Days before the state’s abortion law goes into force, Iowa Abortion Access Fund announces a new partnership

Cedar Rapids, Iowa – A new law that goes into effect on Monday is being accommodated by an Iowa group that assists with the cost of abortion treatment. Most abortions are illegal as soon as heart activity is found, which often occurs around six weeks into a pregnancy—before most women even realize they are carrying a child.

The new law, according to the Iowa Abortion Access Fund, won’t eliminate the need for abortions. They are fostering a new alliance with the Chicago Abortion Fund in order to support Iowans in maintaining their access to what they refer to as “essential health care.”

Since 1978, the Iowa Abortion Access Fund has assisted individuals in paying for abortion services. “Although abortion is highly stigmatized, it is also a standard medical procedure. However, getting it can be extremely expensive, particularly if you have to go out of state or use a car to get the treatment you require, according to Lyz Lenz, a member of the Iowa Abortion Access Fund’s board of directors. She claims that this is a personal purpose for many of the participants in the primarily volunteer-run group.

“We all live in this state. We raise kids in this state. A lot of us have had abortions or needed abortion care in our lives,” says Lenz.

According to Lenz, funding from the Iowa Abortion Access Fund average about $450. The patient may spend that money for any expenses, such as lodging and travel. These expenses might increase soon as a new Iowa legislation that prohibits most abortions after the detection of heart activity goes into effect on Monday. The Iowa nonprofit forged a fresh alliance with the Chicago Abortion Fund ahead of that shift.

According to the Chicago Abortion Fund, 465 Iowans have requested aid since the 2022 Dobbs ruling. Iowans have submitted 60 requests to the non-profit in the last three weeks alone.

“This ban is a severe setback for the Midwest. We are heartbroken for our neighbors in Iowa. These decisions, like all abortion bans and restrictions, disproportionately harm systemically oppressed communities, including people of color, people with low incomes, and those living in rural areas. The Chicago Abortion Fund, in partnership with the Iowa Abortion Access Fund, is dedicated to ensuring that anyone forced to leave the state of Iowa for abortion care receives the comprehensive support and resources they need,” said Qudsiyyah Shariyf, Deputy Director of the Chicago Abortion Fund (CAF) in a press release this week.

According to Lenz, the collaboration will ensure that the Iowa Abortion Access Fund can accommodate the increasing need for assistance. “We are just committed to continuing to do the work, no matter what law gets passed,” says Lenz.

According to the governor’s office, Iowa’s statute solely applies to abortions carried out within the state.