JFF-Birmingham offers grants toward In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and intrauterine insemination (IUI) for members of the Jewish community.

• Fertility Grants up to $10,000
• Interest-free loans available up to $3,000
• JFF Grantees can recieve an additional 20% off clinic fees
• Applications are rolling and decisions are generally made within 2-4 weeks of submission. Visit JewishFertilityFoundation.org for application and eligibility requirements.

Support

All support programs are FREE and open to ANYONE regardless of religious background

• Support Groups: JFF support groups are facilitated by licensed social workers and provide emotional guidance and community for individuals and couples navigating primary and secondary infertility.
• Online Support: JFF offers online support through private Facebook Groups, a blog, and a podcast, creating a safe space for connection, education and shared experiences.
• Caring Community: We build community for individuals experiencing loss and for families celebrating the arrival of JFF babies, helping them feel connected and supported through every stage of their journey
• Fertility Buddies: We offer a peer-to-peer support program that matches infertility veterans with individuals currently facing infertility, providing mentorship and guidance to hopeful mothers and fathers.

Educate

JFF-Birmingham provides education and infertility sensitivity training to clergy, fertility clinic medical staff, and families affected by infertility. We do so through:

• Panels
• Discussions
• Lectures
• Podcasts
• One-on-One Trainings

Julie Cohen recalls that on the road to becoming the parents of a 4-year-old and twin toddlers, she and her husband went through “a lot of pain”.

“And I like to think that we’ve gone through that so that I can help others” on that journey, said Julie, manager of the new Birmingham office of the Jewish Fertility Foundation (JFF), a program of CJFS.

Founded in Atlanta in 2015, JFF is a non-profit organization that provides financial assistance, emotional support and educational programs for people experiencing infertility. JFF has the goal of expanding nationally, and Birmingham is the first small Jewish community to offer its services. The organization’s Birmingham presence is made possible by a partnership between JFF and CJFS with support from the Birmingham Jewish Foundation.  CJFS Executive Director Lauren Schwartz said the partnership is a perfect fit for CJFS, which works to strengthen families and improve mental health and wellness. “CJFS is always evolving to meet community needs, and we’re thrilled to be bringing JFF’s successful model of education, support and connection for families experiencing infertility to Birmingham,” she said.

When she was going through her own infertility journey, Julie said she would have appreciated having a Jewish support resource. “People would invite me to Christian support groups, but that did not feel comfortable for my husband or me. I personally have reached out to others who I knew were going through it, but there has never been a formal network for Jewish families. Family and friends want to be supportive, but it’s difficult if they don’t have firsthand experience with the roller coaster of emotions that goes along with infertility. JFF’s programming addresses all of these issues and also assists with the high cost of fertility treatment for those eligible.  I can’t wait to build this resource for our community!”

Julie works part-time as a certified Speech Language Pathologist, and she will work part-time for JFF. “These are my two passions, and I’m grateful that I’ll be able to pursue them both,” she said. “I think JFF has the potential to help a lot of people in our community.”

For more information about this program, contact Julie at 205.879.3438 or julie@cjfsbham.org.