Home Main Category Announcements Reproductive Health Services Remain Legal, Safe, Available In Contra Costa County

Reproductive Health Services Remain Legal, Safe, Available In Contra Costa County

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From County Health Services:

Contra Costa Health (CCH) today reaffirms its commitment to reproductive health rights, and to ensure that all county residents may access safe, compassionate care, including abortion services.

The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the Roe v. Wade decision, which held that the Constitution protects a woman’s right to privacy relating to decisions about abortion, has understandably raised fears in the community about the future of reproductive rights.

In Contra Costa County, everyone will continue to have the same access to reproductive health care as they did before this decision. Supportive, confidential services are and will remain widely available in the county.

“The ability to access reproductive care – and to maintain autonomy over our own bodies – is essential to the health and wellbeing of everyone in our community,” said Karen Mitchoff, chair of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors. “I remember a time when we did not have the right to choose. Here in Contra Costa County, we will do everything we can to not go back to those days.”

CCH will issue a health advisory for county medical providers encouraging them to support continued, unfettered access to all reproductive and sexual healthcare services, including access to abortion services for anyone who needs them.

“Any loss of reproductive rights threatens us all, particularly women, and especially communities of color and others disproportionately affected by health inequities,” Contra Costa Supervisor Federal Glover said. “Less access to care in Contra Costa County would only deepen those inequities.”

Full spectrum reproductive health services, including abortion services, are widely available in Contra Costa. Many primary care providers in the county offer medication abortion services.

“Now more than ever, we are calling upon our community providers to help women who are pregnant and thinking about abortion understand and navigate all their care options,” Contra Costa Health Director Anna Roth said. “Today’s Supreme Court decision may confuse some, which is why it is especially important now to reaffirm that all reproductive care services, including abortion, are safe, legal and available in Contra Costa County.”

Contra Costa is also served by Planned Parenthood Northern California, which offers a full range of services at several locations in the county. Visit plannedparenthood.org and click the “Get Care” button to learn more about services, find a nearby clinic, or make an appointment, or call 1-800-230-7526.

CCH provides a range of services through its Women’s Health Services clinics, including pap smears, breast exams, contraception, pregnancy testing, options counseling, STD/HIV testing and referrals to other services, including abortion services. Women with low income may qualify for no-cost or reduced-cost services – call 925-608-5360 for more information.

11 COMMENTS

  1. What, no comments? I was expecting the whole range from outrage to joy. I am in the special situation of being annoying to both sides since I can see both sides have a reasonable viewpoint and am kind of on the fence but mildly supporting Roe/Wade. Perhaps the heat and humidity are taking the fight out of everyone.

    • Hey, LV. You have to remember this is a moderated field! Lots of folks checking in but we’re hoping they can all calm down and find their voice! You know, no excessive bad words, threatening language and that kinda stuff… we feel it building. People are upset.

  2. I was on one side but then moved to the other.
    The original abortion decision allowed the first trimester removal of the fetus.
    But in subsequent years, zealots pushed it all the way up to birth and there was even movement to push it to 10 days after birth did the baby could be gotten rid of.
    Both of which are barbaric…..
    But hidden under a euphemistic title of ‘women’s health’ or ‘reproductive health’ some awful things were going on.
    I’m personally glad it’s being limited a bit. I am glad I was born!
    And I’m glad all of you were born!

    • There is no legitimate move or push to even remotely approach legalizing abortion after birth. That is a complete nonsense scare tactic. That said, I am interested in what awful things are going on under the auspices of reproduction health. Could you elaborate?

  3. This decision will be remembered along with Plessy v Ferguson OR utterly forgotten in the new Republic of Gilead. It’s hard to say which way we go, but I’m guessing the blowback will be huge, and history will view this abrupt reversal unkindly.

  4. I’ve always thought that politics and especially the government shouldn’t be involved in matters like abortion, among many other things.

    A child is the responsibility of the parents. Parents who chose not to be responsible must be held accountable.

  5. Justice Blackmun took a reach when he crafted original Roe opinion relying upon a right to privacy “based” upon Due Process Clause of 14th Amendment. A desired end result, but perhaps not the soundest of foundations from a constitutional perspective. The late (and great) RBG held this view.
    Those on the center-left portion of the political landscape will be concerned about the issues raised in Justice Thomas’ concurrence in Dobbs case that came down today. Griswold, Lawrence and Obergefell could be the “next” Roe. A lot to ponder.

  6. Why the sanitized title if one is so proud of it? ‘Abortion’ Remains Legal in California. Abortion is not Healthcare. If you’re contemplating abortion, there are other options and loving help available to you! You can start by seeing an ultrasound of your baby! That won’t happen in an abortion clinic. I understand where you are. I had an abortion and I would choose differently after the experience.

    https://www.next-step.org

    • You make a fair point about the title, but consider that when Planned Parenthood clinics are shut down, a lot of other reproductive health care and health screening services are lost, generally affecting the people who need it the most. Also, this may get lost in the screaming from each side, but I don’t think it is fair to say that anyone is “so proud of it”; proud of the fight, the conviction, to continue to provide these services is perhaps more accurate. Finally, “Abortion is not Healthcare” is simply an opinion, an opinion not shared by the majority of Americans. Unfortunately for our side of the debate, we are living under minority rule at present, and even highly popular issues, e.g. related to gun legislation, struggle to get an up or down vote in the Senate, or an unbiased hearing in the highest court, a court of ultra-conservatives who do not reflect the majority view, and worse, are now viewed as dishonest political actors by many of us in the majority.

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