News
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.
PBS Salutes America’s Military Men and Women with Special Memorial Day Programming
Friday, May 27, 2016 | Category: History/Heritage - National
The 27th annual PBS broadcast of the NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT, which pays tribute to America’s military, will air live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, Sunday, May 29, 2015, 8:00-9:30 p.m. ET, with an immediate re-broadcast at 9:30 p.m. PBS is also hosting special broadcasts on May 30th to include "TED TALKS "War and Peace" and "Of Men and War." Then, on June 1st, kicking off their 10-part digital series, "Veterans Coming Home." Using storytelling, media and dialogue, the series will premiere on PBS.org intending to help veterans and communities understand the opportunities and challenges faced during a veteran’s transition to civilian life and to help bridge the military-civilian divide.
Memorial Day Is Not the Same as Veterans Day (or Labor Day) — Here’s What They All Mean
Friday, May 27, 2016 | Category: History/Heritage - National
Fox Q13 news staff offer a primer on who is paid tribute on Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Labor Day as well as each day's legislative history.
Congress OKs Funding to Fill Gap in Women Vets’ Care With Mobile Clinic
Monday, May 23, 2016 | Category: Health Care - National
Senator John Hoeven of North Dakota stated that currently the VA medical centers nationwide do not have the infrastructure to provide gender-specific services such as mammograms, ultrasounds, and OB/GYN services. Proposed 2017 VA appropriations are $74.9 billion, an increase of $3.2 billlion. Within this bill is language that "presses the VA to improve health care for female veterans by considering the launch of a mobile health care pilot program," in part an outcome of the Congressionally-commissioned study on barriers to women veterans using in the VA health care system. One study finding was that "72 percent of the female vets don’t use their nearest VA facility for primary care because it lacked women’s health services." The study is linked in the article.
VA Selects New Director of the Center for Women Veterans
Tuesday, May 3, 2016 | Category: Department of Veterans Affairs - National
Kayla M. Williams was appointed as Director of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Center for Women Veterans. She will be the VA Secretary's primary advisor on Department policies, programs and legislation that affect women veterans. Ms. Williams is a post-9/11 veteran, a former member of the VA Advisory Committee on Women Veterans, an author of two books, a 2013 White House Woman Veteran Champion of Change, and a 2015 Lincoln Award recipient. She was a RAND Corporation researcher for eight years, focusing on service member and veteran health needs and benefits, international security, and intelligence policy.
After Decades Avoiding the Water, Amputee Invents His Way to Dive Back In
Thursday, April 28, 2016 | Category: Health Care - National
Randy and Lori Lord of Danforth, Maine dedicated decades to developing a prosthetic to aid amputees to swim in their home kitchen. At one point they thought about giving up, but veterans returning from Iraq sparked their interest to continue. Today, they ship their "AMP FIN" worldwide. It is manufactured in Maine, they have a U.S. patent and are applying for country patents. They hope to open nationwide stores, managed exclusively by veterans.