1. 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

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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.)

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

9. 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

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

11. 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%)

12. 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

13. 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.

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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).

18. 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