The County Board of Supervisors (Board) issued a motion to protect and expand access to abortion rights and reproductive healthcare for those who seek services in the County including those from other states. The goal of the Board is to make the County a Safe Haven in California, which is a Reproductive Freedom State. DHS has been tasked with making abortion services more accessible and is working on various fronts to bring this to fruition and support Patients seeking abortion services at one of the many DHS Obstetrician Gynecologist (OBGYN) outpatient clinics. As part of this effort DHS has sought out and received funding from the State, through Essential Access Health, to increase access to abortion care in the form of Practical Support to not only our own Patients but those seeking abortion services from counties with limited services and those traveling from states with abortion bans and restrictions. The Practical Support Grant aims to provide those services that help make accessing abortion care possible, including support services such as transportation, childcare, meals, temporary housing, and other support services and resources. We are also aware that many Patients who present for abortion services do not have a confidential support network and have to navigate the healthcare system on their own. This PATSMA seeks to address these issues by finding a Vendor that can provide Practical Support Services as needed.
