Women Veteran Resources

The Sexual & Relationship Violence Response program through the WRC provides confidential advocacy through telephone and video meetings. You can book an appointment online at ​PSU WRC Appointments​, or you can call their direct line at 503-894-7982. For emergent advocacy needs during non-operational hours, please contact ​Women's Crisis Line​’s local hotline 1-888-235-5333.

Women Veterans Support Groups and Meetings - Oregon

• NW Women Veterans Connection - A support group based in the Portland region that brings women veterans and their families together for mutual support and social connections (private group).
• Oregon Women Veterans - A community forum where members discuss topics or post upcoming events relevant to women veterans.
• American Women Veteran Association - An Organization for women veterans of all armed forces that provide assistance in attaining benefits and opportunities to connect with other women veterans.

Support Organizations - Nationwide

• Service Women's Action Network (SWAN)​ — a member-driven community network advocating for the individual and collective needs of service women.Their goal is to ensure all service women and women veterans have access to the information, tools, and support they need to reach their personal and professional goals.
• Military Sisterhood Initiative (MSI) - A national peer support network for women of the military. MSI provides a safe space for military sisters to connect with one another and find information on programs and resources available to them.
• National Women Veterans United - A network of women veterans that advocate, educate, and connect with all military women veterans with a special emphasis on women who are disabled, homeless, at risk or returning from deployment, to ensure they are connected to appropriate direct services and resources for readjustment and coping skills as they return to employment, school, and family.
• VA Center for Women Veterans (CWV) - This program specifically addresses the health care needs of eligible women veterans, providing appropriate, timely, and compassionate health care at the facility level.
• Wounded Warrior Project - a non-profit veterans service organization that offers a variety of programs, services, and events for veterans who incurred a physical or mental injury, illness, or wound, co-incident to their military service on or after September 11, 2001.

Military Sexual Trauma

According to the VA, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 8 men experience some form of sexual assault, harassment or rape on active duty, and according to the Oregon Women’s Health Study, 59% of Oregon women veterans surveyed stated they experienced some form of sexual assault (including harassment) while on active duty. Furthermore, some research suggests those who identify as LGBTQ are disproportionately exposed to military sexual trauma.  If you experienced any form of sexual assault, harassment, rape, or domestic violence while on active duty and still suffer mental or physical health problems today, you may be eligible to receive counseling and services at the VA, regardless of discharge status, time in service, or disability status. You may also be eligible for service-connected disability benefits as a result of these experiences.

• Oregon Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence
• VA Services for Military Sexual Trauma