Survey Launched to Assess Needs of Hawaii’s Women Veterans

Department of Veterans Affairs, County Based Outpatient Clinic, Kahului, Maui. Photo by Wendy Osher.

By Maui Now Staff

A survey addressing the unique needs of women veterans has been launched online and is being distributed to women veterans throughout the state.

The survey is being conducted by the Office of Veterans Services’ Subcommittee on Women Veterans, with the intent of reaching as many women veterans as possible over the next two months.

The data collected will be used to provide information to health care providers and others who work with women veterans.

It is estimated that there are 14,000 women veterans who are permanent Hawaiʻi residents.

In April 2012, the Office of Veterans Services organized the Hawaiʻi Women Military Veterans Task Force to address the needs of women veterans. The task force concluded that military women face multiple inter-related and complex problems including: a high rate of military sexual trauma and related re-entry issues concerning adequate health care; high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder; joblessness; and homelessness.

Studies on the continental United States indicate women veterans are four times more likely to become homeless than women who have not served in the military, according to the Office of Veterans Services.

Those who receive the survey via email or social media are asked to forward it on to others. Respondents do not have to provide any personal information unless they choose to.

The survey consists of 10 questions designed to assess the needs of women veterans and is available online.

Paper copies are also available at the Spark M. Matsunaga VA Medical Center Women’s Health Clinic and at all OVS offices on Kauaʻi, Maui and Hawaiʻi Island until approximately Sept. 16, 2014.

Paper surveys can be dropped off at any OVS office or mailed to: Women Veterans Survey, c/o Office of Veterans Services, VA Med & Re Office Center, Building 429, Patterson Rd, E-Wing, Rm 1-A103, Honolulu, HI 96819-1522.