National Trends and Services
Care packages to women in the USA military crafted by the Girls STEAM Academy.
National Trends and Services encompasses programs and committees with national partners and sponsors, each committed to the overall vision and mission of the facet. These programs serve as a catalyst for change promoting individual and community empowerment.
The Central Area National Trends and Services Committee is currently working toward the implementation of a Signature Program entitled: Honoring Our Sheroes: Women in the Military. This initiative will implement a comprehensive program targeting women in the military and/or women military veterans. The program focuses on the Central Area's commitment to address the needs of the military in the areas of (1) housing/homelessness, (2) employment, (3) transitioning, (4) education, and (5) wellness/domestic violence.
The Queen City (OH) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated has been selected to participate in Phase I of this pilot program. The young girls from our STEAM Academy will be decorating and assembling comfort kits. The comfort kits are shoeboxes containing toiletries and personal care items. The kits will be distributed four times throughout the year including Valentine's Day, during May for Heart month, Veteran's Day, and Christmas. The comfort kits will be presented to women military veterans through the Women Veterans Program at the Cincinnati VA Medical Center.
The Cincinnati VA Medical Center recognizes the rapidly increasing population of women Veteran and stands committed to providing high quality health care to the Veterans who deserve it the most, women Veterans. In addition to a full time Women Veteran's Program Manager, the Cincinnati VA offers full-time women's health care providers in a separate and private Women's Health Center. Designated Women Healthcare providers are also available in primary care. In the center, Gynecological services are provided four days a week with an additional day for GYN surgeries. Women Veterans have access to trained military sexual trauma providers and mental health specialist. Walk-in mammography is offered with no appointment needed and a Board Certified Breast Surgeon is available to our Veterans. A designated Women's Health Pharmacist is assigned to assist with complex medication regiments and compliance issues unique to our women Veteran. Lastly, we offer a Maternity Care Coordinator and Lactation consultant to assist women Veterans with their maternity care needs. VA has made great progress in caring for women Veterans and our amazing women's healthcare staff is devoted to providing women Veterans the best care anywhere.