About Veterans for Women
Women veterans are the fastest-growing segment of the VA system and have access to dedicated Women Veterans Program Managers at every VA medical center. The VA covers gender-specific primary care, maternity care, mental health (including military sexual trauma counseling, free regardless of discharge status), and the Women Veterans Call Center (1-855-VA-WOMEN). The VA Crisis Line (dial 988, press 1) is staffed 24/7. Disability compensation, GI Bill education benefits, VA home loans, and Vocational Rehabilitation are processed through regional VA offices, and state Veterans Service Organizations (American Legion, VFW, DAV) help file claims for free. This directory includes Women Veterans Program Managers, state VSOs, and veteran legal clinics.
14 Resources
IDVA at 833 S Spring St in Springfield runs four Illinois Veterans Homes (Anna, LaSalle, Manteno, Quincy) and accredits Veterans Service Officers across the state who help women veterans file VA claims at no charge. Call (800) 437-9824 weekdays 8:30am-5pm. IDVA also administers state-specific benefits including Illinois Veteran Grant tuition for state colleges, MIA/POW Scholarship, and Illinois National Guard tuition assistance.
(800) 437-9824 · 833 S Spring St, Springfield, IL 62794 · Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm · Visit Website
Jesse Brown VAMC at 820 S Damen on Chicago's Near West Side is the urban VA hospital serving Chicago, with a robust Women Veterans Health Program including women-only primary care, mammography, mental-health, and maternity-care coordination. Call (312) 569-8387 weekdays 7:30am-4:30pm. Jesse Brown partners with University of Illinois Chicago and Rush for specialty care; the Women Veterans Program Manager coordinates gender-specific services.
(312) 569-8387 · 820 S Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60612 · Mon-Fri 7:30am-4:30pm · Visit Website
Hines VA Hospital at 5000 5th Ave in Hines serves Chicago's western and southern suburbs with a Women Veterans Health Center, comprehensive primary care, mental-health, and Military Sexual Trauma counseling. Call (708) 202-8387 weekdays 7:30am-4:30pm. Hines is one of the largest VAs in the country and partners with Loyola Medicine on specialty care including cardiac, oncology, and neurology services for women veterans.
(708) 202-8387 · 5000 5th Ave, Hines, IL 60141 · Mon-Fri 7:30am-4:30pm · Visit Website
Marion VAMC at 2401 W Main St in Marion serves southern Illinois women veterans with on-site women's-health clinic, mental-health services, and Military Sexual Trauma counseling. Call (618) 997-5311 weekdays 7:30am-4:30pm. Community-based outpatient clinics in Mount Vernon, Carbondale, Effingham, Evansville, Paducah, and Hanson extend access for downstate veterans; Marion VA also operates a Vet Center in Marion offering counseling outside the medical model.
(618) 997-5311 · 2401 W Main St, Marion, IL 62959 · Mon-Fri 7:30am-4:30pm · Visit Website
American Legion Department of Illinois at 2720 E Lincoln in Bloomington has 600+ posts statewide and accredited service officers helping women veterans navigate VA claims. Call (217) 522-4937 weekdays 8am-5pm for the state office or visit illegion.org to find a local post — including women-veteran-led posts in Chicago and downstate communities. Service-officer help with claims, appeals, and benefits research is always free.
(217) 522-4937 · 2720 E Lincoln St, Bloomington, IL 61704 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website
VA Women's Health Services operates dedicated women-veteran programs at every Illinois VA — Jesse Brown, Hines, Marion, Captain James A. Lovell in North Chicago, and Danville. Services include comprehensive primary care, gender-specific cancer screening, maternity-care coordination, Military Sexual Trauma counseling, and reproductive health. Each Illinois VA has a Women Veterans Program Manager; the national site explains eligibility and enrollment.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
1-855-VA-WOMEN (829-6636) is the Women Veterans Call Center staffed by women veterans, available Mon-Fri 8am-10pm and Saturday 8am-6:30pm ET. Illinois women veterans can call to learn about VA enrollment, gender-specific care at Jesse Brown or Hines, Military Sexual Trauma support, and maternity benefits. The call center can also explain how Illinois state benefits like IVG tuition stack with federal GI Bill.
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Dial 988 and press 1 — or text 838255 — to reach the Veterans Crisis Line, free and confidential around the clock. Counselors include women veterans trained in Military Sexual Trauma and post-deployment crisis. Illinois callers can be warm-transferred to local Suicide Prevention Coordinators at Jesse Brown, Hines, Marion, Lovell, and Danville VAs for follow-up. Chat is available at veteranscrisisline.net.
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DAV Illinois has 80+ chapters and accredited service officers who help women veterans file VA claims, appeal denials, and access transportation to medical appointments at Jesse Brown, Hines, and Marion VAs. The DAV Transportation Network is volunteer-driven and covers most Illinois counties. Service-officer help is always free and DAV does not require membership to assist a veteran with a claim.
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VFW Department of Illinois represents 400+ posts statewide with accredited service officers helping women veterans file VA claims and access state benefits. Posts run community events, scholarship programs (Voice of Democracy and Patriot's Pen), and the VFW National Home for Children in Eaton Rapids, MI for veteran families. Service-officer help is free; many posts welcome women combat veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.
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IAVA represents post-9/11 veterans and runs the Quick Reaction Force, a free case-management service connecting Illinois women veterans to mental-health, benefits, and employment resources. The QRF responds within 24 hours and works alongside Illinois VAs and state VSOs. IAVA's She Who Borne the Battle campaign successfully expanded VA care for women veterans nationwide and continues advocating for gender-equitable services.
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WWP provides free programs to post-9/11 wounded veterans and family members — mental-health initiatives like Warrior Care Network (which includes Rush University Medical Center in Chicago as a clinical partner), career and benefits counseling, and adaptive sports. Illinois women veterans access WWP through Rush and the WWP Chicago Regional Office. All programs are free to enrolled Warriors and their families.
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SWAN advocates for active-duty servicewomen and women veterans on issues including Military Sexual Trauma, reproductive health, and pay equity. The free helpline routes Illinois women veterans to peer mentors and pro-bono attorneys handling MST claims and discharge upgrades. SWAN's policy work directly shaped VA's expansion of women's health centers including those at Jesse Brown and Hines.
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Military OneSource at 1-800-342-9647 provides free, confidential 24/7 information and short-term counseling for active-duty service members and their families, including Illinois military spouses at Naval Station Great Lakes, Rock Island Arsenal, and Scott AFB. Non-medical counseling covers up to 12 sessions per issue at no cost. Services include MilLife Learning courses, tax consultation, and Spouse Education and Career Opportunities.
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