Abortion Access
Click on images to enlarge
The 2022 Supreme Court Decision overturning Roe vs. Wade and subsequent state-level legislation barring or making access to abortion and reproductive healthcare difficult for pregnant people, leaving pregnant people in the Midwest particularly vulnerable. Illinois has become an island for people seeking abortions. In 2022, nearly thirty percent of abortions in the state of Illinois were performed for patients who traveled from out of state to get the procedure. This number has nearly doubled since the overturning of Roe vs. Wade. As students at the University of Chicago, we reside in a state that continues to receive a huge influx of patients directly impacted by abortion bans. Project Reproductive Freedom is an RSO seeking to support initiatives and organizations involved in reproductive justice work, the work fighting for folks to have complete economic, social, and political power to make their own decisions about their sexuality, body, and reproduction. This group creates programming for students that supports their agency over their reproductive and sexual lives and strives to increase their access to health services. They also host learning opportunities, fundraisers, and fun events throughout the year! If you are interested in learning more about reproductive justice and care and are passionate about ameliorating current issues in reproductive justice, please check us out here, on instagram, and at the RSO fair, and join our mailing list and attend our meetings and events!
There are also local groups working on these issues. The Chicago Abortion Fund is an amazing non-profit organization that provides financial, logistical, and emotional support to individuals seeking abortion services. They specifically aid callers through funding for clinical appointments and other services such as gas, lodging, childcare, food, and assistance with case management. While they only support services in Illinois, they emphasize that they fully support individuals who call them from anywhere within the U.S.
Contraception:
Are you interested in contraception? here you can explore contraception options to find what’s best for you. If you are actively enrolled in a program of study at UChicago, you can get a free IUD or birth control implant, or make an appointment through my.WellnessPortal for prescription birth control. If you would prefer free or low-cost contraceptive services that are not affiliated with UChicago, there are a number of resources available as well. Click here for a comprehensive resource guide to contraception!
If you are in need of condoms and live in a UChicago dorm, your house should have free condoms and 10 mL lube packets available in the hallways, bathrooms, and/or house lounges. But these supplies are not always refilled when used up and there have been incidents of students who are against birth control stealing school provided condoms and lube to dispose of them. Free condoms and lube packets are also available at the student wellness clinic area (840 East 59th St. Suite L1100 Chicago IL, 60637). CVS and Target on E. 53rd St., Jewel-Osco on S. Cottage Grove Ave, Walgreens on 55th street, Midway Market [Next to Cathy Dining Commons] and Bart Mart [inside Bartlett Dining Commons] sell condoms as well.
Abortion
If you need an abortion, you have a number of options. First, read about the types of abortion and when you can have them here. Here is a list of clinics that can give you an abortion/refer you to a location that provides abortion services. You can go through student wellness to obtain a referral to UChicago Medicine/the Ryan Center for an abortion. Make an appointment at 773-834-9355 or on my.WellnessPortal under “Medical”- “Gynecology”-”possible pregnancy”-”pregnancy”. While the Ryan Center is unable to publish information on their policies regarding USHIP and other insurance plans, they will provide information on the associated costs when you schedule an appointment with them at 773-834-9995. The costs are anticipated to be minimal if not zero. It may be helpful to schedule with multiple providers and inquire about associated costs to ensure you have an appointment, then cancel the ones you don’t need after choosing the best/most affordable option for you. If you do not have insurance or your insurance does not cover or cover enough for your abortion to make it affordable to you, PPIL may be a more affordable option as they charge on a sliding scale. You can apply for funding from the UChicago Center for College Student Success and the resources listed on their website under “Financial Support”. If you are receiving abortion care from UChicago Medicine/Ryan Center, you can apply to the UChicago Medicine FInancial Assistance Program for a lower cost. Click here for some useful resources if you are seeking or considering seeking an abortion.
Do you want to support abortion access locally?
Chicago Abortion Fund (CAF) has a few different volunteer opportunities: students can volunteer on the hotline, host fundraisers (PRF fundraises for CAF every spring), follow up with grant recipients, complete data entry, and assist in special event coordination. Interested students should fill out this google form and sign up for a 20-minute screening call. Become a clinic escort (or other volunteer) for Planned Parenthood. Abortion Access Fronts publishes a huge variety of events that people can attend to support abortion access. Here is the Illinois-specific calendar. Normalizing and destigmatizing contraception and abortion starts with you! It’s okay if you are unable to commit to a volunteer role. What matters is that you help spread information about access to reproductive care and support your friends, family, and those around you when they seek reproductive care.
