Network 21 Program Serves women who Suffered Trauma

Recently, several national and regional media outlets ran stories about a special program for women at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System at Menlo Park. Called the Women’s Trauma Recovery Program (WTRP), it was the first VA residential program for women suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and/or military sexual trauma (MST). 

The WTRP staff is reaching out to women who can benefit from this 60-day residential program for women veterans who are coping with the aftermath of trauma. “The program isn’t for everyone,” said Dr. Darrah Westrup, who oversees it. “The interpersonal demands pose a challenge to women who have been extremely isolated and find it difficult to trust others. If we could just reach these women early in their trauma years, we could save them so much pain,” she said.

Women come to the program from all ages and walks of life. Most arrive on the brink of emotional disaster and must share with each other secrets many of them held inside for decades. Women are treated for both combat PTSD and military sexual trauma.

The program at Menlo Park was established in 1992, and is a recognized model for women’s trauma recovery, combining leading research, clinical expertise and an interdisciplinary approach to pursue a common mission – improving the mental health of women veterans.

“Our program is about facilitating that miraculous drive to recover,” said Dr. Westrup. “We help women who’ve survived traumatic experiences learn how to live fulfilling lives, despite carrying heavy burdens. It’s all about helping women reclaim their sense of self-worth and personal power.”

To learn more about the program and/or how to be recommended for it, please visit www.womenvetsptsd.va.gov, or talk to your local VA health care provider.

Palo Alto VA Introduces New women’s Center 

The Women’s Prevention, Outreach & Education Center (WPOEC) is a new outpatient mental health program at VAPAHCS, developed to meet the needs of our rapidly growing female veteran population. WPOEC provides clinical care, outreach, education and research, with a focus on the provision of gender- specific care. Services include assistance with enrollment and eligibility, screening and assessment, health promotion, case management, psychoeducation, and group and individual therapy.

One new service available through WPOEC and collaboration with the Women’s Health Center is the Returning Women’s Health Connection Clinic, a primary care clinic for women who have recently returned from Iraq or Afghanistan, stateside or overseas. “The one-stop shop approach was a timesaving, efficient and effective way to get a holistic perspective on your current health,” said Air Force veteran Patricia Teran-Matthews, who served in Iraq during part of 2003-2004. “I was very impressed with the comfortable environment that addressed women’s specific needs and concerns.”

To learn more about the program, please call the WPOEC general information number at 1-888-4HER-1VA, or you may visit its website www.palo-alto.med.va.gov/WPOEC.asp. For specific questions regarding eligibility or enrollment in WPOEC or VA  services, please contact Renee Wagner, MSW, at 650-493-5000, ext. 22558.

-from Veterans' Health Matters:
ww.visn21.va.gov/Veterans_Health_Matters.asp

2008, Volume 1  | PDF  |  MS Word  |