The nation's 2 million women veterans make up less than 10 percent of the total veteran population, but their growing ranks and individualized experiences require more focused research and policy. These experiences of women transitioning to civilian life-including employment, health and homelessness-were discussed during a recent roundtable on women veterans co-hosted by the Center for Innovation and Research on Veterans & Military Families at the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. During the Feb. 7 meeting in Arlington, Virginia, representatives of universities, nonprofits and various VA departments gathered to discuss how research could help understand these and other critical issues. Read more
Peter Gutierrez, a clinical and research psychologist at the VA's Rocky Mountain MIRECC, has studied suicide, focusing on screening and intervention for more than 20 years. This month, Gutierrez visited CIR to discuss his most recent research efforts in group therapy as a suicide intervention among veterans. Learn more Watch Gutierrez' full presentation.
Carl Castro, associate professor and director of CIR, participated in a suicide prevention podcast from the VA's Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center. In the 30-minute podcast, Castro discussed his work in this field, including a recent journal article outlining when a veteran might be more prone to suicide, a first step in more effective prevention efforts. Read more
Every year, the Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count, overseen by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, takes a census of the men, women and children who experience homelessness in the region. This year, USC partnered with LAHSA, and researchers from the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work will conduct demographic surveys on the streets and in shelters in the months following the initial count. Read more
