News Release

Boston University receives Walmart Foundation grant to support women veterans

In its first-ever grant to Boston University, the Walmart Foundation has awarded approximately $500,000 to help launch the Women Veterans Network (WoVeN), a nationwide network of structured support groups for female veterans

Grant and Award Announcement

Boston University School of Medicine

(BOSTON) - In its first-ever grant to Boston University, the Walmart Foundation has awarded approximately $500,000 to help launch the Women Veterans Network (WoVeN), a nationwide network of structured support groups for female veterans.

The Foundation will fund the first 15 months of this new five-year program, which aims to enhance wellness, quality of life and family relationships for female veterans. Support groups will be developed and led by women veterans with the over-arching goal of increasing social support and interpersonal connections with others who share the unique experiences of women who have served.

To help support the 2.2 million women who have returned from military service, Boston University will train women veterans to facilitate a series of 10-week support groups that aim to enhance wellness, quality of life, family relationships and supportive connections with other veterans and, as needed, referrals for additional health services. While many services and organizations currently support veterans in transitioning to civilian life, there are limited options that address the unique experiences of women veterans using evidence-based approaches.

For women who are unable to attend support groups, Boston University will also develop an interactive WoVeN web site, offering connection with other women veterans and resources and information addressing the needs and experiences of women veterans.

"The Walmart Foundation is proud to help fund Boston University's launch of the Women Veterans Network, and anticipates that this five-year initiative will play an important role in establishing networks and enhancing opportunities for female veterans as they re-enter civilian life," said Kathy Cox, senior manager of Walmart Giving.

WoVeN will be led by Tara Galovski, PhD, and Amy Street, PhD, both associate professors of psychiatry at Boston University School of Medicine who also oversee the Women's Health Sciences Division at the National Center for PTSD, a division of the Department of Veterans Affairs. The mission of the division is to understand the psychological impact of war on women veterans.

"WoVeN is designed to be a home for women Veterans, a place where our Veterans can connect both within their individual communities and nationally," Galovski said. "The Walmart Foundation has been incredibly supportive of this project from day one, and we are proud of our partnership in support of the women who have sacrificed much to serve us."

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About Boston University School of Medicine

Originally established in 1848 as the New England Female Medical College, and incorporated into Boston University in 1873, Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) today is a leading academic medical center with an enrollment of more than 700 medical students and 950 students pursuing degrees in graduate medical sciences. BUSM faculty contribute to more than 668 active grants and contracts, with total anticipated awards valued at more than $693 million in amyloidosis, arthritis, cardiovascular disease, cancer, infectious diseases, pulmonary disease and dermatology, among other areas. The School's clinical affiliates include its primary teaching hospital Boston Medical Center, the Boston VA Healthcare System, Kaiser Permanente in northern California, as well as Boston HealthNet, a network of 15 community health centers. For more information, please visit http://www.bumc.bu.edu/busm/


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