On Veterans Day, the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) released its new Women Veterans Outreach Toolkit to educate government, business, education, health care and community service organizations about the unique challenges facing the nearly 200,000 women veterans in the Golden State.

“While female veterans face many of the same challenges as their male counterparts, some are unique to women,” said Lindsey Sin, CalVet deputy secretary for Women Veterans Affairs. “Our toolkit offers very specific ways organizations can support our female veterans in their efforts transitioning to civilian life – a process research shows remains more difficult for women.”

Created in response to requests for guidance by service providers, the CalVet Toolkit offers facts about women veterans, best practices, a “to do list” of actions to assist women veterans, plus links to state and national resources. 

The publication is the first-ever toolkit published in the nation designed to provide resources for groups assisting women veterans.

“I commend CalVet for providing this much-needed Toolkit,” said Major Ophelia Alvarez-Willis, M.D., commissioner, California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls. “CalVet’s Toolkit is an extraordinary improvement in our state’s efforts to assist leaders and advocates committed to ensuring women Veterans obtain healthcare, employment, housing stability, and safety.” 

CalVet’s toolkit is endorsed by the California Association of County Veterans Services Officers, CalVet’s partner in serving veterans.

To view the Women Veterans Outreach Toolkit, go to http://bit.ly/1xxQHsa .