Veteran's Corner

Hello, I'm Ken Cruickshank, Veterans Services Officer for Tulare County Health & Human Services Agency (HHSA). In this column, you can look forward to learning about why the Tulare County Veterans Services Office (CVSO) is here and how to take advantage of the services offered. You will find helpful information about CVSO and the many ways we can help veterans and their families.

The purpose of the CVSO is to provide services and assistance to veterans. Because many veterans are unaware of services and benefits they could receive, we want to alert and educate veterans and their families about the programs and services provided to them by federal, state and local government agencies. Others need help navigating the paperwork required to file a claim. We make the process of obtaining benefits easier for you. We help you understand what you are eligible for and entitled to, and we are here to help you put your claim together and submit it to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

How do we do all this? We perform outreach, attending local events like the Veterans Opportunity Day, Senior Day in the Park and Veterans Welcome Home, to name just a few; we also offer in-person counseling in our offices or in veterans' homes, and we can refer veterans to other organizations that provide the services needed. There is no charge for our services.

The CVSO stands ready to assist our veterans community. If you are a veteran, or the spouse or family member of a veteran, call us – we can walk you through the process of applying for the benefits you earned.

Ken Cruickshank, retired Navy Master Chief Petty Officer, is the Veterans Services Officer for Tulare County. Send your questions to the Veterans Service Office, 205 N. L St., Tulare, call (559) 684-4960 or kcruicks@tularehhsa.org.