The women Veteran population is growing and VA is stepping up to meet the need through innovative programming and services specifically designed to serve women. But, once the programs are deployed, how do we get the word out? How do we ensure that women Veterans self-identify and take advantage of the benefits they’ve earned and deserve? And, how do we capture the sentiment and reality of what women Veterans are experiencing so we can raise those voices to drive effective policy?
My name is Danielle Corazza, and after 15 years serving Veterans from outside the government, I’m thrilled to be the first national outreach coordinator for VA’s Center for Women Veterans. As part of my new role and responsibilities, I’ll be working to expand the center’s outreach efforts through in-person events and digital outreach, primarily in the area of social media. Which leads me to some exciting news.
In conjunction with the Women Veteran Athlete Initiative kickoff and Women’s History Month, we are excited to announce that the Center for Women Veterans is launching women-Veteran dedicated social media channels on March 1. We will use the @VAWomenVets moniker for both Facebook and Twitter – like or follow us to stay informed.
These new accounts will give us greater flexibility in how women Veterans communicate with us and how we disseminate important news, research, events and program information to women Veterans and community stakeholders. All the information from across VA and the Veteran community curated for women Veterans, by women Veterans and in an easily accessible social media streaming format.
We hope you’ll follow us, retweet us and generally get involved in sharing your experiences and thoughts as we develop this new information pipeline. Feel free to send feedback and thoughts as the month progresses – there’s a stellar amount of information of all sorts hitting the presses soon, so stay tuned.
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There are plenty of female Veterans Service Officers, I am one of them. If one doesn’t apply for job, then one doesn’t get it. I appreciate any site that helps me assist Veterans. Thank you.
This is on behalf of a Woman Veteran. I am currently housing her and her husband and children because of a Home Fire.
I am writing because my family, the Mason’s, are housing the Hardeman’s after their 2 story home caught fire in Charles County Maryland.
The Hardeman family has 4 children, 1, 2, 5, and 11 years old.
The two married parents are both Iraq war Veteran’s who served our country. They are in dire need for some assistance. We need a place for them to live and some financial support so we can get them a few items. When their home burned on 21 MARCH 2018 they were in house clothes. Some of the children came to our home with no shoes or socks that night.
We, the Mason’s, are housing them so that we can try to find an apartment or place for them to stay but we have 3 children of our own in our small 3 bedroom home in Accokeek.
Any assistance you can provide or assistance would be great and well appreciated.
I am a Veteran that also served in the US Army and am working hard to support my fellow Veterans and their family.
With an open heart and request for assistance,
Matthew Mason & Renee Mason
One of your questions asked: “how do we get the word out”.
I would like to suggest
1. VSOs (Veteran Service Officers) at AMVETs, DAVs, VFWs, etc, albeit mostly males hold these positions. Motivate and assist them to help find the female veterans right there in their own cities/ towns. If it’s legally right to do.
2. Recruit female veterans and train us to be VSOs.
There just may be some out here who are interested in holding a position as female VSO.
Hello,
My name is Jayne Eckels and I’ve been developing social media pages for women veterans for socio-econ development and policy change. I wrote the DOL and I have not heard back from them. Could please arrange a time to speak?
Thank you,
Jayne Eckels
YOUR SITE SUCKS!
Tammy, tell us how you REALLY feel.
I think this is all just PR, politics, and advertising since the VA has made me homeless and denied benefits like voc rehab to me all during a medical hold for a line-of-duty injury. I suffered for more than 10 years and all the VA did was to take my home that I had already paid 9 years of payments on. They, and Navy Federal, completed foreclosure within 2 years after my cash was turned away. I believe this was because they had it appraised and determined that they could all make a profit from it. I was a drilling reservist and going to college on my G.I. Bill at the time.
This is all about civilians that work for the VA having tasks to justify getting their government checks (and getting better benefits than veterans ever have). Don’t buy it.
I had planned that the home would have been paid off by the time I was of retirement age (70). My military retirement would have made the payment if they had allowed me to keep my home for just a few years longer. Instead, my military career was cut short and all that I had gained was taken from me (including a scientific research project that I had started). I have less now than I had when I joined.
When I asked them to contact Navy Federal (when my money was being refused) I was told that they don’t get involved (since they don’t stand to profit from your loss if they do). When I contacted the VA for that intervention I was informed that they don’t help to prevent homelessness. So, hear it is, I spent over 20 years in active and reserves and I have zero to show for it. The VA made a $50,000 to $60,000 profit on the sale of my home.
And, 2 years ago, I had to get some extra help with my apartment rent (a 1/1 that cost as much per month as my mortgage used to cost). I was directed to Mission United, a United Way program (which likely gets government funding) slated for veterans. They got me kicked out of my apartment 3 weeks before the end of the lease and left me holding collections of over $1,200.
I contacted my Congressional representatives many times over these years, and they can’t do anything to assist either. It is propaganda. Thank you for your service about 1 million homeless veterans. Sure, VA.
So, tell me again how the VA is helping veterans at all. Because I can give you many opposing examples.
Belle put a claim in. And don’t take “NO” for an answer. I’m sorry you experienced this. my thoughts & Prayers for you.
Thank you
Hello. My name is Belle. I need help but no one to turn to. I asked Veterans Choice back in Dec that I needed my psychotherapist but I was told some one will call you. I’m afraid most of the time. I was raped in the Army. I’m always alone regardless who is around me. I tried so hard not to hate others but sometimes I want to beat someone’s. Ass just for them to feel the pain I ha’ve inside .
Call the women’s VA call center… 855 VA women… they are there to guide you. Do it for yourself and that veteran you care about.
I have been trying to get my wife enrolled in the VA, she was a Navy nurse in the ’70’s. The program manager in Charleston (Pat Hancock)will not return my calls. I have asked the VFW for help, so far nothing. Can you help me? Thanks, Ron Rowland.
Ron- I don’t know what state you are in, or I could be more helpful, but find your local American Legion Service Officer and ask for help. You can also try the state adjutant. Do you have a local Vet Center? They are not a part of VA Healthcare, but can absolutely help you.In my state we have a VFW service office embedded right in the VA Hospital, and they get stuff done. If that doesn’t work, find a senator in your state who serves on the armed forces committee, and contact their constituent services staffer. They have also been extremely helpful at pushing issues to the top of someone’s “to do list”, and want to see fast results. Also try googling your states Military Family Assistance Center. They have resources and connections that may be able to give you a warm handoff to someone who can actually help. I’m sorry that your wife has been having trouble getting the benefits she deserves!
Hello. My name is Belle. I need help but no one to turn to. I asked Veterans Choice back in Dec that I needed my psychotherapist but I was told some one will call you. I’m afraid most of the time. I was raped in the Army. I’m always alone regardless who is around me. I tried so hard not to hate others but sometimes I want to beat someone’s. Ass just for them to feel the pain I have inside me. I’m afraid to put in a claim for this because we get denied.
This is great news. I am a Vietnam era female veteran.
Glad to see a new approach for Women Veterans. As we know with women in service … we win wars! However, so long as a quota of only 10% exists this is a serious breach of National Security!!! Also, note that only 9% are active. So 1% are removed?
It may not be intentional but harassment and (stick’n think’n from drink’n) many be the culprit. When women are not treated equally or considered as viable then they transfer and are injured physically or mentally resulting in them leaving the service. This disrupts their careers.
Even in the Officer Ranks careers are disrupted. Women deserve to be able to serve their country and be Careerists.
I served in both reserve and active duty for 11 years and this is my experience as a supervisor and a women who just wanted to serve her country like my counterparts. Can we fix it ever?
Thank you!
We women veterans were not treated very well before those of us who served in country in Vietnam began demanding help. Our dear women veterans from WWII and Korea, etc. were usually not treated at all as they were “never in combat”, despite many being on the front lives as nurses, etc.
We are so vey pleased now with the care we are receiving at the VAMC Hospitals and Clinics!
Thank you for continuing to help us.