Earlier this month, I was honored to attend the swearing-in ceremony for Rep. Tammy Duckworth, a congresswoman from Illinois. As a helicopter pilot who served in Iraq, she lost both her legs and the partial use of one arm in a rocket-propelled grenade attack.
A record 98 women − 101 counting nonvoting members − now serve in the House and Senate. In addition to Rep. Duckworth, this year’s freshman class also includes Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, a congresswoman from Hawaii who served a tour in Iraq with the Army National Guard.
Female service members representing different branches of the military participate in the unveiling of the Women's Bureau's trauma-informed care guide.
Reps. Duckworth and Gabbard are not only a testament to the growing number of women now serving in Congress, but to the record number of women returning home from service to their country.
In keeping with our vision to empower all working women to achieve economic security, the department’s Women’s Bureau has focused on helping women veterans who are homeless find a path to good jobs and financial security.
We joined forces with the Department of Veterans Affairs to sponsor a number of women-to-women “Stand Downs.” These events provided a safe environment for women veterans to access critical services for free, including medical care, job training and housing assistance.
And based on the bureau’s listening sessions with homeless women veterans, as well as our work with the organizations that serve them, we developed the Trauma-Informed Care for Women Veterans Experiencing Homelessness: A Guide for Service Providers. The guide is designed to equip service providers with a deeper understanding of women veterans’ unique experiences and needs.
To ensure that service providers know how to use the guide, and other available resources to help homeless women veterans, the Women’s Bureau has been hosting round tables around the country. Participants have included representatives from homeless shelters, medical centers, community-based organizations, and state and federal organizations.
And through a recent webinar hosted by the Women’s Bureau, community and private health care providers learned how to tailor their programs and policies to better serve women veterans, such as treating them in settings that make them feel safe.
Leaders like Reps. Duckworth and Gabbard are amazing role models, and we hope they − along with the rest of Congress − will work to help our returning heroes reintegrate into civilian life. As President Obama said in his 2012 Veterans Day proclamation, it is our responsibility to ensure that returning veterans “can share in the opportunities they have given so much to defend.”
To learn more about the Women’s Bureau, visit www.dol.gov/wb.
Latifa Lyles is acting director of the department’s Women’s Bureau.
{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }
This is definintely a move in the right direction. Another thing that needs to be addressed is domestic violence against women in the military and that it not be swept under the rug. I speak from experience because I was abused by another soldier in my unit and my chain of command from my 1SG to my platoon SGT to most of the people in my unit knew about the abuse and I couldn’t get help. Even when I asked for help from my 1SG by giving him an 11 page hand written detailed account of the abuse that I had been going through, he turned and gave it to my abuser and told him to deal with it. My abuse got swept under the rug and I have no doubt that there are so many other cases that have happened the same way or have ended up in the murder-suicide or just simply murder. This has to stop and how many other women or men (men are victims too) have to suffer before somebody says that it is enough and takes a stand to stop domestic violence in the miltiary? I have been out 12 years and still go through couseling.
Excellent move. All veterans should get the support they deserve after service and throughout their lifetime. Its nice to see such moves are taking place in their support. I think by putting the message out more, more people will follow and support such moves.
Today women empowerment is a great topic to discuss and it should be also. A great step by Department of Veterans Affairs also. Thanks for the information.
Great record ! I`ll hope the number of women will grow more in future.
Returning veterans should be treated well and as heroes that they are. Women in congress should increase as more women in legislation will temper the decisions and stance taken by the men.
Just passed this on to a friend whom might be interested. Thanks for letting us know about this.
This is a noteworthy pursuit by the Women’s Bureaua to make as much available resources to help homeless women veterans. Great job!
true,good information thanks for posting
Hello! Excellent article! Thanks Latifa for your particular perspective … Be well!
Joshua Provoste
Wow .. really a strong women. it showed their love for the country. so necessary a large appreciation especially from the government for the women veterans.
Can i get the exact dataset analytics about this please? I am really interested
I think that any effort to help homeless veterans, both women and men, is valid to bring some dignity to them.
I am looking forward to women veteran getting what was promised these when they swore us into service. I don’t feel it will happen in my lifetime
A Voice for Women Veterans. hmmm.. nice title. and I think this is a great post. thanks for sharing
In spite of many honors that address to nowadays’ women, there are still a lot of women abuse all around the world. I’ve often heard where a lot of women get divorced just few weeks or months after their wedding because their husbands treat them violently. So sad…
Inspiring. To think that a lot of women is still being abused overseas. This only proves that men and women are created equal.
I like ladies who are able to be a good example for everyone
Even I’m a man, I still give big respects to women especially to those who served the country more than herself.
how to use the guide ?
althrough veteran,
voice a woman like a young spirit
Leaders of the caliber of Reps. Duckworth and Gabbard are role medels indeed. And the returning veterans deserve every award and a reward, especial women.
I am from Indonesia. It’s hard to find a community about veterans especially for woman veterans in my country. This website is great. I am glad to know this article. Keep writing.
nice information about voice for women veterans
Women in war is sometimes a controversy. However, when they become veterans, Gov should give them more than men.
I am proud of these ladies. they struggle to fight the current world. an award is very important to them. good info
Brave women who fought for the country should be given a tribute and should be cared. Thanks to them! Thanks for sharing, it touched my heart a lot.