Respect. Recognition. Resources.
National Women Veterans United guiding principle—“One Voice. One Vision.”—reflects our commitment to unifying efforts across sectors to ensure women Veterans receive the respect, recognition, and resources they deserve.
Sgt. Simone A. Robinson Military Women Veteran’s Center
The NWVU’s center is one of the few in the nation—and the only one in Illinois—dedicated exclusively to military women Veterans, their families, and Gold Star families.
However, with Women Veterans being the fastest-growing segment of the Veteran population, projected to make up 18% of all U.S. Veterans by 2040, NWVU’s current center continues to serve as a vital resource, but it’s bursting at the seams, and the search for a larger facility is underway. Learn More about the Center
Engagement
NWVU members are trained in:
- Suicide Awareness
- Mental Health First Aid
- Peer Support
- Wellness Recovery Action Plans
NWVU provides trauma-informed, culturally attuned support for women Veterans navigating PTSD, MST (military sexual trauma), and post-deployment challenges.
Advocacy
Special emphasis is placed on:
- Disabled and homeless
- Those returning from deployment
- Women facing barriers to VA care or benefits
NWVU works to ensure these women are connected to direct services, including health care, vocational training, and emotional support.
Education
NWVU educates women Veterans on:
- VA health care and benefits
- Employment and training opportunities
- Legal and housing resources
NWVU’s outreach is designed to be inclusive, empowering, and action-oriented, with a focus on resiliency as the cure for every challenge.
Ongoing and Past Grant Programs
Colorectal Cancer Education Program
This Pfizer and Takeda supported intervention addressed knowledge gap of colorectal cancer among veterans and the general population, particularly among individuals with the disease and those at high risk for the condition in medically underserved communities in Cook County. The intervention was timely as more studies showed that “Early-onset colorectal cancer is increasing in the USA. New insights were gained on the prevention and treatment options for the condition. Here was high demand and calls for more disease education considering the fact that most of the target population have extensive histories of family members with cancer.
Colorectal Cancer Education Program II
This is an ongoing intervention in response for more disease education programs on colorectal cancer. Takeda graciously supported the second phase of the intervention generously, and more individuals living with the cancer and those at high-risk are gaining new insights regarding the prevention, treatment options, and care management of the disease.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Educational Program
NWVU conducted disease education that reached individuals living with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), those at high-risk for the condition, and their caregivers. The intervention was successful as attendees were actively engaged during the question-and-answer sessions with improved knowledge on available treatment options and where to access the resources for RA management Pfizer supported the intervention between October 2023 and March 2024.
Phenylketonuria Awareness and Educational Program
NWVU conducted a successful outreach event on Phenylketonuria Awareness and Educational Program that was supported by BioMarin between October 15, 2023, and April 15, 2024. The 6 months intervention was successful as new insights were gained on the rare disease among the target audience. Due to partial funding, we were only about to reach about 40% of the target audience despite the great demand for this disease education. NWVU will continue to solicit for more funding to expand the intervention to other members of the County.