|
          
CLO's EFT Representatives
Holly M. Sweeney,
Senior Administrator
hollysweeney@clokansas.org (785)218-9354
Gina Yurgae,
EFT Specialist
ginayurgae@clokansas.or
(913)341-9316 ext. 231
|
Frequently Asked Questions from Prosepective EFT
Program Teachers
Extended Family Teachers independently contract with CLO to provide services. What exactly does it mean to be an independent contractor?
What expenses can an independent contractor
expect to have?
What and how are Extended Family Teachers paid?
Can Extended Family Teachers provide both residential and day services?
What respite is available for Extended Family
Teachers to prevent "burnout?"
How does CLO monitor quality outcomes?
How is the determination made as to whom
will be served in the Extended Family Teacher's home?
What are other requirements for becoming
an Extended Family Teacher?
Besides respite, what supports are available
for Extended Family Teachers?
What is the Extended Family Teacher Co-op?
Extended Family Teachers independently contract with CLO to provide services. What exactly does it mean to be an independent
contractor?
An independent contractor is not an employee of CLO, but is an independent party contracting with CLO to provide services. An Extended Family Teacher/independent contractor is responsible to CLO only to satisfy the provisions of the contract and Minimum Contractual Outcomes (MCOs).
CLO is prepared to provide services under the auspices of Foster Care with the intent to meet the requirements for funding for care that meets the definition of qualified foster care payment. This potentially allows the Foster (Extended) Family to consider this payment exempt from state and federal taxes. This has all been made possible by Federal legislation passed in 2002, which allows qualified Foster Care payments to be exempt. This of course increases the compensation to EFT's significantly. While EFT's are Independent Contractors, they must adhere to all standard licensing and guidelines and are accountable to meet all critical Quality of Life outcomes as defined in the Minimum Contractual Outcomes (MCOs).
Back to FAQ
What expenses can an independent contractor
expect to have?
As an independent contractor, an Extended Family Teacher can expect to have insurance premium expenses. EFT’s are required to carry the following insurance:
- General liability
- Automobile Insurance
- Home Owner's or Renters Insurance
- Applicable employment taxes for all work performed in connection with the contract.
In addition to insurance premiums the EFT may also experience rent, utility, food and transportation expenses that are above the monthly stipend that the consumer can afford to provide.
Back to FAQ
What and how are Extended Family Teachers
paid?
Several factors are considered when determining the amount of money
paid to an Extended Family Teacher, including:
- The level of need of the person to be served;
- Whether the Extended Family Teacher will provide residential
services only or residential and day services for the person;
- The level of behavioral support the person needs, provided
by the Extended Family Teacher;
- The level of medical support the person needs, provided by
the Extended Family Teacher; and
- The Extended Family Teacher's certification status.
In addition to the annual contract amount, the person served pays
the Extended Family Teacher a monthly board and transportation fee.
Also, as an independent contractor, an Extended Family Teacher's
compensation may be tax-free.
Back to FAQ
Can Extended Family Teachers provide both
residential and day services?
The Extended Family Teaching Model is primarily a residential service model, and CLO's day services program includes a variety of options developed around the interests, preferences, and vocational goals of persons served. In some cases, however, it may be appropriate and even preferable for the Extended Family Teacher(s) to provide the consumer with out-of-home valued activities during the traditional day hours and may do so on a part-time even full time basis in addition to residential services.
Back to FAQ
What respite is available for Extended Family
Teachers to prevent "burnout?"
Extended Family Teachers are responsible for supervising the person
served 24 hours a day if they are providing both residential and
day and services. If the Extended Family Teachers provide residential
services only, they are responsible for the person served during
mornings, evenings, weekends, days the person is sick, and for days
that day services are not provided. However, CLO requires that respite
for Extended Family Teachers be part of the contract, and during
contract development, a pre-specified amount of respite will be
agreed upon. There are two types of respite:
- Paid supports - generally staff employed by the Extended Family
Teachers, or staff coverage arranged through CLO for a fee; and
- Natural supports - people within Extended Family Teachers'
network and the network of the person served (e.g., family or
friends of the Extended Family Teacher or person served). The
Extended Family Teacher must provide them with individualized
orientation/training. Other Extended Family Teachers can also
be used to provide support.
Back to FAQ
How does CLO monitor quality outcomes?
All Extended Family Teachers are required by contract to become
certified, which requires working with a CLO consultant to complete
a curriculum that includes training, observation and feedback.
The person served and/or their family/guardian, the Extended Family
Teacher, and CLO also work together to determine Minimum Contractual
Outcomes (MCOs). These MCOs include both general and person-specific
outcomes consistent with CLO's definition of "Quality of Life"
for people with and without disabilities, and the MCOs will be monitored
quarterly through visits to the home.
Back to FAQ
How is the determination made as to whom
will be served in the Extended Family Teacher's home?
CLO requires that an Extended Family Teacher know and have developed a relationship with any prospective person to be served prior to placement. In many cases, Extended Family Teachers have worked for CLO in other capacities and already have established relationships with persons who could benefit from a small, family-style living environment. A prospective EFT does not have to work at CLO, nor does the consumer have to be currently served by CLO. It may be the case that a person has known a consumer through family or friends and has formed a relationship with them. When such a person decides that an Extended Family Teaching lifestyle is right for them, and a person they would like to support is willing to make the same commitment to this lifestyle, the person's Support Team can begin the process of determining the appropriateness of such a living arrangement for all parties.
Back to FAQ
What are other requirements for becoming
an Extended Family Teacher?
In addition to a relationship with the person to be served, requirements include participating in a placement study, an in-home family interview, home evaluation, completion of minimum training standards, willingness to become certified within 18 months of contract, and successfully passing thorough background checks and screenings (including a general physical exam, drug screening, criminal history check, and checks for any history of abuse, neglect or exploitation). An Extended Family Teacher then must agree to become an independent contractor, and must remain in compliance with all minimum training standards and requirements throughout the extent of their contract.
Back to FAQ
Besides respite, what supports are available
for Extended Family Teachers?
As an independent contractor, an Extended Family Teacher does not
report to a "manager" or "supervisor" at CLO,
and it is the Extended Family Teacher who is responsible for the
management and coordination of services that are delivered in their
home and for the Minimum Contractual Outcomes agreed upon by all
parties. However, CLO does provide Targeted Case Management services,
which are required, and other supports that Extended Family Teachers
may access, including:
- Behavioral consulting services
- CLO's Health and Wellness Clinic
- Extended Family Teacher Co-op
Back to FAQ
What is the Extended Family Teacher Co-op?
CLO is developing an Extended Family Teacher Cooperative that will
provide structured support to enhance the ability of family teachers
to support people with developmental disabilities and tend to the
needs of their own families, including:
- Structured and non-structured social and educational opportunities
so Extended Family Teachers can network and learn from each other
or from invited speakers about ways to improve the quality of
their chosen lifestyle;
- A "shelf of supports," from which Extended Family
Teachers can purchase what they need (i.e., pre-packaged insurance
options);
- A system of natural, no-cost or low-cost respite/relief through
a collective of family teachers who "trade" respite
among themselves, and a volunteer support group of family members
and advocates of persons served;
- Fee-based respite services to augment natural respite support
methods; and
- A website to foster the sharing of information.
Back to FAQ
|
