Youth Engagement Through Intervention (YETI)

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About YETI

Developed by Jennifer Schoffer Closson (School of Speech, Language, Hearing and Occupational Sciences) and Anisa Goforth (Department of Psychology), Youth Engagement Through Intervention (YETI) is a social skills intervention framework that uses a variety of evidence-based practices and strategies such as video modeling, social narratives, differential reinforcement, and visual schedules. During YETI, children learn social and communication skills such as joining in peer groups, maintaining conversation, and coping with frustrations. Children in the group are provided opportunities to learn new skills, practice the skills in a safe environment, as well try out the skills outside of group (e.g., home or school).

Programs

YETI programs range from elementary aged children to middle school aged children and are hosted each semester as well as in the summer. 

Academic Year Programs: Fall and Spring Semesters

Children elementary and middle school aged may apply for this 8 week program. Each semester we address 6 social skill topics and provide instruction on vocabulary, idioms, and other areas that support our program.  Parents receive a social narrative for each topic in order to generalize the skill and have continuity at home. Academic year YETI is billed to insurance, further information on clinic payment practices available. 

YETI Summer 2024, Fall 2024, and Spring 2025 Application

Summer Programs

See tables below for summer program payment guidelines, cost subject to change. Costs below reflect summer 2024 program fees.

Full-day camps

YETI Week 1 (July 8-12, 2024): We focus on developing language, behaviors, and skills for inclusion. 6 hour program.

YETI Week 3 (July 22-26, 2024): We focus on developing language, behaviors, and skills for inclusion. 6 hour program.

  • Each participant will need to participate in an evaluation prior to camp starting (these will be scheduled on an individual basis in the weeks leading up to camp).
  • Each day, your child will participate in structured intervention in both group and individual settings.
  • Your child will have the opportunity for skill generalization and practice during field trips and fun, traditional day-camp activities with the support of trained graduate student clinicians and clinical faculty.
  • All participants must attend both morning and afternoon sessions, both to ensure your child's maximal progress in this group setting as well as to ensure our graduate student clinicians can dependably acquire their necessary clinical training hours.
  • Children will be required to bring their own lunch and snacks for safety reasons.
 
Cost for week-long camps

Initial Evaluation

Insurance billing or private pay (varies depending on insurance)

Daily direct group and/or individual therapy

Insurance billing or private pay (varies depending on insurance)

Camp activities

$110 flat fee for full 5-day week

Amount due June 1st to hold spot

$30

Amount due by start of camp

$80

Total cost of full-day camp

$110 + variable for initial evaluation and daily therapy (depends on insurance)

*YETI campers with Blue Cross Blue Shield Healthy Montana Kids (HMK) will need to have evaluations at least three weeks before their camp starts in order to obtain the necessary pre-authorization for therapy services.

Mini Camps

Week 2 (July 15-19) 12:00-2:00 Monday- Friday, a 2 hour program for learners that need to practice their social skills.

Week 2 (July 15-19) 2:30-4:30 Monday- Friday, a 2 hour program for learners that need to practice their social skills.

Children are grouped by age and skill level for mini camps.

 

Amount due by June 1st to hold spot

$30

Amount due by start of game club

$45

Total cost of Mini Camp

$75

*If your child is new to YETI programs, we may need to complete a pre-camp evaluation that would be billable via insurance or private pay.

Please see our clinic website for payment practice information.

We do anticipate having more applicants than spots in the program, so we will make decisions about applicants based on our students' needs as well as considerations such as past attendance record. If accepted, we do require clients to commit to our attendance agreement, as we want to ensure your child has the opportunity to make progress as well as honoring commitment to our graduate student clinicians to acquire their clinical hours.

Graduate Student Clinicians

Graduate student clinicians in the School of Speech, Language, Hearing and Occupational Sciences as well as the Department of Psychology (School Psychology and Clinical Psychology) and other pre-service students provide direct intervention services to address a variety of skills associated with social engagement, interaction, and communication. All services are supervised by Dr. Schoffer Closson, a Certified Clinically Competent (CCC) and Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist.

About Us

Anisa and Jennifer play with a child during a YETI program

(Jennifer Schoffer Closson on the right)

Jennifer K. Schoffer Closson, Ed. D, CCC-SLP 

Dr. Jennifer Schoffer Closson is a Clinical Associate Professor for the School of Speech, Language, Hearing and Occupational Sciences. Her interest areas include autism and secondary transition, leading her to develop the YETI and MOSSAIC (Mentoring, Organization, and Social Support for Autism Inclusion on Campus). She has worked for the Montana Office of Public Instruction to train people across Montana about evidence based practices for autism. 

Contact Us

For more information regarding the YETI program please contact the RiteCare Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic. 

Graphic of a Yeti