Courtesy of the SA blog:

Summit planned for women veterans

The fourth National Summit on Women Veterans Issues will be June 20-22 in Washington. Sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs, the summit will offer sessions specifically for the reserves and National Guard, information on military sexual trauma and readjustment issues, and other programs and exhibits.

VA offers a variety of services and programs for the needs of women veterans, including high-quality primary health-care services. VA’s mental health care for women includes substance-abuse counseling and evaluation/treatment of military sexual trauma and post traumatic stress disorder.

Specific VA initiatives for 2008 include:

• Enhancing skills of primary care providers who treat women veterans.
• Examining other women’s health issues, including cardiac care, breast cancer and colo-rectal cancer.
• Focusing on family issues and avoiding birth defects through enhanced pharmacy practices.

About 1.7 million women veterans make up 7 percent of the veteran population, and a quarter-million use VA health-care services. Today, more than 200,000 women serve in the U.S. Armed Forces.

VA is reaching out to women veterans who suffer problems related to sexual trauma or harassment while in the military. Programs are also available for women veterans who are homeless or victims of domestic violence. The department operates 50 women’s health centers, which develop new and enhanced programs; some also conduct research on medical and psychosocial issues. The largest women’s center is at the James A. Haley VA Medical Center in Tampa, Fla., with more than 20,000 women veterans enrolled for care.

More information on the National Summit on Women Veterans Issues can be found at www.va.gov/womenvet. For questions about VA benefits, call 1-800-827-1000. For questions about VA health care, call 1-877-222-8387 or go to www.va.gov.