Auburn University Women's Leadership Institute's Extraordinary Women Lecture

On October 21 at 3:00 pm Lilly Ledbetter will deliver the Auburn University Women's Leadership Institute's Extraordinary Women lecture. Her talk will be followed by a reception, and the event and reception are FREE and open to all. Moreinformation is available at www.auburn.edu/womensleadership or by calling 334.844.2491.

Did you know that April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month?

About one in five women and one in a hundred men seen in VA medical facilities report that they experienced Military Sexual Trauma (MST); that is, sexual assault or repeated, threatening sexual harassment that occurred during military service. MST can affect veterans' physical and mental health many years after the event. VA offers a variety of services designed to assist veterans who have experienced MST. For example, treatment for physical and mental health conditions related to MST is available at every VA facility and is provided to veterans free of charge, regardless of service-connection status. Veterans may be able to receive this free MST-related care even if they are not eligible for other VA care. Every VA facility also has an MST Coordinator who serves as a point of contact for veterans and staff. It's important to remember, however, that every VA employee has the power to help veterans recover from MST by responding sensitively to inquiries about MST, remaining knowledgeable about VA's MST-related services, and ensuring that information about veterans' MST status is kept confidential. For more information, contact your facility's MST Coordinator or visit the MST Resource homepage at http://vaww.mst.va.gov.

Leadership Summit

The Women's Leadership Institute at Auburn University invites you to join them for an educational networking opportunity with twenty of the most influential women in the Southeastern region. The Leadership Summit, to be held at the Auburn University Hotel and Conference Center on May 27, 2010, will feature panels on Women in Business, Health Care, Politics, Education, and Law. The keynote luncheon speaker is the Honorable Sue Bell Cobb, Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court. The event is open to all. For more information or to register please visit http://auburn.edu/womensleadership or contact Martina Janska at 334.844.2491.

"Making the Most of Your Leadership Potential"

Lt. General Leslie Kenne is the first woman to achieve the rank of Lt. General in the Unites States Air Force. She is also one of three women in U.S. history to achieve the rank of three-star general. This extraordinary woman will deliver a talk titled "Making the Most of Your Leadership Potential" at the Telfair Peet Theatre on the campus of Auburn University on Tuesday, November 3, 11:00-12:00. Her talk and the light-lunch reception to follow are free and open to all.

Now on Facebook and Twitter

The Alabama Women's Commission is now on Facebook and Twitter. Be sure to check us out!

Facebook - Alabama Women's Commission
Twitter - alabamawc

Research and Resources on Postpartum Depression in the State

In 2007 the Alabama Women's Commission commissioned a study on women with children birth to age one. The results of the study indicated several issues with this age group, but one of the most concerning was in regards to postpartum depression (PPD. Results indicate that between 12,000 and 19,000 women in the State of Alabama suffer from postpartum depression each year. The Commission asked Dr. Carole Zugazaga, Assistant Professor, Auburn University Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work to expand her original work with her team to further study the PPD issue in the State of Alabama. The results of additional focus group studies can be found here.

In addition to further study, the Commission has provided links to several resources for those suffering from Postpartum Depression as well as for practioners who treat women who might suffer from Postpartum. Click here for more information.

First Alabama Women's Network Exchange

In conjunction with the October meeting of the Alabama Women’s Commission, the Commission hosted the first Alabama Women’s Network Exchange in order to bring together leaders that work to improve the lives of women in . The purpose of the event was to share information about the various organizations current work, events, and issues of concern. The exchange was very productive and we look forward to the next Exchange in April If you are interested in being a part of this exchange, please contact Sarah Skipper, Executive Director of the Alabama Women’s Commission at sarah.skipper@servealabama.gov.