The Priya Fund (Priya) was created in 2011 to assist Jewish couples with the financial impediments associated with infertility or adoption. Priya is one of 150 programs and services provided by Jewish Family Service (JFS), where couples can have direct access to a continuum of mental health and social services while they are going through the highs and lows of trying to start a family.
In response to requests for a support group specific to these challenges, JFS is launching two new support groups for couples in the Dallas Jewish community. Both groups are facilitated by JFS Clinician Beth Broodo, MS, LPC, RYT, Director of Binah Support Services.
“I’m excited for Priya’s support groups and collaboration with Beth Broodo to begin this month,” Caryn Peiser, said. “Priya has helped many couples in our community already and this feels like a natural next step for the program’s growth to provide more support in this arduous journey.”
The goal of these support groups will be to share feelings and experiences that we can all relate to. “Going through fertility treatment can be stressful and lonely,” Beth Broodo said. “Support groups help us feel more connected, grounded and peaceful through the process.”
The new group for women struggling with infertility will be held on the 3rd Monday of every month 8:00pm-9:00pm beginning October 18, 2021. The Priya Support Group is open to women experiencing primary and secondary infertility and will help reduce anxiety, attain acceptance in the moment, and hope for the future. Participants will share and develop coping skills while “waiting” and work on increasing overall well-being.
The new workshop for couples struggling with infertility will be held on the 4th Monday of every month from 8:00pm-9:00pm beginning October 25, 2021. The Priya Couples Workshop will help couples increase friendship in their marriage and learn techniques for talking through difficult shared struggles such as infertility in a productive manner.
Since the fund’s inception, it has awarded over $100,000 in grants and has assisted 28 couples in the Dallas area resulting in 16 babies being born. JFS is looking forward to expanding Priya services to include an open-sourced resource list from these couples as well as helping to create an intimate network of support for couples with similar experiences with infertility.
“JFS is fortunate to have The Priya Fund in Dallas to provide support for couples experiencing infertility,” Peiser said. “We work closely together with organizations all over the country to partner in our shared mission and we couldn’t do the important work we do without the support of the Dallas Jewish community.”
The support groups are virtual. To RSVP and for more information, please contact Caryn Peiser, The Priya Fund Coordinator, at cpeiser@jfsdallas.org. To learn more about The Priya Fund, visit https://jfsdallas.org/priya.