CHICAGO — Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced that the Chicago Abortion Fund and Planned Parenthood of Illinois have been selected as the two delegate agencies for the city's "Justice for All" initiative. Lightfoot first announced this funding as part of her "Justice For All" pledge in May, after the leaked Supreme Court decision on Dobbs v. Jackson's Women's Health.
"The City of Chicago is committed to ensuring that no person will lose their rights to reproductive healthcare," said Mayor Lightfoot. "No one deserves to be bullied, harassed or discriminated against for exercising their bodily autonomy. As Mayor of this city, I remain dedicated to protecting any person seeking reproductive care, safety and support—regardless of their zip code or which side of the state line they reside on."
This funding includes a $500,000 investment from CDPH, which continues the city's efforts to protect the rights of all people regardless of their race, gender, age, sex, sexual orientation, religion, or ancestry. Additionally, this funding will help create safe environments and directly address the racial and gender disparities in health outcomes across Chicago.
"What the City of Chicago, and CDPH are doing is a matter of public health, first and foremost," said Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Allison Arwady, M.D. "We are fortunate in Chicago to have many dedicated advocates, as well as medical providers and staff, who are working tirelessly to ensure people get the abortion care services they need. This partnership with Chicago Abortion Fund and Planned Parenthood of Illinois to do this work is the first of its kind for the City of Chicago, and I am proud to work with them to expand access to this essential healthcare"
The City is committed to supporting access to reproductive healthcare for not only Chicagoans, but also non-Chicago residents seeking safe, legal care from states that have or ultimately will severely restrict or ban abortion. The delegate agencies were selected through a competitive request for proposals process.
"The Chicago Abortion Fund is thrilled with the City of Chicago's investment in our work to make abortion accessible for all people, no matter who they are, where they live, or how much money they make. As post-Dobbs bans and restrictions go into effect across the country, and thousands of people in our region face new barriers to care, the expertise of abortion funds is crucial. Every dollar we receive from the Justice For All Pledge will go directly towards paying for appointment costs, individualized case management, and wrap-around needs — such as travel logistics, lodging, childcare, and meals — for Chicago Abortion Fund callers accessing care here, in the city of Chicago. With this partnership, we will continue to make abortion access a reality for people across the region who depend on our city for the care they want, need, and deserve."
In June, after Roe vs. Wade was officially overturned, Mayor Lightfoot signed an Executive Order prohibiting City agencies and Departments from participating in any investigation or proceeding from a State with anti-abortion legislation that seeks to penalize patients or health care providers for accessing abortions.
"The Chicago Abortion Fund is thrilled with the City of Chicago's investment in our work to make abortion accessible for all people, no matter who they are, where they live, or how much money they make. As post-Dobbs bans and restrictions go into effect across the country, and thousands of people in our region face new barriers to care, the expertise of abortion funds is crucial. Every dollar we receive from the Justice For All Pledge will go directly towards paying for appointment costs, individualized case management, and wrap-around needs — such as travel logistics, lodging, childcare, and meals — for Chicago Abortion Fund callers accessing care here, in the city of Chicago. With this partnership, we will continue to make abortion access a reality for people across the region who depend on our city for the care they want, need, and deserve."
"We thank the City of Chicago and Mayor Lori Lightfoot for creating this innovative grant program that contributes to the essential and life-saving reproductive healthcare services we provide to patients regardless of where they live," said Jennifer Welch, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Illinois. "Since Roe v. Wade fell, the barriers patients face to accessing care have dramatically increased. In the two months since the SCOTUS ruling, our health centers have seen more out-of-state patients than ever before. In the past two months, nearly 30 percent of our abortion patients were forced to travel from 20 different states. Yet we know there are countless patients who were unable to reach us or gave up because they could not access care where they live. Health equity is central to PPIL's mission. It's why we are working every day to expand access and break down barriers so our patients can get the health care they need and deserve. This grant helps us take one more step toward closing the inequity gap."
If someone is seeking reproductive health care support and services, residents can visit chicago.gov/abortioncare for trusted resources and information about pregnancy options and how to find services. CDPH hosts a digital community directory as part of its OneChiFam initiative. Anyone can use this directory to search by zip code, category, or keyword.
