As a result of a successful convening event held in August, we have identified the main challenges our female military personnel face during the reintegration process and formulated strategies to address them. The primary challenge identified was improving job readiness, but we also alarmingly uncovered a correlation between discharges due to mental health conditions (PTS, TBI) and rising number
s of incarcerated and court-involved veterans and service members. Other concerns were the minimal options for gender-specific healthcare and family-oriented supportive housing. To accomplish these objectives, convening attendees agreed to continue work and dialogue by the way of community engagement teams. To date, we have hosted two meetings to follow up on legal, /re-entry, education and job matching services. We are proposing a Hudson County-based reintegration program to assist female veterans and service members with reunification with family and community post release. Additionally, an education team put forth an outplacement services pilot to support early retirees and recently furloughed military technicians. We are also striving to work more closely with college and university veteran administrators to expand work study opportunities for student veterans and service members and to promote internships and career exploration forums. Ultimately we are seeking to grow our dynamic women of service panel into a formal peer to peer networking model focused on self-care, empowerment and mentoring. If you or someone you know is a female service member or veteran who may be interested in more information about our service, please contact Felicia Davis at 732/955-8360 or [email protected]
