On Wednesday, the Illinois Department of Public Health opened applications for grant funding to increase the capacity for providers to improve access to abortion and reproductive care.
Applications will be open until Feb. 9. The program, called the Abortion Provider Capacity Building Grant Program, is open to community nonprofits and local health departments that have a history of providing reproductive services.
The grant follows the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, where Roe v. Wade was overturned, allowing abortion rights to be determined by states.
In the state of Illinois, the right to an abortion is guaranteed under state law. According to IDPH data, the number of abortions provided in Illinois to out-of-state residents increased 49% in 2022.
“Under Governor JB Pritzker’s leadership, the State of Illinois is committed to providing resources to improve training and mentorship so our health care providers can deliver Illinoisians and those who come to our state with a full range of reproductive health services,” said IDPH Director Sameer Vohra in a statement.
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Last year, Pritzker announced new cross-agency reproductive health initiatives to reduce patient costs and support health care initiatives. This initiative included the creation of the Complex Abortion Regional Line for Access hotline, new partnerships and the Chicago Abortion Fund.
IDPH is also working to create a Reproductive Health Public Navigation Hotline that will help both Illinois and out-of-state patients navigate care.
