples with more options to plan ahead.
WHEREAS, Jews are also at greater risk of having mutations in genes (eg BRCA) that increase the risk of certain cancers, and knowing these risks can save lives.
WHEREAS genetic testing is now readily available to people in Georgia and nationwide via home saliva screening.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO GEORGIA that the week of February 3 be set aside and officially designated Jewish Genetic Testing Awareness Week in Georgia.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate be authorized and directed to make available to the public and the press appropriate copies of this resolution for distribution.
Media contact:
Hayden Ari
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973-405-4600
SOURCEJScreen
