Kelly Robbins and David Fyler

Program Director and Therapist

Kelly Robbins and David Fyler co-founded the Western Kansas Child Advocacy Center (WKCAC) in 2004. They are both Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapists. Kelly is the Program Director and prior Executive Director for 18 years.

Kelly’s 20 years of experience with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation including seven years as a Special Agent in western Kansas and David’s mental health background is what prompted them to create an organization that would bring help and healing to hurting children and families.

Kelly is also the Executive Director for ChildFirst, a forensic interviewing protocol that enhances the education of front-line child abuse professionals. Kelly and David have been ChildFirst faculty members since its founding in 2005.

Layla Mumgaard

Executive Director

Layla Mumgaard is a Therapist and the Executive Director at WKCAC. She received her Master’s in Social Work from the University of Kansas. Layla is originally from Garden City but lived in Omaha, Nebraska for 5 years prior to moving back in 2015. She and her husband have three boys who keep them on their toes every minute of the day. Layla enjoys working at the WKCAC because of the impact we have on the children and their families. These kids save the lives of other kids by sharing their stories.

Chandra Hughes

Office Manager - Family and Child Advocate

Chandra is our Office Manager. She is located in our Scott City CAC. As Office Manager she helps out all of the WKCAC staff with paperwork, scheduling and more. Chandra keeps all our offices organized and allows for the WKCAC staff to focus on the families and kiddos we serve.

Remmi Knoll

Family and Child Advocate - Forensic Interviewer

My name is Remmi and I am the Child Advocate/Forensic Interviewer at the WKCAC in Scott City. I have an Associates Degree in Science and currently working on my Bachelors for Child Psychology. I have been working in advocacy since 2019 and wanted to further myself in forensic interviews. I love spending time with my boyfriend and our beautiful daughter. I am so thankful to be apart of the CAC family and be apart of the child's healing process and journey!

Shyanne Brummer

Family & Child Advocate - Forensic Interviewer

Shyanne is a Family/Child Advocate and Forensic Interviewer at the WKCAC in Scott City. I'm originally from Osborne, KS. I have been in the healthcare field for over 5 years and have enjoyed being able to help those that I have encountered along the way. I truly treasure the relationships I gain with the kids/families I come across and want to help make an impact on their lives in a way I can. I am so thankful to be apart of the CAC family and be a part of the child's healing process and journey!

Dionicio Rivera

Development Director

Melissa Fulton

Family and Child Advocate - Forensic Interviewer

Melissa is a Forensic Interviewer and Child and Family Advocate. She graduated from the University of Kansas with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre & Voice and a Master of Music in Vocal Performance. She performs locally and with the Wichita Grand Opera. Melissa is also a personal trainer who recently held a national boxing title. Melissa loves being part of the CAC team because every child that walks through the doors is special and amazing!

Raquel Perez

Family and Child Advocate - Forensic Interviewer

Raquel is a Family/Child Advocate and Forensic Interviewer. She is in our Garden City Center. Raquel was born and raised in Garden City. She is currently studying to get her degree in social work. She enjoys working with children and families in the community. Her husband and two kids keep her very busy; she enjoys being out in the community with her family and friends. She is dedicated to helping children and families start their healing process of trauma.

Monica Limon

Youth Advocate

Monica is the new Youth Mentor for south west Kansas. After working with students at Garden City Public Schools for 5 years, she pursued a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration & Marketing and graduated with honors. Monica is passionate and committed to helping kids find their place in life. Monica has devoted many years to coaching youth soccer for boys and girls from intermediate to college level. Her greatest accomplishment so far is working alongside other members of the community to create a program in which youth soccer players develop their athletic skills, learn teamwork and respect, build self-esteem, and grow their love for soccer. In addition to helping players become better athletes and young adults, she believes in emphasizing each child’s mental health and awareness in her work. Monica is excited to be a part of the WKCAC.

Zeus

CAC Dog

Zeus is an Aussie-doodle who is always ready to greet kids and families at the door. He is located in the Garden City CAC but also loves to jump on the Mobile CAC and help even more kids on the road!! However, be warned he loves snacks as much as he loves kids, so keep those snacks close and come in and meet our amazing CAC dog, Zeus!

Brenda Serrato

Medical Advocate

Brenda is a medical child and family advocate located in Garden City. She is passionate about families and loves working with children. Her priority is to make sure the children are safe. She has been married for 21 years, she has four wonderful children, six wonderful grandchildren, and one husky. She loves spending time with her family and traveling. She got her CNA and worked as a Home Health Aid for two years. After that, she decided she wanted to open her own in-home daycare and worked that for 5 years until her older sister ended up with an illness. After her passing, she went to work for St Francis as a family support worker in reintegration for 2 years and moved to the adoption department for about 4 months. She decided she needed something where she could do more for children and families.

Marshmello

CAC Dog

Marshmello is a bichon poodle who is ready to greet kids and families with the sweetest smile! Besides hanging out with kids Marshmello loves to run around and around with his best pal Zues in Garden City!

Haley Rutherford

Family and Child Advocate

Haley is a Child and Family Advocate. She graduated from Fort Hays State University in 2017 with her bachelors degree in Social Work. She loves working at the CAC because she gets to help kids and families heal from trauma!

Tracy Kinderknecht

Family and Child Advocate

Hi, My name is Tracy Kinderknecht, I am a child/family advocate with the Western Kansas Child Advocacy Center. I was hired on in January of 2016, and have loved my job ever since! I have been given an opportunity to work with an amazing team here with WKCAC and I have met more awesome kiddos than I ever thought I could. Along with these kids I get to meet and visit/play with, I enjoy spending time with our adult children, and our grandchildren. My husband and I are blessed with a wonderful big family! I also enjoy reading/listening to audio books, quilting, painting and spending time with our dog, Yogi.

“You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”

– A.A. Milne/Christopher Robin

Victoria Brady

Family and Child Advocate - Forensic Interviewer and Case Coordinator

Victoria is a Forensic Interviewer based out of our Hays office but travels wherever a family and kiddo needs services. She is also a Family and Child Advocate, so when she is not doing interviews, she is working with families and kiddos as an advocate. In her spare time, she helps with entering information into our database and keeping up with our grants!

Shante Ryines

Family and Child Advocate - Forensic Interviewer

My name is Shante' I was born and raised in Colorado Springs Colorado. My family always came down to Nicdemus Kansas, I am a 6th generation descendant, that is what brings me to Kansas. I worked a year with Saint Francis ministries. I am very passionate about helping children and families heal from trauma. I am very excited to be a part of the WKCAC team. I am looking forward to helping more children and families heal. In my free time I am a busy dog mom of two and spending time with my family is very important to me. I am also taking up courses at FHSU in psychology.

Abigail Hernandez

Family and Child Advocate - Forensic Interviewer

My name is Abigail Hernandez. I am a Forensic Interviewer and a Family & Child Advocate for the WKCAC based out of the Hays Office. I graduated from Fort Hays State University with a BS in Social Work. I enjoy going on long walks, reading, and hanging out with my family. One day, while on a walk, I passed by the WKCAC and stated that I wanted to work for this agency, and now I am a team member for this great organization; I truly believe I spoke it into existence. I look forward to my time at the WKCAC because I honestly believe this position allows me to reach out and help many kids and families while I also continue to grow and learn as a social worker and an individual. "Speak what you seek, until you've seen what you said." -anonymous

Haydee Rodriguez

Family and Child Advocate

Haydee is an integral part of our Liberal team, she is a Family and Child Advocate out of our Liberal CAC. She is always on the go and ready to help families and kiddos when needed!

Lisa Reed

Mental Health Therapist

My name is Lisa Reed, and I am a Licensed Professional Counselor for the WKCAC. I am a native Nebraskan, wife to my amazing husband, and mother to my beautiful daughter. I graduated from the University of Phoenix with a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. I have worked with victims of child abuse and neglect over the past 6 years in various roles and I am grateful to continue working with the amazing children and families that are involved with the WKCAC. I am passionate about helping children and families gain peace, understanding, and healing aft experiencing difficult or traumatic situations in life. My hope is that every individual may heal from their past and be able to experience a brighter future where they are living life to the fullest. In my spare time I enjoy walking my dog, traveling to new places, spending time outdoors with family, and playing my favorite video games.

Poppy

Poppy is a standard size Bernedoodle and is still just a baby learning how to be a therapy dog here at WKCAC. She can be a little shy with adults but she absolutely loves hanging out with all the kids! Poppy is a busy girl and spends time at the Hays CAC, Colby CAC, and on the mobile unit a few times a week. She loves to shake your hand for a treat and run up and down the halls chasing her ball. Poppy is a playful pup, loves naps, and most of all belly rubs!

CAC Dog

PXL_20220523_140342880.MP-PHOTO_FRAME~2.jpg

Dev Helwer

Mental Health Therapist

Dev is one of our mental health therapists who works out of our Garden City office. However, she also provides therapy services in Liberal, Ulysses, Hugoton, and Scott City. Dev has a background of working in the substance abuse environment along with achieving her own sobriety for over 13 years. Dev graduated from the University of Kansas in 2020 which furthered her education to provide mental health services and the ability to diagnosis individuals to further help in providing services for individuals who come through the advocacy center. Dev has a passion to help children and adults to overcome the trauma or life events in their lives to help develop emotional stability and recognize healthy relationships. Life experience combined with education has equipped Dev to provide tools for self-growth and self-awareness for those individuals she provides mental health services for along with gaining their voice. Dev has three children, and seven grandchildren of her own whom she loves to spend time with. Dev recently got married to her husband, Kenyon, and they enjoy serving in church, riding motorcycles and spending time in the mountains. Also, with this union, Dev has gained two step-sons, step-daughter, and a step grandson.

Tabitha Keith

Mental Health Therapist

My name is Tabitha Keith, and I am one of our Mental Health Therapists. I graduated with my Bachelor of Social Work from Washburn University in 2018, followed by my Master of Social Work from Fort Hays State University in 2022. I enjoy creating a trauma-informed, attachment-based environment for children and families throughout their healing. Everyone deserves to be heard. My love for kids doesn't stop at the office: I have two kiddos of my own and enjoy growing my family in Scott City.

Heather Barney

Mental Health Therapist

Heather Barney is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and Registered Play Therapist. She received her Master's degree in 2017 from Fort Hays State University in Mental Health Counseling. Her bachelor's degree is in Social Science with and Education Concentration and a minor in Child Development. Heather has over 20 years of experience working with children and families. Heather is passionate about play and the power to heal. She thrives on humor, the salty, briny breeze of the ocean, time with her adult children, art and her dogs.

Teddy

CAC dog

Teddy is our Hays CAC dog. He is a very energetic toy Poodle. Teddy enjoys being next to people and cuddling in their laps. Snack time and snuggles are his favorites. Teddy naturally reduces stress and anxiety by spreading joy to everyone he meets. Don't be surprised if you see him offering you a toy at the door.

Kari Adams

Mental Health Therapist

My name is Kari Adams, and I am a Mental Health Therapist for the WKCAC. I have been fortunate to graduate with a bachelor's degree in Rehabilitation Studies and have just received a master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Services, both from Emporia State University. Though I learned many things throughout my schooling, what I hope to do most is to view children and families holistically so that they can feel safe, heard, and validated throughout the experiences that they encounter. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with friends and family, hanging out with Emersyn (my dog), creating different types of art, listening to music, reading, and long walks on the beach (just kidding).

Hannah Whitaker

Mental Health Therapist

My name is Hannah Whitaker (Davis), and I am working to become licensed in the state of Kansas as a Mental Health Therapist for the WKCAC. I recently completed my Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and will soon complete my Doctorate in Sports and Performance Psychology, both from the University of Western States. I started my internship at the WKCAC and grew an enormous joy working with children. Helping children and families gain their voice in a safe, inviting environment is invigorating and rewarding. Some hobbies that I enjoy are reading the Bible with my Husband, hand crocheting blankets, coloring, journaling, and reading. I also enjoy attending and watching sports events as well!

Meet our Nurse!

Meet Our Board Members!

Dr. Viry Dummermuth

Forensic Nurse, DNP, APRN,FNP-BC,CPN

My name is Viry Dummermuth and I am the Forensic Nurse Examiner for the WKCAC. I have lived in Garden City most of my life. I graduated from Washburn University in 2008 with my BSN and have been an RN for 13 years. I received my Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) through the University of Kansas School of Nursing in May of 2022. I have been involved with the WKCAC as a volunteer in the past but joining the team officially is an honor. I have the most incredible son, Oliver (8), and two very sweet pups, Charlie (2) and Marshmellow (1). My hobbies include traveling, spending time with Oliver and fur babies, reading, interior decorating, and spending time with my nephews. I hope to contribute to the mission of the WKCAC by providing safe, empathetic, and compassionate care to every child and family that come through our door.