As part of the launch of the new report Women Veterans: The Journey Ahead, DAV hosted a panel of women health experts, including (from left) report co-author Dr. Sherrie Hans of Sigma Health Consulting; Dr. Sally Haskell of VA Women’s Health Services; Dr. Susan McCutcheon of VA’s Office of Mental Health Services; Dr. Keita Franklin of VA’s Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention; and Dr. Elizabeth Yano of the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System. and refer for care for things like MST, depression, [post-traumatic stress disorder], alcohol use, suicide risk. You would probably never find these pieces anywhere in the community. When you get into the area of our women veterans who have experienced MST, specialized programming for them is pretty much nonexistent out in the community.” Hans noted that one of the most critical points that came from her research was the need to include gender-specific issues as major reforms are underway to transform the VA system. “It’s important that the needs and issues of women veterans remain at the forefront of policy, planning and implementation,” she said. Hans also said one critical recommendation that carries over from DAV’s 2014 report Women Veterans: The Long Journey Home is the need to ensure metrics and measures are gathered, tracked and reported. “Particularly as we move forward in these modernization efforts, you have to make sure that as you make change, you’re watching what impact that has on women veterans and ensure you’re not losing progress as you’re making progress for everybody else,” said Hans. The new DAV report pointed out the unique set of DAV.ORG | circumstances and needs of women veterans compared to male counterparts. For example, female veterans tend to be younger, more racially and ethnically diverse, and to have child care responsibilities. They are more likely to be divorced or not married, but when married, they are five times more likely to be in a dual-service-member marriage. As a result, women veterans are less likely to have a family support system and often shoulder greater economic stress. Also, the suicide rate among women veterans is 2.5 times higher than their civilian counterparts. Additionally, the report shares personal stories, like Casserly’s, that demonstrate how cultural shortcomings have continued to plague the VA and other federal agencies as they learn to meet the unique needs of this demographic. “Stories like Shaelynn’s are the reason we’re working so hard to correct this,” said Ilem. “As women veterans, we have gotten used to the surprised looks when we volunteer during a conversation that we served, too. But we shouldn’t have to. And now is the time for the VA to consider how to change the culture to ensure that the role of women in the military and the sacrifices they made are understood, acknowledged and appreciated.” ■ @DAVHQ | DAVHQ 11 FACEBOOK.COM/DAV |