" The Extended Family Teaching Model was the perfect scenario for our son. This program is a dream come true!"
Allison Frizzell, parent

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

CLO’s Extended Family Teaching Model Program (EFTM) provides comprehensive family and community supports for adults with developmental disabilities within the framework of a family-style environment.  In this program, a married couple or a single adult serves as an independent contractor with CLO to provide an enriching, safe and teaching-oriented lifestyle for one, or in some instances two, adults with disabilities.

Watch the EFTM Video Brochure! Hi-fi (300K) | Lo-fi (56K) Need Windows Media Player? Click the image.

The Extended Family Teacher (EFT), their family, and person with disabilities placed in their care, live together in the EFT’s family home.  These placements are designed to be long-term and often result from an existing relationship.  Many times a person who has worked for CLO has formed a friendship with a person served and would like to invite them to live in their home. 

This model also provides an opportunity for parents/guardians to recruit someone who may have a relationship with their child/ward to serve as their support. 

The EFTM is a successful adaptation of the world-renowned Teaching Family Model used for years by many youth service organizations such as Boys and Girls Club. The Extended Family Teaching Model evolved from the pioneering work of Dr. James Sherman, Dr. Jan Sheldon and Dr. Michael Strouse, who adapted the Family Teaching Model (FTM) for use with people with disabilities. CLO started using the FTM model in the mid 1990s in an attempt to improve our more traditional Group Home oriented services, and the EFT program grew from those attempts.

The model was implemented with the active collaboration of the Applied Behavioral Sciences department at the University of Kansas.

Frequently Asked Questions from Parents and Guardians

Freqently Asked Questions from Prospective Extended Family Teachers

Supports for Extended Family Teachers

EFT Quality Assurances

EFT Co-op

Additional information about the EFT program and EFT family profiles may be found in the following EFT Co-op Newsletters:

November 2003 Edition

March 2004 Edition

August 2004 Edition

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