Women are the fastest growing demographic of veterans. According to the VA National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics, it’s expected that at least 14% of veterans will be women by 2032, compared to approximately 10% today. Despite these statistics, women are often underrepresented by the VA and unsatisfied with the VA care offered to them after discharge.
Women veterans deserve easy access to the resources and care they’re owed after leaving the military. That’s why, in this article, we’ll explain some of the free VA and non-VA women veteran resources available.
In this article on women veteran resources:
Understanding the need for women veteran resources
Although all veterans have access to VA benefits after service, women veterans are more likely to feel unwelcome at VA facilities. One study found that 25% of women veterans have experienced harassment at a VA facility, making them more likely to delay or miss an appointment.
Women veterans have also been frustrated with the VA’s gender-specific care options. According to a 2021 survey of women veterans, only 49% of respondents said VA facilities met their needs. This is likely due to a lack of VA providers trained in women’s health. For example, a 2020 report from the VA Office of the Inspector General found that, for almost two years, one of the country’s largest VA health systems had no full-time gynecologist. Additionally, the same system’s “primary care providers dedicated to women’s health were so short-staffed and responsible for so many patients” that they were unable to provide adequate care for women-specific issues.
Women veterans also experience higher rates of PTSD, depression, eating disorders, and other mental health conditions than their male counterparts. For all of these reasons and more, it’s essential that women veterans are given easy, safe access to VA resources.
VA women veteran resources
Despite the unique hurdles women veterans face as they navigate the VA system after service, the VA is working to be more responsive to their needs. For one, the VA’s proposed budget for 2025 would invest more than $13 billion in women veterans’ healthcare and an additional $1.1 billion toward women’s gender-specific care.
Below is a list of some of the programs and resources the VA currently offers to women veterans.
1. Women Veterans Call Center
The Women Veterans Call Center may serve as a starting point for women who were recently discharged from the military. Veterans can call, text, or use the online chat feature to connect with the Women Veterans Call Center for information about health, employment, financial, and education benefits.
2. VA Women’s Health Transition Training
This is an online, self-paced program created to give women a better understanding of how VA health care is designed to serve them. VA Women’s Health Transition Training can help you find what health care services are available, how to connect with other women veterans, and how to find your local VA facility.
3. Women Veteran-Owned Small Business Initiative (WVOSBI)
From the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, the Women Veteran-Owned Small Business Initiative connects women veteran entrepreneurs with various networking and economic opportunities to jump-start their businesses.
4. Maternity care
The VA covers a range of maternity care services from pregnancy to postpartum. Some of those services include physical exams and lab tests, obstetrical ultrasounds, lactation support, newborn care, maternity care coordinators, and support in case of miscarriage or stillbirth.
5. Military sexual trauma (MST) resources
While VA MST resources are available to all veterans regardless of gender, MST affects women at a much higher rate. When screened by their VA provider, about one in three women veterans, compared to one in 50 men, reported having experienced MST. The VA provides an MST coordinator to veterans to answer any questions they may have about MST-related services and programs. They also offer free MST-related mental health and medical care at every VA medical center and many VA community-based outpatient clinics.
Recently, the VA launched the MST mobile app, which features dozens of specialized tools to help victims of MST cope with challenges, manage symptoms, and track recovery.
6. Breast health
According to the VA, one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. Fortunately, when detected early, breast cancer can be treatable. That’s why the VA provides breast care services like breast ultrasounds and MRIs, breast biopsies and surgeries, genetic counseling, and cancer treatment.
For a more comprehensive list of VA resources for women veterans, visit the Center for Women Veterans.
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Non-VA women veteran resources
Women veterans also have opportunities to connect with other service women through non-VA organizations. Many of these groups were created to build a supportive community, while others offer transitional resources and financial aid to veteran women and their families. Below is a list of just a few of those organizations.
1. WoVeN Women Veterans Network
Sometimes, coming home from service can feel lonely and isolating. Connecting with other women who understand your unique experiences as a female veteran can be hard. WoVen connects communities of women veterans to help them heal together and support one another.
2. Women Veterans Alliance (WVA)
WVA is a non-profit that shares tools and resources with veteran women to help them transition and thrive after service. Through networking and community events and conferences, the Women Veterans Alliance provides career opportunities, help starting or expanding start-up businesses, and career mentorship.
3. Foundation for Women Warriors
The Foundation for Women Warriors is a resource for veteran women dealing with financial hardship. This organization offers emergency financial aid to qualifying women and their children to help cover childcare, rent, utilities, and household needs. They also help these families find mental health care, employment, and stable housing.
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Neil Woods
Neil Woods is a VA disability attorney and the owner and president of Woods & Woods. He received his law degree from Western Michigan University.
