News
Focusing on Women Veterans at VFW National Convention
Tuesday, July 26, 2016 | Category: Advocacy/Outreach - National
Women veterans' health care and benefits was the focus of a panel at the 117th Veterans of Foreign Wars convention held in Charlotte, North Carolina July 23-27, 2016. The VFW's Women's Advisory Team, three former VFW state commanders and the Department of Veterans Affairs Center for Women Veterans Director and the Deputy Chief Consultant Women Health Services participated in a panel discussion. The Department of Veterans Affairs staff left with at least seven concerns.
Legion Extends Women Veterans Survey to August 18, 2016
Monday, July 18, 2016 | Category: Advocacy/Outreach - National
The American Legion extended its deadline for its survey of women veterans to August 18, 2016. To date 1900 women with military experience have participated. Survey results are used to inform the American Legion on recommendations to the Department of Veterans Affairs, Congress, and enhance public awareness of women's military service. Your voice matters...encourage others to take the survey...make a difference for women who served in the military...past, present, and future!
DoD Safe Helpline Offers Specialized Support to Sexual Assault Victims
Friday, July 15, 2016 | Category: Sexual Harassment/Assault/Trauma - National
The "Safe Helpline" is the Department of Defense's (DOD) sexual assault hotline. DoD community members affected by sexual assault can access 24/7, secure, confidential, anonymous support through the DoD "Safe Helpline" at https://safehelpline.org, or by calling (877) 995-5247. In 2011, DOD contracted RAINN, the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network, the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization to operate the "Safe Helpline." To date, more than 60,000 sexual assault survivors, family members, and colleagues as well as a million others have accessed information and resources on this website. Other services offered include an online chatroom (Safe HelpRoom) where "survivors of sexual assault in the military can connect with and support one another in a moderated, secure environment." Like the telephone hotline, online helpline and Info by Text services, the Safe HelpRoom is also available 24/7. Additionally, there is a "self-care mobile app" tailored for military sexual assault victims/survivors and accessible anywhere in the world without an internet connection. This app is downloadable free from the iOS and Android app stores.
Women Veterans' Health Curriculum: VA Offers Online Educational Campus to Public
Thursday, July 7, 2016 | Category: Health Care - National
The Veterans Health Administration's (VHA) "Women's Health Curriculum" is available to the public. A great deal of women's health care that the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) does not yet offer at its nationwide Medical Centers and/or community-based clinics is fee-serviced out to community providers. These courses may prove beneficial to providers caring for women with military service.
VHA began providing medical and psychosocial services to women in 1988, when women represented 4.4% of all Veterans. Today, women Veterans make up more than 15% of the total US Veteran population. The majority of new female Veterans served in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and VHA recognizes that both provider and nursing personnel could benefit from a program to update their competencies in women's health.
‘Low Hanging Fruit’ Exposes Lives of Homeless Women Veterans
Thursday, July 7, 2016 | Category: Housing/Experiencing Homelessness - California
Bay Area-based playwright Robin Bradford tackled a difficult subject when she "tells the tale of four female veterans, who, after surviving the horrors of Iraq and Afghanistan, must contend with the brutalities of life on Los Angeles’ Skid Row, living in a tent encampment under a freeway." She shares that she was initially inspired by a 2013 Huffington Post article and later, her visits with women veterans and Department of Veterans Affairs representatives on Skid Row.
Suicide Rate Among Veterans Has Risen Sharply Since 2001
Thursday, July 7, 2016 | Category: Suicide - National
In summer 2016, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) released a report regarding veteran suicide. The study examined death records of more than 55 million veterans from 1979 to 2014 from every state. Findings included: "The suicide rate for veterans age 18 to 29 was 86 deaths per 100,000 for men and 33 deaths per 100,000 for women — much higher than previous estimates, and almost twice as high as all other age groups. The civilian suicide rate is about 14 deaths per 100,000." Since 2001, veteran suicides increased by 35%. Women veteran suicides increased by 85% in that same time period.
7th Annual Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America Members' Survey
Wednesday, July 6, 2016 | Category: Advocacy/Outreach - National
The 7th Annual Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) Members' Survey results were recently published. IAVA states: "IAVA's annual member survey is one of the largest non-governmental surveys of Iraq and Afghanistan combat veterans and is the most comprehensive, asking about employment, education, benefits, health and other emerging issues." Results specific to women veterans is summarized on page 11 of the report.
Bill Requiring VA Study of Female Veterans' Suicide Prevention Programs Heads to President Obama
Thursday, June 30, 2016 | Category: Suicide - National
The "Female Veteran Suicide Prevention Act " passed both the Senate and the House of Representatives. It mandates that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) assess whether or not their programs are meeting the needs of female veterans. Under the Clay Hunt SAV Act, the VA is required to annually review its suicide prevention and mental health programs. This recently passed Act specifies that the VA must collect and publish separate data and statistics on female veterans. Between 2000 to 2010, the rate of female veteran suicide was reported to have increased by 40%.
mHealth Pilot Targets Underserved Women Veterans
Wednesday, June 29, 2016 | Category: Health Care - National
DMS Health Technologies notes that their interest in providing a fleet of mobile vans as a health care access alternative for women veterans was partially influenced by the April 2015 report, “U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Study of Barriers for Women Veterans to VA Health Care.” The Congressionally-mandated report stated that "more than seven of every 10 women veterans are not getting the healthcare they need at a VA facility because they’re uncomfortable there or the clinics and hospitals don’t have adequate services for female veterans. The report also indicated the VA doesn’t have any comprehensive data or analyses that would help solve that access issue." The specially equipped vans would include a range of services including mammogram technology, OB-GYN services, behavioral health counseling, cancer screening, lab work, wellness and health promotion. The $83 billion discretionary funding line item for this pilot project was included in the 2017 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill. The Senate passed its version of the bill. The House version is in discussion, and if passed, both bills must be consolidated into one bill for a Congressional vote. Female veterans are the fastest growing veteran cohort.
Senator Gillibrand May 24, 2016 Press Conference to Reintroduce Military Justice Improvement Act
Friday, June 24, 2016 | Category: Sexual Harassment/Assault/Trauma - National
Senator Gillibrand reintroduced the Military Justice Improvement Act along with other senators, Protect Our Defenders, Servicewomen's Action Network, Vietnam Veterans of America, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, and a survivor Samantha Jackson on May 24, 2016, which would take certain criminal offenses including sexual assault out of the military chain of command decision making process and instead, place these complex and difficult decisions in the hands of trained military legal professionals. The reintroduction is made in the context of misleading information the Pentagon provided at Congressional hearings last year. The information led Congress to believe that the military change of command has made significant improvements in the military justice system to ensure allegations of sexual assault were professionally addressed to include the elimination of retaliation against victims and that civilian legal entities were less willing than the military to prosecute sexual assault allegations. Current data reflects that prosecutions are stalled, the judicial process is rife with bias, and a lack of accountability and transparency. Senators continue to seek White House leadership.