Kate Cappleman Sinz Named NAMI Vermont Mental Health Advocate of the Year
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
Burlington, VT – A longtime social worker and complex care manager at University of Vermont Children’s Hospital has been named Mental Health Advocate of the Year by the National Alliance on Mental Health of Vermont (NAMI) for her care and support of pediatric patients and their families.
Kate Cappleman Sinz, LICSW, a social work care manager with the Integrated Care Management program at UVM Children’s Hospital Pediatric Primary Care, works with young patients and their families across a broad spectrum of needs. From families in need of housing support after being evicted during winter months, to young adults struggling with suicidal ideation, Cappleman Sinz blends hope and compassion with an exhaustive knowledge of local and regional support systems and resources.
“Kate is a fierce advocate for her patients, and always has been,” said Danielle DeLongis, LICSW, CCM, PHSO network manager at Integrated Care Management and a longtime colleague of Cappleman Sinz. “She always speaks out for people who may not be heard and gives them a voice.”
Cappleman Sinz currently works with more than 100 pediatric patients and their families, helping them navigate everything from school- and the Vermont Department or Children and Families-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.
Many of the individuals she works with are marginalized and struggling to advocate for themselves amid a complex network of care and support services, diverging goals and poorly-understood perspectives.
“Kate is this long-term, continuous support for families,” said Stanley Weinberger, MD, medical director of Pediatric Primary Care at UVM Children’s Hospital, of Cappleman Sinz’s focus. “She shines as an advocate for those who are struggling to have their voices heard within these care and support systems. She helps their voices come through, which is really an incredible skill and crucial to delivering the care and support that is needed.”
Cappleman Sinz joined UVM Children’s Hospital in 2016, after spending a decade at Howard Center as a social worker and supervisor focused on school services. She works directly with a wide variety of clinical services and community-based programs – from primary care pediatricians to emergency departments and school districts -- to identify pediatric patients and families in need of mental health care and support.
“It’s difficult work, but there is an element of hope to it as well, because you’re working with people who aren’t fully-developed yet,” said Cappleman Sinz. “I really enjoy working with teams, and kids just naturally have a lot of different caregivers and people around them. I really enjoy partnering with folks to support a patient.”
After a need is identified, Cappleman Sinz works with patients and families to develop a comprehensive assessment that includes individualized goals and care plans. She evaluates patients’ medical history, mental health needs, education needs and any services that aren’t being provided but could promote the child’s holistic health. She then makes referrals to agencies and services, as well as advocating for support based on the specific needs of a patient and their family.
“Kids often have no agency; someone has to speak for them or act for them,” said Cappleman Sinz. “So the most important part of what I do is show up wherever I need to be. Even if I have no capacity to solve the problem, I can try to get people who can to the table and say ‘this is serious and we need to do something about it’.”
For Cappleman Sinz, who traces her passion for advocacy back to her mother, Mary Cappleman, a public health nurse for a Vermont high school, being recognized by NAMI for making an impact on children and families is an honor.
“I see myself as a mental health clinician first and foremost – that highlights what’s important and impactful about my work,” said Cappleman Sinz. “NAMI’s whole job is to support people living with mental illness and helping them, their families and friends manage some of the challenges that may not go away. To have an award from them means a lot to me.”