Texas Veterans Commission Women Veterans Program (WVP) “The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.” President George Washington October 24, 2012

Texas Veterans Commission MISSION: Advocate for and provide superior service to Veterans that will significantly improve the quality of life for all Texas Veterans and their families in the areas of: Claims Representation and Counseling Veteran Employment Services Veteran Education Services Fund for Veteran Assistance Reimbursement Grants funding.

TVC Claims Representation & Counseling Assists Veterans with Filing Service- Connected Compensation Claims Represents Veterans with VA Appeals Helps Family Members with Survivor Benefits Assists with Filing Non-Service Connected Pension Claims for Veterans and Surviving Spouses

Benefits of TVC Claims Representation Texas Veterans Receive More Than $2.2 Billion in Compensation and Pension due to Representation by TVC A Veteran Receives About $6,200 More each year when represented by TVC 179,981 benefit cases handled by TVC counselors and staff on behalf of veterans and dependants, 125,179 monetary claims, and 16,101 appeals handled by TVC counselors in the last fiscal year

TVC Veteran Employment Services Assist in translating military skills to civilian jobs Résumé assistance to help with today’s job market Job interviewing techniques Job searching techniques Career guidance Locating training assistance Connect employers with Veterans

Benefits of TVC Employment Services Last fiscal year an average of 221 Veterans entered employment for every Veteran Employment Representative (~180 across the state). Texas accounts for 18% of the nation’s Veterans entering employment. Texas receives 7% of the nation’s federal funding for Veteran Employment Services. During the last fiscal year, 38,714 veterans found work with assistance provided by VES staff.

TVC Fund For Veterans’ Assistance (FVA) Purpose Award reimbursement grants to non-profit and local government organizations that provide direct services to Texas Veterans and their families. FVA General Assistance Grants Housing4TexasHeroes Benefits FY2011: TVC Grantee Organizations served 67,500 Veterans, dependents and surviving spouses. Currently (January 1, 2012 to June 30, 2012; Total: $15,198,785): TVC has $15.1 million in active grants to more than 50 organizations. (includes previously awarded grants.)

TVC FVA Active Grants Benefit Our Veterans (January 1, 2012 to June 30, 2012; Total: $15,198,785)

TVC Education Services Federal Education Benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (G.I. Bill): TVC Provides Approval Oversight Consumer Protection Complaint Resolution Texas State Hazlewood Act Exemption: TVC Provides Information Regarding this Program to Veterans and School Officials 150 Semester Hours of Free Tuition and Fees at State Funded Schools Hazlewood Legacy Program Allows Veterans to Pass on Unused Hours to Their Children

The Needs of Women Veterans Overlap Employed Married Single Wealthy Poor Etc… Unemployed Business Owner Mother Elder-Care Giver Homeless

Challenges Women Veteran Face Women currently comprise approximately 15% of the U.S. Military (Active Duty, Reserves, & National Guard) Approximately 8.54% of the total U.S. Women’s Veteran Population resides in Texas (second to California’s 8.96%)* The Women Veteran Population in Texas is expected to grow from 129,393 in 2003 to 163,249 in 2013 (26% increase) Many traditional Veterans Services and Programs have been structured to support men Women comprised 46.8 percent of the total U.S. labor force and are projected to account for 46.9 percent of the labor force in 2018. Of the 66 Million Women that worked in 2010, 73% Worked Full-time and 23% worked part-time Of the ~ 107,000 Veterans homeless each night, about 7,000 of them are women Challenges Women Veteran Face Gender Specific Care (Medical, Housing, Counseling) Mental Care (MST, Depression, PTSD, Unemployment, Homelessness, Single-Parenting, Family Violence) Caregiver Support (Childcare, Adult Daycare) * The National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics (NCVAS) VtPop Model 2007 (forecasts from 2000 – 2036 Min YOY Growth Rate 0.22% and Max YOY 1.09%)

TVC Women Veterans Program Purpose: Assist Women Veterans in Texas Obtain their Federal and State Veteran Services and Support Coordinate supplemental services and support with local governments and community organizations

TVC’s Women Veterans Program Goals G1. Coordinate support for Women Veterans in Texas with Government and Non-Government Programs and Agencies G2. Advocate Services for Women Veterans G3. Raise Awareness of Veteran Benefits and Services to Women Veterans G4. Increase Support for Women Veterans Throughout Texas and the U.S.

TEXAS WOMEN VETERAN ADVOCATES Employers* Corporations Small Business Organized Labor Chamber of Commerce Institutions Faith-based* Religious Institutions Religious leaders Denominations Fellowship Organizations Philanthropic* Foundations Philanthropic Organizations Veteran Support Organizations Housing/Shelters CENTER OF GRAVITY ` Returning Veteran, Military Families and Families of the Fallen Dept/Agencies* Federal/State/Local Veteran Affairs Health and Human Service Judicial Branch HUD Healthcare* Government Facilities Hospitals/Clinics Professionals Peer-to-Peer Social Workers Advocates* Individuals Professional Organizations Entertainment Social Networks Benefactors* Private Donors Foundations Charities Financial Time/Volunteers Educators* Universities Colleges Vocational Centers Student Vet Organizations Core: Family and Friends VA System Registration: Benefits/Disability & Pension Claims/Healthcare (physical/mental) Veteran Community Link-in: Veteran Joins and/or Accepts Social Assistance: Emotional Support Groups/Social Support Groups Community Donations: Financial Support/Basic Needs Services Veteran Career Pathifinding/Pathing: Gets Educated and/or Gets a Job Community Action Teams Concept: Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Warrior and Family Support Community Action Team_1sldr 2 Feb 12 LTC Dennis J. Hart - WFSG * Indicates intent, not all-inclusive

TVC Woman Veteran Support & Service Connection Coordination TVC Counselor Intake/Referrals Claims Employment Education FVA Connect Coordination Community Resources Coordination Benefits & Services Coordination Information /Events/Opportunities WVET Advocates Service Veteran Resource Events MSA Cross-Agency Collaboration to Serve and Support WVETS and their Families

TVC Women Veterans Awareness Plan Killeen Lubbock Waco Ft. Worth Dallas Abilene El Paso Galveston Houston San Antonio Austin Amarillo Tyler Corpus Christi Midland - Odessa MSA Pop~ ≥ 1 Million & above MSA Pop~ ≤ 1 Million & above Region 1 Region 2 Region 3 Region 4 Region 5 Region 6 McAllen Harlingen

TVC Women Veterans Population (MSA) 2012 Women Veteran Population Per Major MSA in Texas % Women Veteran Population El Paso MSA 4,096 3% Greater Austin MSA 13,925 9% Greater San Antonio MSA 27,776 17% Greater Houston 26,994 Ft Worth MSA 17,709 11% Dallas MSA 18,255 Remainder of TX 52,130 32% Total Opportunity of Women Vets in Texas 160,885 100% Vetpop forecasts Texas has ~ 1,670,929 Million total Veterans (~ 9.63% Women to 90.37% Men).

Texas Women Veterans Need Great Support From All of Us!! It is the Soldier, not the minister  Who has given us freedom of religion. It is the Soldier, not the reporter  Who has given us freedom of the press.  It is the Soldier, not the poet  Who has given us freedom of speech.  It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer  Who has given us freedom to protest.  It is the Soldier, not the lawyer  Who has given us the right to a fair trial.  It is the Soldier, not the politician  Who has given us the right to vote.  It is the Soldier who salutes the flag, Who serves beneath the flag,  And whose coffin is draped by the flag,  Who allows the protester to burn the flag.  Copyright 1970, 2005 Charles M. Province Nancy E Rhodes October 24, 2012