National Center for Healthcare Advancement and Partnerships
HAP Partnership Impact
VHA and White Ribbon continue commitment to harassment-free environment across VA
White Ribbon USA and the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) have partnered with the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) to promote White Ribbon VA under the Stand Up to Stop Harassment Now Campaign. White Ribbon USA, NASW, and VA have the shared goal of taking an active stand in ending sexual harassment, sexual assault, and domestic violence.
Randy Moler, Health Administration Program (HAP) analyst and licensed clinical social worker stated, “White Ribbon VA is a national call to action to eliminate sexual harassment, sexual assault, and domestic violence across the VA by encouraging a positive change in culture so that the actions outlined in the pledge become the organizational norm. White Ribbon VA is an awareness movement where all, regardless of their gender, can participate.”
You can take the White Ribbon pledge today to never commit, excuse or stay silent about sexual harassment, sexual assault, or domestic violence against others. See: https://www.whiteribbonusa.org/whiteribbon-va-pledge
Dr. Shereef Elnahal, Under Secretary for Health, took the White Ribbon VA pledge during his swearing in ceremony on July 25, 2022. Dr. Elnahal stated, “The VA has the best patients in the world.” He thanked Veterans, their families, and caregivers for their service to the country.
To date, it is estimated more than 300,000 VA employees, Veterans, interagency and community partners have taken the White Ribbon VA Pledge. The completed pledges are representative of the White Ribbon VA Steering Committee efforts to promote and record completed pledges. The pledge can be completed and documented in a variety of ways such as, online, social media, delivered live in an audience setting or documented through the VA Talent Management System (TMS) module “White Ribbon VA: What it Means for Our VA Community.” Lelia Jackson, Veterans Health Administration Director of the Assault and Harassment Prevention Office stated, “Our audacious goal is that every single VA employee take the White Room VA pledge, and then we would love if every Veteran would take the pledge. No matter what facility one is in or whether working with us online in a virtual appointment, or virtual meeting, everyone should always experience respect, and respect does not include harassment or sexual assault.”
The White Ribbon VA pledge has been integrated into the following:
- VHA’s New Employee Orientation
- VA Senior Executive Service (SES) Swearing-in Ceremony
- “Prevention and Management of Disruptive Behavior” Training
- VA Outreach Material
- Lunch and Learn / Brown Bag Sessions
Each VA medical facility now has a White Ribbon VA Champion that leads the initiative.
In April, Deputy Secretary Donald Remy joined Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro and Howard University President Dr. Wayne Frederick in a plenary session, moderated by Rosie Hidalgo, senior advisor on Gender Based Violence and special assistant to the President’s White House Gender Policy Council. These leaders discussed a myriad of ways their organizations are dedicated to ending sexual assault and sexual harassment, strengthening cultures, and always providing supportive resources for those who experience these incidents.
Over the past year, HAP has published articles on its website (https://www.va.gov/healthpartnerships/updates/impact/03302021.asp) and on VHA’s blog, VAntage Point (now VA News) https://blogs.va.gov/VAntage/102098/stand-up-to-stop-harassment-take-the-white-ribbon-pledge/), about the White Ribbon VA pledge to combat harassment and sexual assault.
Read more about HAP partnerships at https://www.va.gov/HEALTHPARTNERSHIPS/partnerships.asp.
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Posted September 19, 2022
