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Joy of Life CARES™

Coaching Access and Resources for Empowered Surrogacy™

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What is the Joy of Life CARES™ Program?

At Joy of Life, an empowered surrogacy journey starts with you. That’s why we created the Joy of Life CARES™ (Coaching Access and Resources for Empowered Surrogacy) program — to provide easy access to life coaching for all gestational carriers at Joy of Life (CARES for Intended Parents coming soon). The first of its kind, this unique support program includes both individual and group-style workshops to help prepare you for a successful future.

Whether you’re a surrogate or an intended parent, the Joy of Life CARES™ program can teach you how to:

  • Create a financial plan
  • Strengthen your parenting skills
  • Navigate career goals
  • Manage challenges in your relationship

We are proud to offer CARES to all clients through a partnership with certified coaches and providers.

Why Join the Joy of Life CARES™ Program?

For Surrogates

Carrying or welcoming a child through surrogacy is truly a life-changing experience. The new emotions, challenges and responsibilities that come afterward are equally important. We founded CARES to ensure you feel prepared for the baby’s arrival and empower you for the future.

Here’s how CARES will support you:

  • Real Community Connections: Join mom groups and monthly virtual gatherings to connect with other moms on a surrogate journey. These real community connections provide a support system that understands surrogacy’s unique experiences.
  • Comprehensive Education: Gain insights from life coaches, labor and delivery nurses, and moms who have navigated infertility. This education covers a wide range of topics, from the surrogacy process to postpartum recovery.
  • Personal Growth Opportunities: Access tools and resources for personal development, including financial coaching to help you achieve your goals, as well as weight loss and nutrition counseling to maintain health and well-being throughout and after your surrogacy journey.

For Intended Parents (The wait is almost over!)

Embarking on the journey of surrogacy is a profound and deeply personal decision, filled with hope, anticipation and a myriad of emotions. At Joy of Life, we recognize the significance of this path and the dreams it represents.

Here’s what you can look forward to:

  • Support Throughout the Process: From the moment you embark on your surrogacy journey to the extraordinary day you welcome your precious baby into the world, we provide support, guidance, and compassion.
  • Empowerment and Confidence: Our guidance and support are designed to empower you, helping you to embrace the future with confidence and optimism.
  • Lifelong Practical Knowledge: The insights and knowledge you gain from the CARES program will serve you well beyond the surrogacy experience, enriching your journey into parenthood.

While the CARES program is currently focused on supporting gestational carriers, we are preparing to extend our support to intended parents soon.

CARES Program Framework

Whether you are a gestational carrier or an intended parent, CARES can help you build the future you’ve always dreamed of.

CARES coaching focuses on these key focus areas:

  • Finances
  • Parenting
  • Career
  • Relationship
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Finances

For Gestational Carriers
Learn how to make the best use of your surrogacy payments, plan a budget or pay off debt from our financial counselors.

For Intended Parents
Create a monthly budget for the baby, decide how to invest in education or plan for time off, with the help of financial counselors.

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Parenting

For Gestational Carriers
Learn how to talk to your kids about your surrogacy journey, and gain practical parenting tools and skills for your family’s needs.

For Intended Parents
Get the scoop on sleep training, co-parenting, choosing schools or discussing your child’s origin story with them with guidance from registered nurses.

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Career

For Gestational Carriers
Receive guidance on enrolling in an online learning program, exploring a new occupation or researching trade schools in your area.

For Intended Parents
Become informed on transitioning to remote work, navigating paid leave and deciding whether to consider childcare services.

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Relationship

For Gestational Carriers
Get tools to handle partner disagreements, embrace a relationship with your intended parents or improve connections with your family.

For Intended Parents
Feel empowered to build a gestational carrier relationship, have open discussions with family or improve communication with your partner.

Joy of Life CARES Workshops

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Group Sessions

CARES is proud to offer online monthly group sessions in which participants at varying stages of the surrogacy journey come together to discuss challenges, discoveries and ideas. In this warm and inclusive space, sessions begin with a specific topic and build from the experiences of all members present.

Learn More

Individual Sessions

Do you need more personal focus on your surrogacy journey? CARES also offers individual coaching sessions. If you prefer a one-on-one atmosphere or need more specialized support, working with a CARES-certified provider can help you get closer to your goals.

Learn More
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Meet Chantel, a Joy of Life CARES™ Host

Chantel is a Joy of Life CARES™ Host and Surrogate Success Advisor. Having been a surrogate herself, Chantel now supports other surrogates by guiding them through the process. She is the main contact for surrogates, helping them with scheduling appointments, attending meetings and facilitating communication with the intended parents’ advisors. Chantel works across departments to ensure the surrogacy journey is smooth. Watch her video to hear more about her experience and approach to supporting surrogate mothers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Joy of Life CARES™ Program?

The Joy of Life CARES™ Program offers life coaching, resources and support for both gestational carriers and intended parents embarking on the surrogacy journey. It includes individual and group-style workshops focusing on finances, parenting, career and relationships to prepare participants for a successful future.

Who can join the CARES Program?

Currently, the CARES Program is only available to gestational carriers at Joy of Life, but we’re working on extending these services to intended parents soon. Stay tuned for updates about when the CARES Program will be available to intended parents!

What kind of support does the CARES Program provide?

The CARES Program offers a multifaceted approach tailored to address the unique needs of both gestational carriers and, in the future, intended parents.

Here’s a closer look at the types of support participants can expect:

  • Financial Planning: Get guidance on managing your finances effectively, whether it’s optimizing surrogacy payments for gestational carriers or budgeting for baby-related expenses for intended parents.
  • Parenting Skills: Gain insights and tools to enhance your parenting approaches, including preparing for the arrival of your child through surrogacy and addressing the unique challenges it presents.
  • Career Development: Receive support to aid in balancing your career aspirations with the demands of surrogacy and parenthood, including exploring new job opportunities or adjusting your work arrangements.
  • Relationship Management: Understand how to strengthen your relationships, whether it’s between gestational carriers and intended parents, within your family or in managing external relationships related to the surrogacy journey.

How do I join the CARES Program?

You will be enrolled in the CARES Program upon signing your contract with Joy of Life as a surrogate or an intended parent. Here’s how to apply to become a surrogate or intended parent with Joy of Life:

  1. Visit the Joy of Life website and review the requirements for surrogates or intended parents to confirm your eligibility.
  2. Once you’ve confirmed your eligibility, fill out our online application form to get started.
  3. After submitting your application, a team member will contact you to discuss the next steps.

Ready To Get Started?

Feel empowered as you embark on your life-changing journey with the guidance, resources and the emotional support of the Joy of Life CARES™ program — apply to become a surrogate or intended parent today!

Become a Surrogate
Become a Parent