Practical Support Grant Program
On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade, allowing states to ban or severely limit access to abortion. California, as a Reproductive Freedom state, took immediate steps to protect abortion rights and access.
The 2022-23 California State Budget appropriated funds to establish a $20 million Abortion Practical Support Fund at the Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) to assist pregnant people with direct practical support for the purposes of obtaining an abortion.
HCAI has designated Essential Access to serve as the Program Administrator for this grant program. In this role, Essential Access will manage the distribution of program funding, and ensure compliance with statutory requirements.
The goal of the grant program is to support pregnant people with practical support services that help make accessing abortion care possible, including support services such as transportation, lodging, and child care.
Timeline:
- 4/8/24 – Applications opened
- 4/18/24 – Optional: Practical Support Applicant Webinar
- 4/29/24 – 2024 Application FAQ document + webinar recording published
- 5/17/24 – Applications closed
- 6/17/24 – Funding decisions announced
- 7/01/24 – Project start date
The next RFP cycle will be announced in Spring 2025.
Have questions about the program? Contact: CAReproHealthEquity@essentialaccess.org.