Womens' Conference Brings Veterans Throughout CA...

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CALVET WOMEN VETERANS CONFERENCE BRINGS TOGETHER WOMEN VETERANS FROM THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA

Nearly 150 women veterans from throughout California gathered for the first women veterans conference in more than 10 years, at the Lions Gate Hotel in Sacramento, to share military experiences, as well as to learn useful information vital to acquiring the veterans benefits they have earned.

“The needs of women veterans have changed, especially in light of women now being deployed into combat zones,” said Tom Johnson, Secretary of Veterans Affairs. “California is home to approximately 164,000 women veterans yet only a fraction of them are taking advantage of the many benefits available to them. Because of that, CalVet is increasing its outreach to women veterans in an effort to assist them to receive the benefits they have earned.”

“Women veterans, especially those from Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom return home with many of the same problems as the men,” said Barbara Ward, Deputy Secretary for Women and Minority Veterans Affairs. “These women veterans suffer from severe war injuries, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and military sexual trauma in more numbers than before, and still many are not aware of the help available to them. Hopefully this conference will shed some light on their issues but most importantly offer them solutions and venues for recovery.”

During the day-long conference, women veterans in attendance received information regarding their VA benefits, their specific mental health issues, and employment assistance. Women veterans were also able to gather valuable education information from a concurrent day-long education faire held during the conference.

Women veterans in attendance were also given the opportunity to share with the California Commission on the Status of Women their concerns and challenges as women veterans. The information shared by the women will be developed into a report at a later time by the Commission.