2025 Rural Development Fund

The 2024-25 Physical and Digital Infrastructure Security Grant Program for Health Care Practitioners, offered by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), aims to enhance physical facility and digital security for healthcare practitioners. This initiative aligns with a broader mission to safeguard healthcare services, particularly those related to abortion and reproductive health, which may be vulnerable to violence and vandalism. The program's core purpose is to mitigate security risks, ensuring uninterrupted and safe access to essential healthcare services for communities across California. The primary beneficiaries of this grant are currently licensed healthcare practitioners located in California who provide abortion-related services (or referrals) and reproductive health care services. This includes medical doctors, osteopathic doctors, licensed midwives, certified nurse-midwives, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses, and physician assistants. A key impact goal is to create a more secure environment for these practitioners and their patients, thereby preserving access to critical reproductive health services. The program prioritizes security enhancements to protect against physical and digital threats. Eligible applicants must demonstrate that they provide abortion-related and reproductive health care services and are located in California. Health Care Practitioners who received an award from the FY 2022-23 DP Program are also eligible to reapply. The focus is on proactive measures to prevent violence and vandalism, fostering a safe operational space for healthcare providers. Expected outcomes include a measurable increase in the security infrastructure of participating healthcare facilities, both physically and digitally. The program anticipates that enhanced security will reduce incidents of violence and vandalism, leading to improved access to and continuity of abortion-related and reproductive health care services. With a total of $3 million available and individual grants up to $150,000, the program intends to achieve a widespread impact across California. The grant performance period runs from September 1, 2024, through December 31, 2026, allowing for significant improvements in the security landscape for these vital healthcare providers.