Kate Cappleman Sinz, a social work care manager with the Integrated Care Management program at University of Vermont Children’s Hospital, has been named Mental Health Advocate of the Year by the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Vermont. The annual award recognizes exceptional contributions to complex care coordination and efforts ensuring that every child and family receive the support they need to thrive.
Cappleman Sinz currently works with more than 100 pediatric patients and their families, helping them navigate everything from school-related issues to clinical needs for young patients on the psycho-social continuum. She is the central point of contact between patients, their families and the primary- and specialty-care teams both at the hospital and in communities across Vermont.
“Kate is a fierce advocate for her patients, and always has been,” said Danielle DeLongis, network manager at Integrated Care Management. “She always speaks out for people who may not be heard and gives them a voice.”