Veterans Support Group

This community is dedicated to all veterans of armed forces, and the health and life challenges they face. A veteran often refers to retired armed services personnel, one one who has served in the armed forces and has an honorable discharge. Join many others in sharing your experiences to find support.

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RoxysMom1 03/03/2009

I was rather shocked to read this in my mailbox. I'd love to hear your thoughts

New Programs that Will Prepare the VA for Today and Tomorrow
This bill authorizes new programs aimed at improving the VAs capacity to care for women veterans mental and physical health care needs.
Provides the VA with authority to care to a newborn child of a woman veteran who is receiving maternity care from the VA.
Requires that the VA implement a program to train, educate, and certify VA mental health professionals to care for women with Military Sexual Trauma (MST) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) using evidence?based treatments.
Requires the VA to begin a pilot program that provides child care to women veterans that seek mental health care or other intensive healthcare services at the VA.
Requires that the VA begin a pilot program that provides readjustment counseling to women veterans in group retreat settings.
Requires a full?time women veterans program manager at all VA medical centers.
Requires the inclusion of women that are recently separated from service on VA advisory boards.

deleted_user 03/03/2009

With the risk of sounding condescending and much too happy to read these proposals, I think that some of them (#'s 2, 5 &6) are sound thoughts and actions. I don't quite understand #1--I had a child in the military and she was well cared for (in the 70"s, by a Military Hospital). The 3rd one seems to me to just be an update of employee benefits that already exist (in some cases). The 4th seems a bit expensive to me---retreats for counseling?? but I can see where it would work.

I am pro-VA for the most part, though I will certainly concede that there are pitfalls in the system, as there is in any organization. Not everyone sees things the same, nor is everyone treated equally by the government.

This is just my opinion and thoughts, as you asked.

WanderingVet 03/03/2009

The VA needs these women's services and more. Long overdue.

bluesun 03/04/2009

pretty neat! glad to hear they are doing Something for us women vets! bout time we are heard!

deleted_user 03/04/2009

IT IS LONG OVERDUE. IF A WOMAN CAN GO DO THE JOB THEY SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF FOR IT.i SAY GREAT!!!!!!

deleted_user 03/05/2009

About damn time, long over due...

deleted_user 03/05/2009

Oh wow, that would be so awesome! Especially the part about having people trained in sexual assult and PTSD. The rates of women assulted withing the ranks is far to high. (please dont think I am speaking ill of male veterns. Most of you are wonderful, but the fact is, we have some bad apples).

RoxysMom1 03/05/2009

Corbin, I think it is a good thing, the tragedy is that is long overdue. Women have been getting assaulted in the Army when I joined and before. Those women have some monumental battle scars that are too deep to treat.

Also, I'm not sure about PTSD counseling in a "retreat" setting. Guys don't get a retreat, why would that be more effective for women.???

RoxysMom1 03/10/2009

The reason I asked for it is because I agree with you. Guys don't get retreats for PTSD, why should women ? Pregnant females discharged from the service do get medical care for delivery (correct me if that is outdated). ANd what about all the guys and especially the grandparents who drag kids all around the clinic/hospital because there is no affordable day care.

I am pro women vets but do something reasonable, meaningful and not just fluff designed to be politically correct.
thanks, I needed to get that out.!!

deleted_user 03/14/2009

I guess i am the male of the group, but some V.As have these type of servies already in play. I use the V.A in Detroit and they do have some of the things you are talking about, not all yet, but they are working on it walt

deleted_user 03/21/2009

Great!!! Also compensation would help for some of us who are still proving that MST did take place. That powers that be have decided that some of us for whom MST happened 30-40 yrs ago don't need compensation or our marriages are the cause of our PTSD/MST when the MST hsppened before the marriage. I shall not go away or keel over before justice is done so no other woman will have to go thru what i have went thru. These things are a start however we still have a long way to go!!!

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