VCP Network Staff
Simone Rueschemeyer
Executive Director
Simone Rueschemeyer is the Executive Director of VCP and ACCESS VT, where she provides strategic vision and leadership across the VCP network of agencies, cultivating partnerships and advancing internal and external opportunities to strengthen community-based services throughout Vermont.
Simone brings over 35 years of experience in health and health care, beginning in late 1980’s and early 1990’s with her work in a Save the Children Health Clinic, her efforts with SJS on health and housing insecurity, and her multi-year service in the Clinton Administration as a member of the White House Health Care Task Force within the Offices of Policy Development and Communication. She remained in Washington, D.C., working with The Rendon Group as a strategic consultant to foreign governments on health policy and communication.
Motivated by her deep commitment to addressing inequities in access to care and the quality of services, Simone returned to Vermont to pursue a Master of Science in Evaluative Clinical Sciences at The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice. Her focus on health equity continued through her role as Vermont State Affairs Manager for Bi-State Primary Care Association and as a consultant advising non-profit organizations and state governments on health care operations, policy, and strategies to address the social drivers of health.
Simone joined the network in 2010 and remains dedicated to advancing inclusive, community-based systems of care that empower individuals and families to thrive in their communities.
Amy Johnson
Director of Legislative Affairs and Public Policy
Amy Johnson brings more than 25 years of experience in human services, both in the U.S. and internationally, with a career dedicated to strengthening systems that support individuals and families. From her early work in Detroit’s community mental health system to her current policy leadership in Vermont, Amy’s work reflects a deep commitment to equity, access, and systems-level change.
Rooted in decades of hands-on experience and a career shaped by principles of social justice and human rights, Amy brings a sharp understanding of the challenges and opportunities across mental health and substance use, education, healthcare, and disability services. Her role at Vermont Care Partners draws on her ability to connect policy insight with real-world impact, ensuring that Vermont Care Partners – and the communities across the state they support – are seen, supported, and heard.
As Director of Legislative Affairs and Public Policy, Amy leads the organization’s efforts to shape public policy at both the state and federal levels. She builds strong relationships, fosters collaboration, and advances legislative priorities that help secure resources, improve access to care, and strengthen the infrastructure of Vermont’s system of care.
Amy lives in West Bolton with her daughter, Luna, and is energized by the opportunity to work across Vermont on behalf of the people and programs that make this state stronger.
Sarah Kleinman
Systems Change Manager
Sarah Kleinman is a collaborative leader with more than two decades of experience guiding statewide programs, building partnerships, and driving systems change across Vermont’s public sector and higher education landscape. She has spent her career bringing people together, whether across government agencies, nonprofits, or educational institutions—to design and implement programs that make a meaningful difference in communities. Skilled in systems and change management, grant development, policy alignment, and team leadership, Sarah is passionate about using data and collaboration to create sustainable solutions that improve equity and access to care.
Sarah has led complex outreach initiatives, managed diverse teams, and facilitated coalitions that span multiple sectors. She is known for her ability to listen deeply, foster strong relationships, and turn shared ideas into action. Her work reflects a commitment to advancing opportunities for all Vermonters, with a special focus on strengthening systems that support economic, physical, social and mental health, and community well-being.
Sarah has a master’s degree in public administration from University of Vermont, where she served as UVM Extension’s Director of 4-H, Family and Migrant Programs, since 2002. She is also a graduate of the Snelling Center for Government’s Vermont Leadership Institute and has training in trauma informed practice. Based in Burlington, Sarah balances her professional life with a love for Vermont’s outdoors. She enjoys snowboarding in the winter, kayaking and biking in the warmer months, and finding time year-round to connect with the natural beauty of the state. She believes in the power of community—both in her professional role and in her personal life—and brings that same energy and optimism to every project she takes on.
Amy Rose
State Policy Manager
Amy has spent her career in service to others, building deep relationships with people who approach the common goal – child, family and community well-being – from very different vantage points.
Amy was most recently the Policy Director for Voices for Vermont’s Children, spending the last several years working on state level policy in working groups, in the statehouse and with national partners. In that role, she learned how to balance the urgency for action with the need to operate at the speed of trust. After primarily working on reforms within systems of last resort, she is eager to shift some of her attention to prevention services and community support.
Amy has worked in partnership with families, young people, community providers, state employees and national experts to explore creative solutions to the complex challenges facing our structures of support. She volunteered with AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps (Kenya), has worked for state government and also for Howard Center.
Amy values equity and justice, enjoys exploring the outdoors with her kids and dogs and learning new forms of art.
Ken Gingras
Health Information Technology Director
Ken joined the VCN/VCP team in 2015 to design and implement the Vermont Care Partners data repository. After a nationwide search, the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago was awarded the contract to build the repository. In 2021, the repository was updated and migrated to its current cloud-based iteration. The repository collects data from all network agencies to provide a system- wide database as a resource for the agencies both collectively and independently. In addition to maintaining the repository, Ken supports the health information technology needs for the network agencies.
Ken is a native Vermonter and graduate of St. Michael’s College in Winooski, VT.
His career spans almost 30 years in various roles in and around business computing. Ken began working with personal computers and went on to consult with a number of businesses throughout New England designing and implementing corporate networks, data centers, networking and software applications across a broad range of industries.
Ken was also instrumental in a small tech startup where he designed and oversaw the implementation of the entire tech stack, including building the core data application for the business.
Prior to joining VCN/VCP, Ken spent nearly 12 years as the Technology Manager for Northwestern Counseling and Support Services (NCSS) in St. Albans, VT. While there, Ken was responsible for building and leading the technology team in growing and supporting all aspects of the agency’s technology across multiple buildings and locations in and around St. Albans. Ken also played a central role in the selection, purchase and implementation of the first electronic medical record system at NCSS.
Ken fully embraces the opportunity to support the network agencies and their staff to ensure the provision of high-quality services throughout Vermont.
Cathy Aikman
Operations & Grant Manager
Cathy joined Vermont Care Partners Network in November 2024. She is passionate about working with non-profits to help them achieve their missions and improve the lives of people in local communities.
She has extensive experience as a project manager, including overseeing three federal-statewide grants — two of which were FEMA grants providing mental health support during disaster declarations — the latest being VCP’s COVID Support Vermont. Her previous roles include Quality Assurance Coordinator at Washington County Mental Health Services, Assistant Director at the Turning Point Center of Chittenden County, and event and marketing coordinator for various Vermont organizations.
Cathy holds a master’s degree in urban and social policy from Tufts University and a bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a minor in Environmental Biology from Ripon College. She lives in Richmond with her family and enjoys gardening, reading, running, and exploring green solutions.
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