It’s official. VA’s Center for Women Veterans and the National Association of State Women Veterans Coordinators (NASWVC) are now partners in serving women Veterans.
In late June, Kayla Williams, director of the Center for Women Veterans, and Carrie Sconza, current president of the association, signed a memorandum of agreement during the 18th Annual NASWVC Training Conference in Bloomington, Minnesota.
“The Center for Women Veterans and NASWVC share a common goal in serving our nation’s women Veterans,” Sconza said. “We are both committed to facilitating the delivery of timely, quality benefits for women Veterans.”
The new partners will collaborate to advance and improve the quality of life for women Veterans by working to enhance accessibility to services, the evaluation of existing programs and by gaining information from the individuals that directly serve women Veterans.
“This partnership will certainly promote effective communication, and identification of innovative ways to address the emerging and evolving needs of the women who graciously served our great nation,” Williams said.
The National Association of State Women Veterans Coordinators represent all 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, as well as several associate members representing Veterans organizations or agencies nationally. For more information about the NASWVC or to locate your state’s coordinator, please visit www.naswvc.org/.
About the author: Shannon L. Middleton is a program analyst in VA’s Center for Women Veterans. She also served as an intelligence specialist in the U.S. Navy.
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I receive my routine gyn care at the Battle Creek (Michigan) VA Medical Center. Our Women’s Veteran Health Coordinator is amazing: Dr. Yvette Petti, Advance Practice NP, PhD. After reading the above horror stories of other female veterans I realize more than ever how fortunate I am to have Dr. Petti as my health-care provider as well as advocate for maneuvering through the VA obstacle course. i also receive mental health services through the Battle Creek VA Med Ctr. My primary therapist, as well as her peer support specialist, are the best I’ve ever encountered.
I cannot even get a Bone Density test in my Community. I am told I will have to use public ParaTransit services-which involves 2 hr transportation-one way; with 2 separate transfers vehicles. I am Geographical Excessive Travel Burden and cannot sit for more than 20 minutes. I have been flagged as “VA Convicted.” Administrators block my access to Community Care regardless of stipulated outlines. Whistleblower has filled me in, “VA wants to oust you” but she will not come forward, she needs her job and she knows this Accountability Act is not going to protect her.
My left phone messages are ignored, to return calls. Ms. Kayla Williams, the Women’s Clinic Program Manager has never returned my calls either. Now I don’t even have a Primary Care Dr. I can see. The local clinic where I used to go, I was sexually assaulted/harassed-which this was neatly swept under the carpet and labeled “inappropriate behavior.” This has resurfaced my PTSD to greater than 10, yet I was told when I had a Shingles outbreak, I would have to force myself to come to VA-Livermore, CA for evaluation. (I had already done as instructed by VA Advice Nurse-go to an Urgent Care Clinic, which sent me to closest Emergency Room; and follow up with Opthamologist -which I paid for privately, because VA denied me access to VET Choice to be seen within 24 hrs) all this documented by NON VA Drs. and treated, so I would not go blind).
With this denial to Community Access, I will surely suffer a more devastating occurrence.
Explain to VA Hospital Administrators who deny me NON VA access, isn’t what Vet Choice designed to prevent.
I am having trouble getting my benefits because I got married
. He made to much money. Now he is retired and I am unemployed. I am still fighting to get my benefits.
I served in the Navy for four years. I am also a vet. My husband got his. We can not get what is due to me.
If you are a flagged woman veteran like I am, you don’t count for anything. My “Women Veterans Program Manager” Jan Buchanan refuses to have any contact with me since 2010 on the say so of the DBC, because I’ve been wrongly “VA Convicted” of being disruptive and violent. My reals crimes are a complaint against my PCP early 2011 (started flag process), and then my complaints against the SVA DBC to WA DC VA top brass: current reason for declaring me violent in and out of VA to everyone. Being a flagged veteran, I’m treated like dog (redacted), no “due process” and a non-person to VA.
Gretchen, I too have been flagged. Not only are there inaccurate statements that were placed in my Medical Chart (I had requested Amending certain statements with Proof or their inaccuracies, it still has not been done). I too have been denied a simple Bone Density test here in my Community and when I call to get Patient Assistance, I get no return calls. (I’ve been told by an insider, who wishes to remain Non Whistleblower because she needs her job). I was told by her, that want to “oust you from the VA”
My family has tried to intervene with writing to Dr. Shulkin their concerns about my health; which prompted a Congressional investigation, and still denied for NonVA care by Hospital Administrators that do not even know me and are making decisions to deny my Community Care regardless of the Choice outlines. At this point, I don’t even have a Primary Care Dr.