Partnership Between TERI and the Nonprofit Finance Fund Increasing Nonprofits' Fiscal Independence and Job Opportunities

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Training, Education & Research Institute (TERI), a nationally-recognized organization that serves those with autism and other developmental disabilities, will be the first organization in San Diego to partner with the Nonprofit Finance Fund (NFF). The goal of this partnership is to develop and bolster innovative ways to increase sustainability for TERI's Life Quality division, so that TERI can continue to provide exceptional services to the disabled and Life Coach training for those interested in this exciting career. TERI's partnership with the NFF was funded by a grant from The Parker Foundation.

Economic downturns affect everyone: nonprofit organizations, businesses, and individual citizens. TERI has taken a forward-thinking approach to this current crisis by successfully piloting the Special Needs Life Quality Coaching (SNLQC) program. The SNLQC program is a 16-week course that educates and certifies coaches to work with families to ensure they receive the hands-on support, encouragement and resources needed to navigate through social service systems. For more information about SNLQC, please contact Ben Burgeson at [email protected] or call (760) 622-8540.

Life Coaching is a field of rapid growth, and this unique opportunity offers a niche market to those who are looking to change, or enhance, their current career or skills set. The SNLQC program is perfect for therapists, educators, financial planners, entrepreneurs, and current life coaches looking to work with this vulnerable population. For those with developmental disabilities, the need for support services is great. According to the Administration of Developmental Disabilities (http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/add/), there are approximately 55 million people with developmental disabilities in the United States and the number is growing.

"Thousands of families have children diagnosed with a developmental disability annually: this is a need that is not going away and we must rise to the occasion," said Cheryl Kilmer, founder and CEO, TERI, Inc. "Because of this, it is imperative that the nonprofit organizations that support these individuals create sustainable programs to shoulder the responsibility. We are proud to offer the Special Needs Life Quality Coaching program, which is designed to train individuals who are looking for a satisfying career with the skills necessary to provide these services, while earning a great living, as well."

TERI provides cutting-edge research and programming for those with autism and other developmental disabilities (and their families). These endeavors serve as national models for other agencies and municipalities. For more information about TERI, please visit www.teriinc.org.

The Nonprofit Finance Fund is one of the nation's leading community development financial institutions. By providing a continuum of financing, consulting, and advocacy services to nonprofits and funders nationwide, the NFF helps organizations stay in balance and adapt to changing financial circumstances. For more information on the NFF and its services, please visit http://nonprofitfinancefund.org.

Press Contact:

Ben Burgeson at [email protected] or call (760) 622-8540

SOURCE TERI, Inc.