Department of Veterans Affairs

######### RESPONSE TO RECOMMENDATIONS OF 

THE Advisory Committee on

######### Women Veterans

2000 Report

The Department of Veterans Affairs

Response to Recommendations of

The VA Advisory Committee on

######## Women Veterans

2000 Report

[Summary of Recommendations 3](#summary-of-recommendations)

[Outreach 7](#outreach)

[Sexual Trauma Counseling and Care
10](#sexual-trauma-counseling-and-care)

[Women Veterans Who Are Homeless 13](#women-veterans-who-are-homeless)

[Health Care 16](#health-care)

[Staff Education 17](#staff-education)

[Selected Reserve and National Guard Benefits
20](#selected-reserve-and-national-guard-benefits)

[National Cemetery Administration (NCA)
21](#national-cemetery-administration-nca)

[Employment of Women Veterans in the Federal Government
21](#employment-of-women-veterans-in-the-federal-government)

[Education 23](#education)

## **Summary of Recommendations**

## 

1.  Increase, improve and monitor outreach programs to women veterans
    with special emphasis on outreach to minority populations.

2.  Include use of ethnic media (print/radio/internet/TV), churches,
    community-based organizations, minority women's organizations and
    health fairs in outreach efforts to minority women. Increase efforts
    to Native American veterans living on reservations. Identify, obtain
    and incorporate current field-based audiovisuals that focus on women
    veterans.

3.  Provide an annual briefing to the Advisory Committee on Women
    Veterans Programs and Initiatives; summarizing the outreach efforts
    of each Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Veterans Integrated
    Service Network (VISN); and Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA),
    Service Delivery Networks (SDN). Include specific information on
    outreach efforts to minority populations and to community-based
    service providers.

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4.  Continue collaboration with the Bureau of Census to ensure that the
    National Census forms (long and short) are inclusive of a direct
    approach to securing military service information that can be
    understood by all. Example: *"Have you ever served in the United
    States military?"* as opposed to, "Are you a veteran?"

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5.  Contact all military personnel discharged from active duty for
    medical reasons to apprise them of their eligibility for VA
    benefits.

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6.  Provide a briefing to the Committee on progress made, to date, on
    actions taken to encourage Congress to enact legislation to
    eliminate restriction and time limits on VA's ability to provide
    sexual trauma counseling. This briefing should include an update on
    the availability of sexual trauma counseling services in the
    Readjustment Counseling Program, as well as access to health care to
    address the physical sequelae of these experiences.

> 7\. Provide an annual briefing to the Committee on VA efforts that
> have been made to ensure that consistent, high-quality and continuous
> training has been provided to appropriate VA personnel on treatment
> protocols; sensitivity concerns, and other issues necessary to ensure
> effective sexual trauma counseling.

8.  Ensure rating specialists who process or review disability claims
    for conditions arising from sexual trauma events, including
    appropriate members of the Board of Veterans' Appeals, are educated
    on the use of "markers" in the development and rating of such
    claims. This will help ensure these claims are processed, evaluated
    and reviewed fairly and consistently throughout VA.

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9.  Maintain adequate resource levels for the 11 demonstration programs
    developed to meet the special needs of women veterans who are
    homeless to ensure appropriate evaluations of the programs'
    effectiveness.

10. VA should encourage the VISNs to work with community-based service
    providers to obtain services for the children of women veterans who
    are homeless. This will make it possible for the women veterans to
    participate in the VA programs to which they are entitled.

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11. Each veteran program or provider of services for homelessness should
    designate a case manager and assign responsibilities for specific
    services. These case managers should be trained to address the
    specific needs of women veterans who are homeless.

12. Broaden the definition of "homelessness" to use the parameters
    specified in The McKinney Act, which extends eligibility for
    assistance to individuals living in sub-standard housing conditions.

13. Ensure that the Center for Women Veterans is provided an annual
    update on the effectiveness of the VHA and VBA women veterans
    coordinators programs. Indicators of interest should include:
    personnel hours allocated to perform outreach duties, allocation of
    resources, training and educational opportunities, lines of
    communication to facility directors and training conducted for the
    women veteran coordinators.

14. Include gender-specific information in all studies and surveys
    sponsored, funded or conducted by VA. The Advisory Committee
    recommends that this information, regardless of the sample size, be
    reported.

15. Include information regarding issues affecting women veterans in new
    employee orientation briefings, and in appropriate training for
    other VA employees. When appropriate, address concerns, protocols
    for treatment of sexual trauma, interventions, etc., with
    affiliating students, residents and visiting faculty at VA health
    care facilities and regional offices.

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16. Require VBA and the Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA), to develop a
    standard of accountability for training of all personnel who handle
    gender-specific disability claims, including claims for disability
    secondary to sexual trauma.

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17. Provide a briefing to the Committee on the findings and
    recommendations of the VA-Department of Defense (DOD) Task Force
    convened to study need for sexual trauma services by members of the
    Selected Reserve and National Guard.

18. Ensure that all military personnel, including reserve forces and
    members of the National Guard, receive basic VA benefit information
    including appropriate points-of-contact unique to their situation at
    the time of separation.

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19. Disseminate information to all veterans about the availability of
    side-by-side burial for veterans married to veterans. Additional
    opportunities to serve dual veteran couples should be explored.

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20. Recruit and hire qualified women veterans, with emphasis on
    identifying qualified minority women for positions within VA.
    Include senior executive service positions, political appointee
    positions and membership on special boards and committees.

21. Encourage other federal agencies to recruit and hire qualified women
    veterans.

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22. Request the Secretary at the Department of Labor (DOL) to encourage
    the Veterans Employment and Training Service (VETS) to recruit and
    hire qualified women veterans to fill vacant positions in the
    Disabled Veterans Outreach Program (DVOP) and to hire women veterans
    as Local Veterans Employment Representatives (LVERs) throughout its
    workforce network.

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23. Work with local tribal program officials to ensure Native American
    women veterans have access to vocational rehabilitation services.

24. Encourage collaboration between VBA and DOL VETS to ensure that
    Native American women veterans have access to federal employment
    programs and services.

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25. Work with Congress to develop legislation to extend the regulatory
    time to use GI Bill benefits for all periods of service from 10
    years to 20 years.

[Agency Responses, Identified by Recommendation]{.smallcaps}

## **Outreach**

1.  **Increase, improve and monitor outreach programs to women veterans
    with special emphasis on outreach to minority populations.**

*VA Response:* Veterans Health Administration (VHA) conducted a survey
of the local Women Veterans Coordinators (WVC) to identify outreach
activities undertaken to inform women veterans and community-based
providers of services available to women at VA facilities. Local
Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) and national program
brochures and newsletters have been developed to support these efforts.
Outreach venues utilized by WVCs included:

-   Focus groups at hospitals and VET centers

-   Health fairs and disease awareness/recognition days

-   Federal women's programs and women veterans recognition activities

-   Local and State veterans service organization program events and
    women veterans' organization programs

-   Patient education

-   Training programs with Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA)

-   Brochures and pamphlets

-   Transition Assistance Program (TAP) sites

-   Local County Veterans Service Officers conferences and training
    programs

Additionally, the VET centers' program provides outreach and other
community-based service functions as an integral part of its mission.
VET centers employ people with knowledge of the local veteran population
and the community to locate, contact and inform many women veterans in
need of counseling for war trauma and/or military-related sexual trauma.
Based on over 100,000 referrals annually to VA medical centers, the VET
centers are also a point of access for many women veterans to health
care.

The Center for Women Veterans (CWV) also hosts open forums and town hall
meetings across the country which afford Center staff an opportunity to
educate women veterans about the VA accomplishments and to improve
services for women veterans. These meetings also provide a forum to
provide comprehensive information about VA benefit programs and health
care services for women veterans; discussions about new ideas and
initiatives developed to address problems that women veterans experience
in accessing VA services; opportunity to discuss their experiences and
voice their concerns about VA services in their local community; and
assistance in accessing entitlements. The Center hosts approximately one
or two of these events each month.

CURRENT STATUS: To date, VHA has held numerous briefings with minority
and women groups; and have also worked with field coordinators, VSOs,
local State and Federal agencies in outreach efforts.

2.  **Include use of ethnic media (print/radio/internet/TV), churches,
    community-based organizations, minority women's organizations and
    health fairs in outreach efforts to minority women. Increase efforts
    to Native American veterans living on reservations. Identify, obtain
    and incorporate current field-based audiovisuals that focus on women
    veterans.**

*VA Response:* Representatives from VA women's programs at the national,
regional and local levels frequently participate in community health
fairs, recognition ceremonies for women veterans and other
community-based events designed to provide information to women and
their families about services available to them from various providers.
Such activities often take place in community or religious institutions
that provide outreach to minority populations. Where appropriate,
printed materials on women's health education are made available in
Spanish, as well as English. Women veteran's health staff actively
participates in numerous homeless veterans' Stand-Down programs each
year. The Stand-Downs are offered nationwide. Statistics relative to
Stand-Down participants reflect an increasing number of women veterans
who are homeless seek services and assistance in accessing VA and
community-based programs.

The Center for Women Veterans has participated in outreach events
sponsored by organizations that work with Native American, African
American and Hispanic veterans and organizations. A list of the Center's
activities can be reviewed at:

[**http://www.va.gov/womenvet**](http://www.va.gov/womenvet) Summit 2000
-- An Overview; Center for Women Veterans.

CURRENT STATUS: The Web page for the Center is frequently updated to
reflect current activities. Distribution of printed materials has been
made to the media, veterans, field coordinators, VSOs, and other
agencies outside of VA. This recommendation is implemented.

3.  Provide an annual briefing to the Advisory Committee on Women
    Veterans Programs and Initiatives, summarizing the outreach efforts
    of each Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Veterans Integrated
    Service Network (VISN), and Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA)
    Service Delivery Networks (SDN). Include specific information on
    outreach efforts to minority populations and to community-based
    service providers.

*VA Response*: The Center for Women Veterans will coordinate efforts on
outreach initiatives for women veterans with the Directors of the Women
Veterans Health Program and Center for Minority Veterans and the
National Women Veterans Coordinator in VBA.

CURRENT STATUS: Annually, VHA, NCA and VBA brief the full committee on
all VA activities. This recommendation is implemented.

4.  **Continue collaboration with the Bureau of Census to ensure that
    the National Census forms (long and short) are inclusive of a direct
    approach to securing military service information that can be
    understood by all. Example: "Have you ever served in the United
    States military?" as opposed to, "Are you a veteran?"**

*VA Response:* The VA Office of Policy and Planning represents the
Department on the Interagency Committee for the American Community
Survey (ACS), which replaces the census "long form." VA representatives
are pursuing the veteran status/identification question on the ACS. The
veteran question is not covered on the census "short form," and we do
not believe it is likely we could have the veteran question added.

CURRENT STATUS: This recommendation is outside the jurisdiction of VA
and falls within the Bureau of the Census. However, efforts are
continuously made to ensure this question is covered in all TAP and DTAP
briefings. A request has been made to the Office of Policy and Planning
to revisit the issue with ACS.

5.  Contact all military personnel discharged from active duty for
    medical reasons to apprise them of their eligibility for VA
    benefits.

*VA Response:* Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) currently focuses
outreach efforts to military personnel pending discharge for medical
reasons through the Disabled Transition Assistance Program (DTAP)
briefings. VBA, in conjunction with the Departments of Defense, Labor
and Transportation conduct DTAP sessions with a strong emphasis on
assisting veterans in obtaining gainful employment.

####### 

CURRENT STATUS: This recommendation is still under current discussion,
and more data will be available in the 2002 Report. VBA conducted over
5500 briefings in FY 2001, with emphasis on employment. VA coordinators
are sent to visit hospitalized military personnel.

## **Sexual Trauma Counseling and Care** 

> 6\. Provide a briefing to the Committee on progress made, to date, on
> actions taken to encourage Congress to enact legislation to eliminate
> restriction and time limits on VA's ability to provide sexual trauma
> counseling. This briefing should include an update on the availability
> of sexual trauma counseling services in the Readjustment Counseling
> Program, as well as access to health care to address the physical
> sequelae of these experiences.

*VA Response:* The Department has a formal process for proposing and
evaluating items for inclusion in the legislative package that VA
submits to Congress. The Center for Women Veterans will propose and
submit for evaluation, a legislative initiative responsive to the intent
of this recommendation. It is anticipated this proposal will be
submitted for consideration during the second session of the 107^th^
Congress.

The Center for Women Veterans will continue to coordinate an annual
briefing for the Committee on VA's Sexual Trauma Counseling Program to
include services provided through VHA health care facilities and
readjustment counseling centers.

CURRENT STATUS: The Millennium Bill included new legislation that
authorized VA to treat veterans for sexual trauma through 2004. More
information will be available in the 2002 report of the Advisory
Committee on Women Veterans.

7.  Provide an annual briefing to the Committee on VA efforts that have
    been made to ensure that consistent, high-quality and continuous
    training has been provided to appropriate VA personnel on treatment
    protocols; sensitivity concerns; and other issues necessary to
    ensure effective sexual trauma counseling.

*VA Response:* The Center for Women Veterans will continue to coordinate
an annual briefing provided by Veterans Benefits Administration,
Veterans Health Administration and Readjustment Counseling Service on
the education and training efforts with emphasis on women veterans
issues and the provision of sexual trauma counseling.

CURRENT STATUS: Training is an on going effort.

8.  Ensure rating specialists who process or review disability claims
    for conditions arising from sexual trauma events, including
    appropriate members of the Board of Veterans' Appeals, are educated
    on the use of "markers" in the development and rating of such
    claims. This will help ensure these claims are processed, evaluated
    and reviewed fairly and consistently throughout VA.

*VA Response:* All VBA Veterans Service Representatives (VSR) are
trained to look for alternative evidence (markers) when developing and
rating Military Sexual Trauma (MST) claims. VBA concurs that periodic
refresher training will continue to improve the quality of the ratings
of these sensitive claims. The Center for Women Veterans will work with
the Compensation and Pension Advisory Committee on Women Veterans in
assessing the educational needs of the VSRs.

In regard to training for members of the Board of Veterans' Appeals
(BVA), the Board is firmly in favor of training as it relates to
disability claims for conditions arising from sexual trauma events;
however, the Board believes such training should include information
about the rule articulated in *Colvin v. Derwinski*, 1 Vet.App. 171
(1991). In *Colvin*, the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans
Claims stated that BVA (and VBA adjudicators) are prohibited from
refuting or substituting expert medical conclusion in the record with
their own unsubstantiated medical conclusions. In other words, BVA and
regional office (RO) adjudicators may not disregard the diagnoses of
medical examiners and rely on their own medical judgment. BVA and RO
adjudicators may consider only independent medical evidence to support
their findings. BVA has case law authority and the ROs have procedures
(contained in M21-1), for handling such claims; and these, at least to
some extent, draw attention to other items of evidence that may suggest
behavioral changes, etc. Training in this area should include a review
of the legal authority already in place.

Additionally, while BVA views education on the use of markers in
handling sexual trauma cases as beneficial, VA strongly recommend
against the notion that only "specially trained" Board members or
Counsel be allowed to adjudicate these cases. This is an unnecessary
imposition on BVA case management.

Finally, the Board will work with the Center for Women Veterans to
identify speakers who will provide instruction at BVA on the issues
described.

CURRENT STATUS: These recommendations were implemented. Additional
information will be included in the 2002 report of the Advisory
Committee on Women Veterans. This recommendation has been implemented.

## **Women Veterans Who Are Homeless** 

## (See "Update" at the end of recommendation 11)

9.  **Maintain adequate resource levels for the 11 demonstration
    programs developed to meet the special needs of women veterans who
    are homeless to ensure appropriate evaluations of the programs'
    effectiveness**.

*VA Response:* VA understands the Advisory Committee's concern that
there will be insufficient resources to allow adequate evaluation of the
11 pilot programs. However, VHA is confident that the decision to
eliminate "special purpose funding" and transfer the funding for these
programs into the VERA fiscal model will not have a negative effect on
these programs. The Center for Women Veterans will monitor the impact
this decision may or may not have on the development of these 11
programs during their first three years.

> 10\. VA should encourage the VISNs to work with community-based
> service providers to obtain services for the children of women
> veterans who are homeless. This will make it possible for the women
> veterans to participate in the VA programs to which they are entitled.

*VA Response:* The 11 pilot programs for women veterans who are homeless
were required to have a component that addresses the needs of women with
children and were specifically asked to include models of VA-community
collaboration in their design. We anticipate that, following the
completion of the pilot program, these programs will provide VA with
models for providing services for homeless women veterans with children
through community-based services, that can be adopted by other VA
homeless programs.

> 11\. Each veteran program or provider of services for homelessness
> should designate a case manager and assign responsibilities for
> specific services. These case managers should be trained to address
> the specific needs of women veterans who are homeless.

*VA Response:* The staff of VA's homeless programs has access to
educational programs that include information on the needs of women who
are homeless. The 11 pilot programs have dedicated staff to provide case
management and other services to women veterans. This staff has received
special training on the needs of women veterans who are homeless. Again,
we anticipate that the experience of the staff in these programs will
assist us in designing education modules specific to the women veterans'
population in the homeless community.

Each VBA regional office has outreach coordinators for both homeless and
women veterans. Historically, most regional offices have neither the
resources nor the veteran population to justify making these collateral
assignments full-time positions. Many outreach coordinators work with
more that one of the identified "special" veteran groups, (such as
homeless, minority, women and ex-POW) which optimizes these limited
resources.

CURRENT STATUS: Recommendations 9, 10 and 11 were addressed in Public
Law 107-95, "Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Assistance Act of 2001,"
which passed the Congress on December 11, 2001, and was signed by the
President on December 21, 2001. Among other provisions, the law calls
for VBA to establish full-time coordinators in the 20 largest regional
offices that serve veterans who are homeless. Implementation of the law
will be addressed more fully in the 2002 report of the Advisory
Committee on Women Veterans.

> **12. Broaden the definition of "homelessness" to use the parameters
> specified in The McKinney Act, which extends eligibility for
> assistance to individuals living in sub-standard housing conditions.**

*VA Response*: The Advisory Committee report incorrectly states the
definition of homelessness under the McKinney Act. The VA definition of
"homelessness" is the same that is used by the Department of Housing and
Urban Development (HUD). For example:

**The McKinney Act**, Section 11302 defines homelessness as follows:

\(a\) In general, "For purposes of this chapter, the term
\'\'homeless\'\' or \'\'homeless individual

or homeless person\'\' includes --

\(1\) An individual who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate

nighttime residence; and

\(2\) An individual who has a primary nighttime residence that is

\(A\) a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter

designed to provide temporary living accommodations (including

welfare hotels, congregate shelters, and transitional housing

for the mentally ill);

\(B\) an institution that provides a temporary residence for

individuals intended to be institutionalized; or

\(C\) a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily

used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.

\(b\) Income eligibility

\(c\) Exclusion, For purposes of this chapter, the term \'\'homeless\'\'
or \'\'homeless individual\'\' does not include any individual
imprisoned or otherwise detained pursuant to an Act of the Congress or a
State law.

Title 38 U.S. Code - the law covering the administration of veterans'
benefits, defines homelessness in Sec. 3771. That definition is as
follows:

For purposes of this subchapter:

\(1\) The term \'\'veteran\'\' has the meaning given such term by

paragraph (2) of section 101(38 USC) .

\(2\) The term \'\'homeless veteran\'\' means a veteran who is a

homeless individual.

\(3\) The term \'\'homeless individual\'\' has the meaning given such
term by section 103

of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11302).

VA agrees that it is important that all Federal agencies use the same
definition of terms when describing homeless services, outcomes,
performance measures, etc. VA has recommended that the Interagency
Council on the Homeless (ICH), a multi-agency working group that meets
to work on interagency efforts to assist the homeless, standardize
terminology used in various homeless program monitoring and evaluation.

CURRENT STATUS: VA plays an active role on the ICH, and the definition
of "homeless" has been defined in the same term as the definition used
by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), for the
purpose of obtaining benefits from VA. This issue is ongoing, and will
be addressed more fully in the 2002 report of the Advisory Committee on
Women Veterans.

## 

## **Health Care** 

> 13\. Ensure that the Center for Women Veterans is provided an annual
> update on the effectiveness of the VHA and VBA women veterans
> coordinators programs. Indicators of interest should include:
> personnel hours allocated to perform outreach duties, allocation of
> resources, training and educational opportunities, lines of
> communication to facility directors and training conducted for the
> women veteran coordinators.

*VA Response*: Veterans Health Administration has provided briefings to
the Advisory Committee on Women Veterans twice a year and will continue
to do so. In regard to training activities, the 4^th^ Annual Clinical
Update Conference on Women Veterans Health was held in Washington, DC,
in August 2000. The purpose of this conference was to provide
participants with knowledge on the current trends in the treatment and
management of sexual trauma. Health care providers involved in women's
health including MDs, RNs, NPs, CNSs, PAs, social workers, psychologists
and educators attended the conference. The Center for Women Veterans
Director reviewed significant changes in legislation brought about by
P.L. 106-117, "The Veterans Millennium Health Care and Benefits Act"
making it mandatory for the VA to provide sexual trauma counseling. E.
Cameron Ritchie, LTC, M.D., Program Director for Mental Health and
Women's Issues in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of
Defense/Health Affairs, provided an update on Department of Defense
military sexual trauma programs.

Ms. Carole Turner, R.N., Director, Women Veterans Health Program made
presentations at two local women's health conferences on "The Impact of
Sexual Trauma on the Mind, Body & Soul" hosted by the Lexington, KY, VA
Medical Center in May 2000 and the Mid-Atlantic Health care Network in
September 2000.

The Veterans Benefits Administration has provided briefings to the
Advisory Committee on Women Veterans twice a year and will continue to
do so. Within VBA, resources allocated to the women veterans
coordinators positions vary from regional office to regional office and
are contingent upon the available veteran population. Office of Field
Operations (OFO) Letter 201-00-09, dated March 2000, issued a suggested
position description addendum for women veterans coordinators. The
package also included a sample "contract" that allows regional office
management and coordinators to negotiate time and resources available
for outreach.

CURRENT STATUS: These recommendations have been addressed in the *Women
Veterans Health Program, National Strategic Workgroup Preliminary
Report,* November 2001. The outcome will be fully discussed in the 2002
report of the Advisory Committee on Women Veterans.

> 14\. Include gender-specific information in all studies and surveys
> sponsored, funded or conducted by VA. The Advisory Committee
> recommends that this information, regardless of the sample size, be
> reported.

*VA Response*: Some of the VA surveys, such as the National Survey of
Veterans and program evaluations, include gender information. In cases
where the final reports do not detail data by gender, such data will be
available after the completion of each study.

CURRENT STATUS: The information is being reported and future reports
will show gender cohorts.

## **Staff Education**

> 15\. Include information regarding issues affecting women veterans in
> new employee orientation briefings, and in appropriate training for
> other VA employees. When appropriate, address concerns, protocols for
> treatment of sexual trauma, interventions, etc., with affiliating
> students, residents and visiting faculty at VA health care facilities
> and regional offices.

*VA Response:* Every VA medical center has a designated WVC who is
responsible for developing and implementing orientation programs for new
employees. Various formats are utilized to orient staff regarding issues
affecting women veteran. These include: videos, oral briefings and
written literature. In addition to activities noted above, numerous
local facilities and VISNs have hosted women's health clinical updates
and mini-residencies that have included presentations on sexual trauma,
abuse and domestic violence targeting women's health care provider
audiences. Additionally, VISNs have a designated lead WVC who
participates in the identification and development of VISN women's
health educational opportunities.

VBA requires all new Veterans Services Representatives (VSR) to attend
their centralized National "Opportunity" Training Program during which
they receive a presentation by a representative from the Center for
Women Veterans who covers women veterans issues, including, sensitivity
concerns and sexual trauma counseling.

The "One VA" New Employee Orientation Program is conducted quarterly for
employees new to VA Central Office (VACO) within the last 90 days.
During the program, information concerning the active VACO Federal
Women's Program (FWP) is presented and information flyers about the FWP
are included in the folders prepared for participants. In addition, all
employees are required to attend prevention of sexual harassment and
ethics training, which are offered separately as part of the overall new
employee orientation program. The day-long orientation program also
includes a separate segment on the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
This session is presented by a trained social worker from the VACO
Health Unit. The EAP counselor is available to provide short-term
counseling to all employees on matters of personal concern such as
mental and emotional distress, self-esteem, and family issues. In
addition, employees may receive referrals to an outside
resource/professional.

CURRENT STATUS: A section on women veterans' issues will be incorporated
into the "One VA" new employee orientation program.

> 16\. Require VBA and the Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA), to develop
> a standard of accountability for training of all personnel who handle
> gender-specific disability claims, including claims for disability
> secondary to sexual trauma.

*VA Response*: VBA provides regional office staff access to copies of
satellite broadcasts and training letters; and has established an
extensive Intranet training site which is accessible and utilized by all
VBA staff. These materials allow the regional offices to conduct either
initial or refresher training as needed. Compensation and Pension
Service also continues to develop and enhance the VBA women veterans
coordinators Intranet web site to include additional training tools
specific to issues related to sexual trauma, sensitivity, and
women-specific rating issues.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals will include information on these issues
in its training programs and will work closely with the Center for Women
Veterans and the Advisory Committee on Women Veterans to ensure that the
information referred to in the rationale section of Recommendation 16 is
incorporated into and utilized in BVA training.

VBA and BVA have conducted numerous joint training initiatives.
Additionally, the training tools described above are also available to
BVA employees.

CURRENT STATUS: The Board will work with the Committee to establish
standards of accountability for training. This will be discussed more in
the 2002 report of the Advisory Committee on Women Veterans.

## **Selected Reserve and National Guard Benefits** 

> **17. Provide a briefing to the Committee on the findings and
> recommendations of the VA-Department of Defense (DOD) Task Force
> convened to study need for sexual trauma services by members of the
> Selected Reserve and National Guard.**

*VA Response*: The study on the extent to which members of the Selected
Reserve and National Guard need sexual trauma services is currently
under development by the National Center for Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder (PTSD), Women's Health Sciences Division, VAMC Boston, MA; the
Executive Division, VAMROC White River Junction, VT; and the Center for
Health Quality Outcomes and Economic Research (CHQOER), VAMC Bedford,
MA. The projected completion date of this study is March 2003. VHA will
be happy to provide a briefing to the Committee when the study is
completed.

CURRENT STATUS: The telephone survey form is completed, and the status
will be discussed in the 2002 report of the Advisory Committee on Women
Veterans.

> **18. Ensure that all military personnel, including reserve forces and
> members of the National Guard, receive basic VA benefit information
> including appropriate points-of-contact unique to their situation at
> the time of separation.**

*VA Response*: VBA Manual M-21-1, Part VII, 6.08c. specifically
addresses VBA's outreach responsibilities as they apply to the National
Guard and Selected Reserve through the Military Services Program.
Regional office staffs offer benefits counseling and information
briefings to military units located within their State jurisdiction.
They also offer training programs and seminars for the local military
training officers. Training sessions may include both State and local
benefits.

####### CURRENT STATUS: VA, DOD and DOL continually brief military personnel. This recommendation is in the process of being implemented.

## **National Cemetery Administration (NCA)**

> 19\. Disseminate information to all veterans about the availability of
> side-by-side burial for veterans married to veterans. Additional
> opportunities to serve dual veteran couples should be sought.

####### *VA Response:* The National Cemetery Administration (NCA) distributes information about memorial benefits at the local, State and national veterans service organizations programs, county and State agencies and venues specifically geared to providers of burial services. 

CURRENT STATUS: NCA is open to any suggestions the Advisory Committee
may have in regards to other outreach avenues. This recommendation is in
the process of being implemented.

## 

## 

## **Employment of Women Veterans in the Federal Government**

> 20\. Recruit and hire qualified women veterans, with emphasis on
> identifying qualified minority women for positions within VA. Include
> senior executive service positions, political appointee positions and
> membership on special boards and committees.
>
> 21\. Encourage other federal agencies to recruit and hire qualified
> women veterans.

*VA Response*: As of January 31, 2001, VA employed 68 women in senior
executive positions. This includes Senior Executive Service (SES) and
Title 38 equivalent executive positions. Of the 68, 13 are minorities.
Forty percent of the Department's Performance Review Board are women,
and 37 percent of the Department's Executive Resources Board are women.
VA continues to pursue the employment of women in executive level
positions. Women veterans comprise 3.7 percent of VA's total workforce,
242 are in grades 13 or above. Minority women veterans comprise 40
percent of the women veterans employed by VA, of which 8 percent are in
grades 13 or higher.

CURRENT STATUS: The number of women veterans has increased since the
last report, and the change will be reflected in the 2002 report of the
Advisory Committee on Women Veterans. This recommendation is in the
process of being implemented.

22. Request the Secretary at the Department of Labor (DOL) to encourage
    the Veterans Employment and Training Service (VETS) to recruit and
    hire qualified women veterans to fill vacant positions in the
    Disabled Veterans Outreach Program (DVOP) and to hire women veterans
    as Local Veterans Employment Representatives (LVERs) throughout its
    workforce network.

*VA Response:* The Secretary will convey the Committee's recommendation
to the Secretary of Labor.

CURRENT STATUS: This recommendation will be aggressively pursued with
DOL, and the status will be provided in the 2002 report of the Advisory
Committee on Women Veterans. This recommendation is outside VA's
jurisdiction and has been referred.

23. Encourage collaboration between VBA and DOL VETS to ensure that
    Native American women veterans have access to federal employment
    programs and services.

*VA Response:* The Secretary will convey the Committee's recommendation
to the Secretary of Labor.

CURRENT STATUS: This recommendation will be aggressively pursued with
DOL and BVA, and the status will be provided in the 2002 report of the
Advisory Committee on Women Veterans. This recommendation is outside
VA's jurisdiction and has been referred.

24. **Work with local tribal program officials to ensure Native American
    women veterans have access to vocational rehabilitation services.**

*VA Response:* The VBA Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Service
recognizes the increased need for outreach to all Native American
veterans and added this issue as a scope of access initiative.

CURRENT STATUS: Recommendation is being implemented. Additional
information will be forthcoming. This recommendation is in the process
of being implemented.

## **Education** 

25. **Work with Congress to develop legislation to extend the regulatory
    time to use GI Bill benefits for all periods of service from 10
    years to 20 years.**

*VA Response:* VA is cognizant of the need to make meaningful
improvements to the GI Bill to ensure that it is relevant to serve as an
incentive to broaden the spectrum of individuals entering the military
and improve the ranks of veterans seeking to attain their educational
goals. The Congressional Commission on Service Members and Veterans
Transition Assistance reviewed a number of proposals, including the
10-year eligibility period, but focused on the importance of assuring
the GI Bill will enable a veteran to meet college costs. Likewise, VA
has been reviewing various legislative measures that would enhance the
Montgomery GI Bill for this purpose. At some time in the future, VA may
wish to address other GI Bill enhancements, including the Committee's
recommended extension of the period a veteran has to use his or her
education benefits.

CURRENT STATUS: The issue is currently under discussion within the
Department. An update will be provided in the 2002 report of the
Advisory Committee on Women Veterans. This recommendation is in the
process of being implemented.