ODVA Women Veterans Program expands statewide outreach to improve access to benefits and support services
A state program aimed at women veterans
The Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs (ODVA) operates a Women Veterans Program designed to connect women who served in the U.S. military with state and federal benefits, services, and community resources across Oklahoma. The program is housed within ODVA, the state agency responsible for supporting veterans through benefits assistance, claims support and other services, while also overseeing seven state veterans homes.
ODVA lists the Women Veterans Program’s mission as identifying and monitoring issues affecting women veterans in Oklahoma, recommending initiatives and policy proposals, collaborating with government and private partners, increasing awareness of gender-specific needs, and helping ensure equitable access to veterans benefits and services.
How women veterans can access help
ODVA identifies Guadalupe Higadera as the Women Veterans Program coordinator. The agency provides multiple ways for women veterans to initiate contact, including a direct phone line and an appointment request option through ODVA’s website.
- ODVA Women Veterans Program direct line: 405-523-4020
- ODVA central office (Oklahoma City): 405-523-4000
- ODVA toll-free line: 855-701-6382
- ODVA hotline: 833-993-0234
ODVA describes its broader portfolio as including assistance with state and federal benefits, disability claims, burial and survivor benefits, education and employment support, mental health and suicide prevention resources, and other veteran-focused initiatives.
Coordination with federal VA resources
In addition to state-level assistance, women veterans in Oklahoma can also use federal Department of Veterans Affairs tools that are available nationwide. The VA operates a Women Veterans Call Center that provides free and confidential navigation support, including help connecting callers to the women veterans program manager at their local VA medical center. The call center can be reached by phone or text at 1-855-829-6636.
The VA also maintains a framework in which every VA facility has a Women Veteran Program Manager who can assist with connecting veterans to women’s health services and other VA resources within the medical system.
Community and peer support options
ODVA’s Women Veterans Program also highlights a community group, “Voices Beyond Campouflage,” as part of its women veterans resources. Separately, peer-connection opportunities exist through organizations such as the Oklahoma Women Veterans Organization, which provides membership-based community support and outreach for women veterans in the state.
Women veterans seeking assistance may be eligible for support through both state services and the federal VA system, depending on their needs and circumstances.
Why program navigation matters
Women veterans may need to navigate multiple systems—state benefits assistance, federal health care enrollment, and specialized support contacts—often depending on where they live and what services they are seeking. ODVA’s Women Veterans Program is structured as an entry point for women veterans looking to identify available benefits and connect to appropriate services, while VA tools such as the Women Veterans Call Center are available for veterans who need guidance within the federal system.