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 are for school-aged children.
Academic Year Programs: Fall and Spring Semesters
Families may apply for this 8-week program. Each semester we address social skill topics that are most relevant to the group as well as individual goals. Parents receive personalized notes 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.
Summer Programs
See tables below for summer program payment guidelines, cost subject to change. Costs below reflect Summer 2026 program fees.
Full-day camps
YETI Week 1 (July 13-17, 2026): We focus on developing language, behaviors, and skills for inclusion. 6-hour program.
YETI Week 3 (July 27-31, 2026): We focus on developing language, behaviors, and skills for inclusion. 6-hour program.
- Participants may need to participate in an evaluation prior to camp starting in compliane with certain insurances (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.
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Cost for week-long camps
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Initial Evaluation |
Insurance billing or private pay (varies depending on insurance) |
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Daily direct group and/or individual therapy |
Insurance billing or private pay (varies depending on insurance) |
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Camp activities |
$110 flat fee for full 5-day week |
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Amount due June 1st to hold spot |
$30 |
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Amount due by start of camp |
$80 |
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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.
Learning Then Belonging Mini Camps
Week 2 (July 20-24) 9:00-11:00 am 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.
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Amount due by June 1st to hold spot |
$25 |
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Amount due by start of Mini Camp |
$25 |
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Daily direct group and/or individual therapy |
Insurance billing or private pay (varies depending on insurance) |
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Total cost of Mini Camp |
$50 |
*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 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
(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, inclusion, 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.
- Phone: (406)243-2405
- Email: ritecarereception@mso.umt.edu
