- How can I reach the Helpline for Legal and Social Service Referrals?
- Who can call the Helpline for Legal and Social Service Referrals?
- What kind of services does the Helpline for Legal and Social Service Referrals offer?
- Is the information callers provide to the Helpline confidential?
- How do you involve men/families in your efforts and do you do any specific work that is not “service WOMEN” driven?
- How do I find out more about Yoga for Vets NYC?
- Is the Integral Yoga Institute studio (where Yoga for Vets NYC is held) ADA accessible?
- Who do I contact for interview requests?
- Who do I contact to get a speaker from SWAN at my event?
- Can SWAN put me in touch with women veterans or women in the military for an article I am writing?
- Can SWAN provide me with facts on women in the military for a paper I am doing for school?
- How can I get involved at SWAN?
- How can I make a donation?
- What is the Fund for the City of New York?
- How can I list SWAN as a resource on my website or in my workplace?
- How can I publicize a resource or support service to SWAN’s network?
- How do I submit a blog to About Face?
- What are SWAN’s main issue areas?
- Is SWAN’s work bipartisan?
- What is it about SWAN that has made your policy work so successful?
- I found a bill on your policy page that I think is great. How can I contact my Congress member to tell him/her to support it?
- How can I get in touch with SWAN about a policy idea?
- Where can I find SWAN’s research and analysis?
How can I reach the Helpline for Legal and Social Service Referrals?
Please call 1-888-729-2089. You will be prompted to leave a message. The Helpline is monitored Monday through Friday, 10am to 6pm. If your message is left within that time frame, someone will return your call within 3 business days. The Helpline is not monitored on federal bank holidays. You may also e-mail helpline@servicewomen.org.
Please call 1-888-729-2089. You will be prompted to leave a message. The Helpline is monitored Monday through Friday, 10am to 6pm. If your message is left within that time frame, someone will return your call within 3 business days. The Helpline is not monitored on federal bank holidays. You may also e-mail helpline@servicewomen.org.
Who can call the Helpline for Legal and Social Service Referrals?
Anyone impacted by the military can use our helpline. That includes DOD personnel, spouses, partners and other family members, service academy students, veterans of any era, veterans’ service providers, LGBT-identified service members and civilians impacted by the military.
Anyone impacted by the military can use our helpline. That includes DOD personnel, spouses, partners and other family members, service academy students, veterans of any era, veterans’ service providers, LGBT-identified service members and civilians impacted by the military.
What kind of services does the Helpline for Legal and Social Service Referrals offer?
The Helpline offers legal advice, guidance and referrals to other legal providers, referrals for mental health and counseling services, guidance on VA benefits and resources to assist with housing and homelessness. Other services and referrals are made on a case-by-case basis. Our Helpline staff is experienced in both military culture and policy, and provides an extra layer of sensitivity to issues of military sexual violence and gender discrimination.
The Helpline offers legal advice, guidance and referrals to other legal providers, referrals for mental health and counseling services, guidance on VA benefits and resources to assist with housing and homelessness. Other services and referrals are made on a case-by-case basis. Our Helpline staff is experienced in both military culture and policy, and provides an extra layer of sensitivity to issues of military sexual violence and gender discrimination.
Is the information callers provide to the Helpline confidential?
SWAN will never share information without consent of the client.
SWAN will never share information without consent of the client.
How do you involve men/families in your efforts and do you do any specific work that is not “service WOMEN” driven?
Many of the issues we address are not specifically women’s issues, as they equally affect both men and women. When we find an issue that also has an impact on men, like military sexual assault, we advocate strongly on men’s behalf as well. Almost half of the VA’s “Military Sexual Trauma” patients are men, and we get plenty of Helpline calls from men. We also assist a lot of fathers, spouses, and brothers of service women. Many of the issues that SWAN engages also have an effect on military families, like domestic violence, and the families of veterans, DOMA repeal being an example. SWAN has found that many DOD and VA policies have a disproportionate impact on women, and given the lack of voice that women have in these institutions, SWAN will continue to effectively advocate on behalf of women. SWAN is an equal opportunity organization, and that encompasses our inclusion of men in hiring policies as well.
Many of the issues we address are not specifically women’s issues, as they equally affect both men and women. When we find an issue that also has an impact on men, like military sexual assault, we advocate strongly on men’s behalf as well. Almost half of the VA’s “Military Sexual Trauma” patients are men, and we get plenty of Helpline calls from men. We also assist a lot of fathers, spouses, and brothers of service women. Many of the issues that SWAN engages also have an effect on military families, like domestic violence, and the families of veterans, DOMA repeal being an example. SWAN has found that many DOD and VA policies have a disproportionate impact on women, and given the lack of voice that women have in these institutions, SWAN will continue to effectively advocate on behalf of women. SWAN is an equal opportunity organization, and that encompasses our inclusion of men in hiring policies as well.
How do I find out more about Yoga for Vets NYC?
Please visit www.yogaforvetsnyc.org or call 212-683-0015 x 324.
Please visit www.yogaforvetsnyc.org or call 212-683-0015 x 324.
Is the Integral Yoga Institute studio (where Yoga for Vets NYC is held) ADA accessible?
Yes. Please visit www.iyiny.org for more information.
Yes. Please visit www.iyiny.org for more information.
Who do I contact for interview requests?
Please contact Communications Director Katy Otto at katy@servicewomen.org, 240-478-9387 or see our Press Kit.
Please contact Communications Director Katy Otto at katy@servicewomen.org, 240-478-9387 or see our Press Kit.
Who do I contact to get a speaker from SWAN at my event?
Please email info@servicewomen.org or call 212-683-0015 ext. 324.
Please email info@servicewomen.org or call 212-683-0015 ext. 324.
Can SWAN put me in touch with women veterans or women in the military for an article I am writing?
SWAN maintains the anonymity of our client base. If you are working on a project you would like our community to know about, you can post directly to our Facebook site; members of the SWAN community are welcome to be in touch with you at will. If you would like to speak to a veteran directly, send inquiries and proposals to Communications Director Katy Otto at katy@servicewomen.org, who will forward appropriately.
SWAN maintains the anonymity of our client base. If you are working on a project you would like our community to know about, you can post directly to our Facebook site; members of the SWAN community are welcome to be in touch with you at will. If you would like to speak to a veteran directly, send inquiries and proposals to Communications Director Katy Otto at katy@servicewomen.org, who will forward appropriately.
Can SWAN provide me with facts on women in the military for a paper I am doing for school?
SWAN maintains factsheets on the lives of women in the military that provides ample data to use in papers for school or publication.
SWAN maintains factsheets on the lives of women in the military that provides ample data to use in papers for school or publication.
How can I get involved at SWAN?
Please consider making a donation to help our important work. Also, sign up for our email alerts on our homepage, “Like” us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and read our blog, About Face, for updates on our work and timely information about issues in the community. Help us spread the word by sharing our fact sheets, our flyers, and upcoming events with other service members, veterans and organizations in our community!
Please consider making a donation to help our important work. Also, sign up for our email alerts on our homepage, “Like” us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and read our blog, About Face, for updates on our work and timely information about issues in the community. Help us spread the word by sharing our fact sheets, our flyers, and upcoming events with other service members, veterans and organizations in our community!
How can I make a donation?
Donations can be made online with a credit card. Checks can also be sent to:Fund for the City of New York
121 Avenue of the Americas, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10013.Please make checks out to the Fund for the City of New York with SWAN in the memo line. Please contact Rovika Rajkishun, Development Director, at rovika@servicewomen.org or 917-596-0647 with any questions you may have.
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Donations can be made online with a credit card. Checks can also be sent to:Fund for the City of New York
121 Avenue of the Americas, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10013.Please make checks out to the Fund for the City of New York with SWAN in the memo line. Please contact Rovika Rajkishun, Development Director, at rovika@servicewomen.org or 917-596-0647 with any questions you may have.
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What is the Fund for the City of New York?
The Fund for the City of New York is SWAN’s fiscal sponsor. As a fiscal sponsor, the Fund for the City of New York provides financial management and administrative services to SWAN so that the organization can focus its resources on accomplishing its programmatic goals. To learn more about the Fund for the City of New York, please visit www.fcny.org.
The Fund for the City of New York is SWAN’s fiscal sponsor. As a fiscal sponsor, the Fund for the City of New York provides financial management and administrative services to SWAN so that the organization can focus its resources on accomplishing its programmatic goals. To learn more about the Fund for the City of New York, please visit www.fcny.org.
How can I list SWAN as a resource on my website or in my workplace?
Please email info@servicewomen.org with a description of your website or workplace and what kind of clients you serve. After this initial inquiry, we can facilitate providing you with links, flyers and logos.
Please email info@servicewomen.org with a description of your website or workplace and what kind of clients you serve. After this initial inquiry, we can facilitate providing you with links, flyers and logos.
How can I publicize a resource or support service to SWAN’s network?
Please email info@servicewomen.org with a description of the resource or service, any dates, costs and locations associated with it, and a background of the organization or group offering the resource or service. If we feel it is an appropriate resource, our Helpline for Legal and Social Service Referrals staff will reach out to make sure we have all the information we need to refer our clients. Also, you may offer upcoming events and services on our Facebook page.
Please email info@servicewomen.org with a description of the resource or service, any dates, costs and locations associated with it, and a background of the organization or group offering the resource or service. If we feel it is an appropriate resource, our Helpline for Legal and Social Service Referrals staff will reach out to make sure we have all the information we need to refer our clients. Also, you may offer upcoming events and services on our Facebook page.
How do I submit a blog to About Face?
Please read our blog submission guidelines and submit your writing to blog@servicewomen.org. SWAN edits blog submissions for form and content, and not all pieces are suitable for publication – however, SWAN staff will communicate with writers about their submissions, and welcomes content and ideas.
Please read our blog submission guidelines and submit your writing to blog@servicewomen.org. SWAN edits blog submissions for form and content, and not all pieces are suitable for publication – however, SWAN staff will communicate with writers about their submissions, and welcomes content and ideas.
What are SWAN’s main issue areas?
SWAN focuses on five issue areas: Employment discrimination, sexual violence/domestic violence, reproductive rights, LGBT rights and VA healthcare/benefits issues. SWAN’s policy team works on legislation, litigation, policy changes and regulatory reform in finding solutions to our policy priorities.
SWAN focuses on five issue areas: Employment discrimination, sexual violence/domestic violence, reproductive rights, LGBT rights and VA healthcare/benefits issues. SWAN’s policy team works on legislation, litigation, policy changes and regulatory reform in finding solutions to our policy priorities.
Is SWAN’s work bipartisan?
Yes, our legislative work has been successfully introduced by both political parties in both the House and Senate.
Yes, our legislative work has been successfully introduced by both political parties in both the House and Senate.
What is it about SWAN that has made your policy work so successful?
SWAN is unique in that our policy work is driven directly by the needs of service members and veterans. SWAN’s Helpline for Legal and Social Service Referrals provides a direct means of communication for our stakeholders to communicate the issues they are facing to us in real time. The policy team can then begin working on the issue. We can literally look at every bill we helped introduce and know that it will directly serve the needs of the military and veterans’ communities.
SWAN is unique in that our policy work is driven directly by the needs of service members and veterans. SWAN’s Helpline for Legal and Social Service Referrals provides a direct means of communication for our stakeholders to communicate the issues they are facing to us in real time. The policy team can then begin working on the issue. We can literally look at every bill we helped introduce and know that it will directly serve the needs of the military and veterans’ communities.
I found a bill on your policy page that I think is great. How can I contact my Congress member to tell him/her to support it?
You call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask for your senators’ and/or representative’s office. Remember that telephone calls are usually taken by staff members, not the member of Congress. Ask to speak with the aide who handles the issue about which you wish to comment. After identifying yourself, tell the aide you would like to leave a brief message, such as: “Please tell Senator/Representative (Name) to support (S.___/H.R.___).” You will also want to state reasons for your support to the bill. You may also request a written response to your telephone call.
You call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask for your senators’ and/or representative’s office. Remember that telephone calls are usually taken by staff members, not the member of Congress. Ask to speak with the aide who handles the issue about which you wish to comment. After identifying yourself, tell the aide you would like to leave a brief message, such as: “Please tell Senator/Representative (Name) to support (S.___/H.R.___).” You will also want to state reasons for your support to the bill. You may also request a written response to your telephone call.
How can I get in touch with SWAN about a policy idea?
To contact SWAN’s policy team, please email policy@servicewomen.org.
To contact SWAN’s policy team, please email policy@servicewomen.org.
Where can I find SWAN’s research and analysis?
On our Publications page.SWAN’s policy team has written and published several fact sheets, issue papers, conference reports and congressional testimony for the record. Our research and publications have been used extensively as reference materials by Congress, the United Nations, the VA and Pentagon, top-tier national media and numerous community partners and human rights organizations.
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On our Publications page.SWAN’s policy team has written and published several fact sheets, issue papers, conference reports and congressional testimony for the record. Our research and publications have been used extensively as reference materials by Congress, the United Nations, the VA and Pentagon, top-tier national media and numerous community partners and human rights organizations.
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