On August 5, 2022 the Indiana General Assembly and Governor Holcomb passed Senate Enrolled Act 1 (“S.B. 1”), which came into effect on September 15. This law bans nearly all abortions in the state and requires any abortions allowed under the law’s very narrow exceptions to be performed in hospitals or ambulatory outpatient surgical centers that are hospital-owned, rather than in the clinics in which the vast majority of abortions have been safely performed in the state for decades.
In response to the passage of S.B. 1, on August 17, 2022 the City of Bloomington Common Council and Administration issued Resolution 22-15, which indicated that:
(1) denying Hoosiers capable of pregnancy – including our fellow city and county residents – the right to bodily integrity and self-determination will impose tremendous physical, psychological, and economic harms, and
(2) the law will impose those harms disproportionately on people of color, economically disadvantaged people, and all others who face discrimination in the health care system.
In order to mitigate the negative impact S.B.1 has on the reproductive health of Bloomington (IN) residents, $100,000 in grant funds will be made available in 2022, to support emergency services needed to help guarantee that persons able to give birth maintain control and autonomy over their reproductive health and processes.
Grant funding may be used for services needed to meet the health emergency imposed by S.B. 1, including but not limited to: transportation; counseling services; post op exams and medication; and emergency contraception. Grant funds may not be used contrary to valid local, state or federal law.
DEADLINES
The deadline for applying for a 2022 Emergency Reproductive Health Grant is Monday, November 11 at 5pm. A five member panel will evaluate applications with a target date of Friday, November 22, 2022 for awards to be announced. Questions may be directed to Community and Family Resources Director, Beverly Calender-Anderson at andersb@bloomington.in.gov. Final reports for this grant will be due June 30, 2023.