On June 24th, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court decided the case Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, overturning Roe v. Wade in a 6-3 decision. Roe v. Wade had constitutionally protected the right to abortion for nearly half a century, but the Dobbs decision effectively rendered abortion illegal in many states in the United States.

However, Abortion remains legal and protected in California and in Los Angeles County. The County of Los Angeles and the Department of Public Health are committed to ensuring people have the access they deserve to all needed health services, including abortion care, so they may live full and healthy lives.

In January 2022, the Supreme Court was considering the Dobbs case, and in September 2021 had already allowed a Texas law (SB8) to go into effect that essentially banned abortion in that state. Aware of the impending threat to reproductive rights and justice nationwide, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors commemorated the 49th anniversary of Roe v Wade with a Board motion that mobilized the County to ensure all people in LA County had access to quality reproductive health care services, leading to the creation of the Abortion Safe Haven Pilot Project. The Abortion Safe Haven Project consists of a network of county agencies; nonprofit, academic, and business partners; reproductive health, rights, and justice advocates; and health care providers committed to ensuring safe access to reproductive care for everyone in LA County and those coming to LA County, including all under-resourced and marginalized people with the capacity for pregnancy.

The California legislature and governor have taken major steps to protect abortion access in the state, including funding the LA County Abortion Safe Haven Pilot Project. For a thorough list of abortion-related legislative efforts and successes, see the Future of Abortion Council.

If you or someone you know need resources to access an abortion, and you need more help, you can email AbortionLAC@ph.lacounty.gov