Calo Programs
Lake Ozarks, MO

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Calo Clinicians Achieve Post Master's Certificate for Adoption Competency (TAC)

As part of Calo's ongoing clinical specialty competency initiative, two of their clinicians recently achieved a Post Master's Certification in Adoption Competency. Clinicians Debby Black MA, LPC and Todd Odell MA, LPC, NCC completed Training for Adoption Competency(TAC), an intensive 72-hour, 12-session competency-based training program, as well as, six months of case consultation followed by a final capstone project. "I am delighted that Calo would invest in me. The training was intense and covered a wide-variety of topics including complex trauma, grief, separation, identity, ethics, family integration and adoptive family formation, to name a few. As a result of this program, I'm am more attuned to the needs of my students and have a better understanding of the journey out families have traveled, explained Calo Teen Therapist Debby Black.

Calo's Chief Clinical Officer, Rob Gent reiterated, "This program combines experiential learning, the latest research, and information sharing, including case studies, role plays and introspective work that allows our therapists to grow both personally and professionally. It requires a big commitment, but it ensures that our families receive exceptional treatment. We are starting with two clinicians, but the goal is to have the entire team TAC certified.

TAC was developed by the Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.) and is being implemented with the generous support of major national child welfare foundations in the United States. It is currently being implemented in eight states, including Missouri. Rigorous research is documenting its effectiveness in providing clinicians with the critical competencies they need to provide quality mental health services to those whose lives have been touched by adoption. Alex Stavros, Calo CEO explained, "Calo is committed to establishing a national movement to create an adoption competent mental health workforce and this is one way we can support this effort".

All Calo programs implement a unique and truly relational treatment model based on evidence-based attachment treatment research. Calo's proprietary treatment model is pervasive throughout the programs. The unique model facilitates establishing, deepening and maintaining healthy and safe relationships that ultimately lead to co-regulation and Joy.

The clinical modalities across the programs include, but are not limited to, Brainspotting, HeartMath, EMDR, Neurofeedback, Trauma Sensitive Yoga, Transferable Attachment Canine Therapy, Adventure Therapy, Play and Sand Therapy, and Sensory/Occupational Therapies.

About the Calo Family of Programs: Calo ("kay-low") is a behavioral and mental health provider specialized in healing the effects of complex developmental trauma. Calo is comprised of:
Calo Teens (www.caloteens.com),
Calo Preteens (www.calopreteens.com) - both residential programs predominately serving adoptive families,
New Vision Wilderness (www.newvisionwilderness.com - "NVW") an outdoor behavioral health program based in the North Woods of Wisconsin and the Mountain Desert of Oregon. NVW offers one of the most clinically intensive models in the country specializing in a Trauma Informed model, and
New LifeStyles (www.newlifestyles.net) a young adult transitional living program in Winchester, Virginia.