DAV’s extensive study Women Veterans: The Long Journey Home uncovered gaps in health care, transition services, disability compensation, employment and housing for the nation’s nearly 2.4 million women veterans. The number of women veterans continues to steadily rise, and the VA has fallen behind in providing the unique, gender-specific care required by this growing population. In their report, DAV cites 27 specific policy recommendations to help improve the care, services, and programs provided to women veterans. The recommendations cover the broad range of transition needs of women veterans in culture change, health care, disability compensation, family and community support, education, transition assistance, employment, housing, and in efforts to treat the devastating effects of Military Sexual Trauma (MST) and to prevent sexual assault.  

Women veterans deserve an integrated approach to address their transition needs, and the culture, values, and services of the federal systems should be supporting them in a successful transition home. The report urges Congress, Federal, and State agencies and community partners to re-evaluate existing programs and services and make necessary changes to ensure they are tailored to meet the needs of all veterans, including women. Congress should provide the necessary resources to meet this goal and should furnish continuing oversight of programs and services to ensure the unique transition needs of women veterans are being fully met.