Karen Smietanski
VSO, CVA
Assistant Superintendent
Veterans Assistance Commission of Kankakee County
County Veterans Service Officers
Member Since: 2012
Professional Bio
Karen Smietanski is the daughter of a US Navy WWII veteran. She is the proud mother of two grown sons, Liam and Roman. She was raised in a small farming community south of Springfield IL. Her passion has always been in helping people. Never in a million years did she know that would lead her to helping veterans every day. Karen is the Assistant Superintendent at the Veterans Assistance Commission of Kankakee County, Illinois. She has had the privilege of serving veterans since 2009. She is committed to improving lives of veterans and their survivors through evaluating their needs and aiding them to obtain County, State, and Federal VA benefits they are entitled. She ensures every veteran, surviving spouse and family member is taken care of and never feels alone. As a part of Project Headspace and Timing NPO, she works with the advocacy program that brings in veterans working at local law enforcement agencies and hospitals to better assist suicidal/despondent veterans in crisis. She is the Court Coordinator for the 21st Jurisdiction for the Veterans Treatment Court, helping veterans get their lives back on track. She was recently asked to be a trainer with the Administrative Offices of Illinois Courts, helping set up other Veteran Treatment Courts around the State of Illinois. She graduated from the National Association of Drug Court Professionals Justice for Vets Mentor Boot Camp in 2013. In 2017, Karen was invited to out as a trainer for NACVSO. Now, she gets to teach people from all over the country the job she loves. Karen currently serves as Treasurer for the National Association of County Veteran Service Officers. Karen is one of the elite graduates of the NACVSO’s Certified Veteran Advocates program. Outside of the veteran world, Karen loves the time she gets to spend on the beach in Florida with her sister and family. She enjoys and appreciates her roots…going back home to the farm to visit family.
Parent Member
Parent: Veterans Assistance Commission of Kankakee County
581 William Latham Dr. Suite 302 Bourbonnais, IL 60914 United States