54°
The law requires the state Department of Veterans Affairs to establish a program that will reach out to women veterans to improve their awareness of federal and state veterans’ benefits and services.
The bill also calls for an assessment of female veterans’ needs for benefits and services and a review of programs, research projects and other initiatives designed to address or meet Connecticut women veterans’ needs.
“Our veterans’ support systems were designed to meet the needs of men and it is long overdue that we explore ways to meet the needs of our female veterans,” said Leone, a former Senate Chair of the legislature’s Committee on Veterans Affairs. “We cannot expect a one size fits all solution to work—our women veterans deserve better than that.”
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the average female veteran is 15 years younger than her male counterpart, is diagnosed most often with PTSD, hypertension or depression and is 20 percent more likely to respond ‘yes’ when asked by the Veterans Health Administration if she experienced a sexual assault while serving in the military.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, women veterans are at least as likely as non-veteran women to have young children. Nearly 84 percent of female veterans are of working age (17-64) compared to 55 percent of male veterans, and a greater share of women veterans work in management and professional occupations compared to male veterans or non-veterans of either gender.
The new law takes effect Oct. 1.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Stamford and receive free news updates.
