BILL ANALYSIS
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ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
ACR 158 (Yamada)
As Introduced April 14, 2009
Majority Vote
VETERANS AFFAIRS 8-0
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|Ayes:|Cook, Block, DeVore, | | |
| |Gilmore, Lieu, V. Manuel | | |
| |Perez, Saldana, Yamada | | |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Proclaims the month of May to be Women Veterans
Recognition Month.
EXISTING LAW states that within the California Department of
Veterans Affairs there shall be a Deputy Secretary of Women
Veterans Affairs who shall have responsibility over
administration of women veterans' affairs, to be appointed by
the Secretary of the California Department of Veterans Affairs.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
COMMENTS : The August 2009 California Research Bureau report,
"California's Women Veterans: The Challenges and Needs of Those
Who Served" made findings related to women from California who
are veterans. California is home to nearly 167,000 women
veterans, which is approximately eight percent of the state's
2.1 million veteran population. The U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs projects the number of women veterans throughout the
United States to grow to 14 percent in the next 20 years.
Most service members transition from the military to the
civilian world without major problems. However, a large
percentage women and men returning home from the continuing wars
in Iraq (OIF) and Afghanistan (OEF) share a range of transition
challenges, including physical and mental health consequences
resulting from their experiences in a combat environment.
Women veterans face some additional unique challenges. This
report informs state policymakers and others about women
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veterans' specific service-related challenges and needs. The
research was based on current research findings, interviews with
veteran service providers and advocates, and the survey-based
participation of more than 170 women veterans.
The author agrees with the finding of the report that that
states women veterans do not receive the recognition and respect
for their military service, especially their combat experiences,
that is afforded their male peers - they feel invisible. Women
veterans commonly express the need for peer support from their
sister veterans; however, accessing such support is a challenge.
Re-establishing family relationships can be difficult for
veterans transitioning back after long deployments. Women rarely
take the decompression time they need to adjust and address
their needs before caring for the needs of their own families.
The author feels that women veterans should have access to
gender-specific healthcare and healthcare staff that is
knowledgeable about the experiences and needs women veterans,
because the experience of women veterans can be vastly different
from their male counterparts. Women veterans are at higher risk
than males for developing mental health conditions, especially
younger women. Military sexual trauma (MST) is widespread- an
estimated 20 to 48% of women veterans have been sexually
assaulted and up to 80% have experienced sexual harassment.
Women with MST are more likely to experience other mental health
conditions. Studies indicate that women are twice as likely as
men to develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and that
they typically experience more, longer lasting symptoms than
their male counterparts. These symptoms are often accompanied by
physical problems.
Women are also experiencing increasing traumatic brain injuries
as a result of exposure to combat conditions. Depression is a
major problem for women veterans, and substance abuse is common
among women being treated for depression or PTSD.
Women veterans - and those with children - are at increasing
risk of homelessness. Women veterans struggle with gender
discrimination in the workforce, as well as balancing work and
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home lives - and often cannot find work that pays as well as the
military. Women veterans with young children report that child
care is a challenge; it is difficult for mothers to access the
health, mental health and other services they need due to the
lack of child care.
The author believes the specific needs of California women
veterans that are not being met include:
1)Recognition and respect for their military service.
2)Opportunities to interact with other women veterans to share
their experiences and provide/receive support.
3)Support and services for themselves and for their families to
re-establish family roles and relationships.
4)Child care options.
5)Access to high quality, gender-specific healthcare, separate
spaces to receive care and treatment, and staff that are
trained to understand and meet their needs.
6)Access to high-quality mental and behavioral health treatment
and services targeted to their specific issues and
experiences, separate spaces to ensure privacy and safety, and
staff that are trained to understand and meet their needs.
7)MST care and treatment in separate spaces to ensure privacy
and safety, staff that are trained to understand and treat
military sexual trauma, and outreach about MST and services.
8)Suitable and affordable housing. Those who are homeless, or
at risk of homelessness, need gender-appropriate services,
such as private and safe shelters and transitional housing;
they also need health and mental/behavioral health services.
9)Education, and employment and training opportunities that are
targeted to meet their needs.
10)Information about existing services and benefits; including
specific outreach efforts directed at women veterans and
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focused on their areas of concern.
Analysis Prepared by : Eric Worthen / V. A. / (916) 319-3550
FN: 0004088