She Wears the Boots: A Podcast for Women Veterans Veterans Health Administration

In this episode we celebrate Women Veterans Recognition Day (June 12th) with Ms. Lourdes Tiglao, the Executive Director for the Center for Women Veterans. Ms. Tiglao talks about the history of the signing of the Women's Armed Services Integration Act of 1948 and the importance of recognizing women who have served. She also discussed other ways that the Center for Women Veterans and VA, as an agency more broadly, recognizes women Veterans’ contributions to our nation.  

For more information, read this blog post Dispelling the Myths of Women Veterans Recognition Day. You can also learn more about how the Center for Women Veterans recognizes women Veterans every day or sign up for information and updates about women Veterans at their website.

In this episode we hear from Sophia Hill-Smith, the lead for the Maternity Care Coordination Program at the Veterans Health Administration. She discusses maternity care resources and services provided by the VA, including care coordination, lactation support, and postpartum follow-up.

In this episode you will hear about contraception from a VA Women's Health Primary Care Provider, Dr. Dana Glenn. She explains the types of contraception options available to Veterans at VA, benefits and common side effects of birth control, and how to get more information about access and availability at your VA.

Dr. Susan Raffa, the VA’s national program director for weight management, talks about what Veterans can expect and the benefits of participating in the MOVE! program. Veterans can also learn in this episode how to get connected to MOVE! at your local VA.

Please check out these links to resources discussed by Dr. Raffa in this episode.

MOVE! www.move.va.gov

Access the MOVE! Veteran Workbook https://www.move.va.gov/MOVE/vetworkbook.asp

Download the MOVE! Coach app https://www.move.va.gov/MOVE/MoveCoach.asp

Sean Clark, the Director of the Veterans Justice Programs in the Veterans Health Administration, talks about programs available to justice involved Veterans. He also discusses the pathway to access these programs and what a Veteran can expect if they engage in these programs. For more information please visit the website for the Veterans Justice Outreach Program at https://www.va.gov/homeless/vjo.asp.

In this episode we talk to Marine Corps Veteran and certified lead peer specialist, Ms. Sonya Ebhotemen about the role of the peer specialist in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). She also discusses peer support services that are designed specifically for women Veterans and the benefits to working with VHA peer specialists.