Opening up combat jobs to women in the military is bringing a greater need for resources to treat the trauma and mental health challenges that echo after service. But the National Institutes of Health has found women veterans underutilize VA health care compared with men. It says many report delaying getting care, and that when they do receive treatment, it’s inadequate. Other women aren’t seeking help at all, according to the government researchers. A group of nonprofits is testing a new outreach program in Los Angeles County, dubbed Women Vets on Point, which aims to overcome the barriers keeping female veterans from connecting with services.
According to UFSW, the SFFD has one of the largest populations of female firefighters in the country. Women currently comprise about 15.3 percent (229 individuals) of the uniformed members of the SFFD. By extreme comparison, in 2016 the New York City Fire Department had 52 women on a force of roughly 10,500 — about 0.5 percent — making it among the least gender diverse fire departments in the nation.