The Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs announced a new collaboration with the nonprofit Grace After Fire to expand services and support for Oklahoma’s women veterans and their families.
Grace After Fire is a veteran-centered nonprofit organization that first started as The Women's Heart by Stephanie Moles in 2002, with a focus on increasing access to healthcare services for women veterans, especially those who struggled with drug and alcohol abuse.
Over time, the leadership of the organization transitioned from Stephanie Moles to retired Air Force Col. Kim Olson, then to U.S. Navy Corpsman Tana Plescher.
“We believe that no woman veteran should ever feel alone in their journey,” said Plescher, Grace After Fire’s president. “Partnering with ODVA [Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs] allows us to amplify our efforts and deliver a more comprehensive support system for those who have sacrificed so much for our country.”
Currently, there are more than 2 million women veterans living in the U.S. In 2000, women veterans made up just 4 percent of the veteran population. By 2040, they are projected to make up 18 percent of all veterans, making them the fastest growing group of veterans, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The partnership brings together ODVA’s extensive network of veteran services and Grace After Fire’s expertise in community groups, crisis intervention, peer support and mental health resilience. Together, the two organizations will offer a coordinated approach to providing vital resources, referrals, benefits navigation and community reintegration support.
“We are honored to partner with Grace After Fire to reach even more veterans across Oklahoma,” said Guadalupe Higadera, ODVA’s women veteran administrator. “This collaboration strengthens our commitment to ensuring every veteran has access to the help, community groups, respect and resources they have earned through their service.”
Grace After Fire has built a strong reputation for serving women veterans through advocacy, direct support and empowerment initiatives.
In 2012, it launched the Table Talk Color Me Camo peer-to-peer support group programming designed specifically for women veterans.
In 2017, the nonprofit began providing financial basic needs assistance to women veterans and their families. Since then, resources for health & wellness, retreats, resource navigation information and programs are provided.
Through this collaboration, ODVA and Grace After Fire will work together on outreach events, educational workshops and tailored programming to meet the unique needs of Oklahoma’s women veteran population.