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KEYS Parent Advocates

Sedgewick County

Nina Lomely
Nina is an outgoing and friendly person who is the parent of six children. Three of these children have been diagnosed with severe emotional disturbance. She also has several grandchildren with Severe Emotional Disturbance. Nina is also familiar with Attenttion Deficit Disorder and Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder and how these children need to be taught in the classroom. Nina attends seminars regularly for new information for families with special needs children. In addition to her own children and grandchildren, Nina has been working with children with severe emotional disturbances for four years as an advocate and familty support person. She specializes in special education and resources. Nina seems to have endless energy, as she is also a professional seamstress and dollmaker in addition to her work with children and families. She has experience working with numerous agencies including Kansas Children's Service League, Social and Rehabilitation Services, Comcare, Youth Horizons, Family Consultation, KU Medical Center - Recovery Services, Boys and Girls Clubs, Bridge, Charter, Heart Springs, Prairie View, Youthville, Kancare for Kids, Families Together, and Scocial Security Administration. Nina is associated with the Mental Health Association of South Central Kansas. She is pictured here with one of her grandchildren. Nina will assist families in the Wichita area and Harvey and McPherson counties.

Katherine Donavan
Kathie is the mother of four children, one of whom has ADHD. She is a past board member of the Kansas Coordinating Council on Early Childhood Development and past co-chair of the Deaf/Blind SMH Advisory Council. Kathie has been a pre-school teacher at a Child Care Center and a parent trainer for Families Together Inc. She is also an educational advocate with the Kansas Department of Education. She has experience parenting and working with medically fragile children and children with multiple disabilities. Kathie has worked with many agencies that serve children including Families Together, Keys for Networking, Rainbows United, Wichita Council for Pre-school Blind, and Mid Kansas Community Action Program. She is available to assist families within an hour of the El Dorado / Wichita area.

Deneice Flemming
Deneice is associated with the Mental Health Association of South Central Kansas in Wichita. She is the mother of a daughter with emotional problems, and she works with her nephew who has severe emotional and behavioral problems. In her job, Deneice works with children with severe emotional disturbance on a daily basis and supports the families of these children. She has worked with several agencies including Family Services of Wichita, the Wichita Child Guidance Center, the Juvenile Detention Facility, and she is a State Educational Advocate. Deneice is outgoing, helpful, supportive, positive, hardworking, friendly and, in her own words, will get the job done. She serves on the advisory board of Keys for Networking Parent Information and Support Training. In addition to Sedgwick County, Deneice will travel to assist families in the surrounding counties of Sumner, Cowley, and Butler.

Retha Ramirez
Retha is the parent and grandparent of a special needs child. Her daughter has bi-polar mood disorder and her grandson has severe emotional disturbance. She is a Families Together trained advocate, case manager, support group coordinator, and family services coordinator. Retha is also enrolled in the Cowley County Behavioral Sciences program. She is affiliated with and an employee of the Mental Health Association of South Central Kansas. Among the agencies that she has worked with are: Sedgwick County Comcare, Wichita Guidance Center, Family Consultation Services, Youthville, Kansas Children's Service League, USD 259 Special Education Services, Kan-Care - foster care services, and Wichita SRS. Retha has a warm personality, is a good listener and is anxious to support and assist families. She will be available in the Wichita area and Butler and Sumner counties as well.