Joy Ilem

@USArmy #veteran and @DAVHQ National Legislative Director.

[Joy Ilem @JoyJIlem]

Thank you, @TheEllenShow for supporting our #veterans and their families. @EDbyELLEND

[The Ellen Show @TheEllenShow]

From 5/21-5/25, 25% of the proceeds from ED by Ellen will be donated to Disabled American Veterans. Thank you for your service. @DAVhq

[House Veterans' Affairs Democrats @VetAffairsDems]

HAPPENING NOW:

The #WomenVetsTaskForce is holding a virtual roundtable on women veterans' #MentalHealth.

Watch here ⬇️

https://t.co/4kDjJNm7BN

[Joy Ilem @JoyJIlem]

HAPPENING NOW: I'm honored to be a part of the @VetAffairsDems led virtual round table on #WomenVeterans and #MentalHealth #WomenVetsTaskForce
https://t.co/FGkmAKezKr

[Joy Ilem @JoyJIlem]

Stay up to date with @DAVHQ and how we're staying on top of #COVID19 at https://t.co/X3HpowW3nC. We will continue to update as we get more information.

[Joy Ilem @JoyJIlem]

We cannot know how long this will persist, but we can’t forget how important our mission is. Wherever possible, we’re going to look to leverage technology to help us continue to serve and advocate. https://t.co/EacVx7IZSf

[Joy Ilem @JoyJIlem]

While we recognize that progress has been made, and there are programs and supportive services offered by VA to assist #MST survivors — oversight is still necessary to ensure timely access to high quality care for MST-related conditions is available at all sites of care.

[Joy Ilem @JoyJIlem]

Adding to the complexity to the issue of MST is reported patient-to-patient harassment on VA grounds. This creates a significant barrier to care for many women veterans.

A recent study of women veterans indicates that 1 in 5 women veterans seeking care report facing harassment.

[Joy Ilem @JoyJIlem]

DAV’s report, Women Veterans: The Journey Ahead, detailed the story of DAV member and Navy veteran, Leeia Isabelle, who did not report the crime against her claiming she wanted to “bury it and make it go away.”

Leeia’s story is typical of many veterans with PTSD.

#MST #PTSD

[Joy Ilem @JoyJIlem]

The impact of sexual assault or harassment can be long lasting, and many veterans turn to @veteranshealth for treatment to address conditions such as #PTSD or depression related to #MST. VA has a screening policy for MST to help identify veterans who may require treatment.

[Joy Ilem @JoyJIlem]

Sadly, the most recent report from the @DeptofDefense Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office (SAPRO) confirms there is increased prevalence of sexual assaults among service members in the active force and at military service academies between 2014 and 2018.

#MST #veterans

[Joy Ilem @JoyJIlem]

The discussion on the issue of MST is critical as the health and well-being of far too many veterans—both male and female—has been negatively impacted because of this trauma.

DAV members rely on VA care to recovery from their post deployment challenges.

#MST #veterans

[Joy Ilem @JoyJIlem]

DAV thanks @VetAffairsDems for including our testimony for the record on today's important hearing looking at VA support for survivors of military sexual trauma (MST).

#MST #veterans

[Nikki Wentling @nikkiwentling]

.@RepMarkTakano, @AN_Goldstein and @JoyJIlem are speaking in front of the DC veterans affairs hospital now, calling for the VA to implement more policies to stop sexual assault and harassment. Comes in response to an attack at that hospital Friday: https://t.co/POALj33xip

[DAV (Disabled American Veterans) @DAVHQ]

Women veterans—ALL veterans—deserve better. It’s time to fix the culture at the @DeptVetAffairs. https://t.co/GkCud34JBe

[Patricia Kime @patriciakime]

From June 2007 to Nov. 30, 2018, the VA processed 11,581 disability compensation claims that included a burn pit component. Of those, 2,318 burn-pit related claims were approved. https://t.co/ZMSYVzSZEO

[ConnectingVets @ConnectingVets]

"Here I am, 78 years old, worried about how I will pay my bills ... How sad that the VA would let a veteran die with this burden looming over them."
A #BlueWaterNavy veteran's widow was on Capitol Hill today fighting for her husband and others like him. https://t.co/IDoest3KOL

[DAV (Disabled American Veterans) @DAVHQ]

DAV’s @ShaneLiermann @ @VAChair: “#Veterans w/ terminal diseases... do not have the time to wait for @SecWilkie to decide. Regardless of whether the Secretary decides to implement the diseases or not, veterans deserve timely action.” #KeepThePromise #EndTheWait #BurnPits

[DAV (Disabled American Veterans) @DAVHQ]

DAV’s @ShaneLiermann @ @VAChair: “In order to ensure we utilize all scientific analysis and research for #ToxicExposures, we recommend that any new presumptive processes have a requirement for new studies every 2 years.” #KeepThePromise #EndTheWait #BurnPits #AgentOrange

[DAV (Disabled American Veterans) @DAVHQ]

DAV’s @ShaneLiermann @ @VAChair: “[Bobby Daniels] is why today’s hearing on the future of presumptive decision-making is so important, so we can prevent these types of injustices from ever happening again.” #KeepThePromise #EndTheWait #BurnPits #AgentOrange

[DAV (Disabled American Veterans) @DAVHQ]

“It’s a really exciting time for #womenveterans during the 116th Congress with WV legislation at the forefront of the discussion and the implementation of the Women Veterans Task Force in the @VetAffairsDems @HouseVetAffairs by @RepMarkTakano led by @RepBrownley.” -@JoyJIlem