CALO (Change Academy at Lake of the Ozarks) announces the opening of their co-ed program for youth ages 13 to 17. Appropriate teenagers will be admitted into the program starting March 5th, 2007. CALO is headed by Dr. Ken Huey. Ken started his career in residential treatment with Provo Canyon School as a front line therapist. He later became Provo Canyon's Director of Business Development before moving on to West Ridge Academy. At West Ridge Ken was the Director of Clinical Services before starting CALO.

Nicole Fuglsang, MA, is CALO's Admissions Director and can be contacted directly at (573) 746-1884 with any questions about referrals. Nicole worked at Hidden Lake Academy and Ridge Creek for over 7 years. She finished her tenure at Hidden Lake and Ridge Creek as the Admissions Director.

CALO is a specialized program dealing with only three types of presenting issues: disorders of attachment, trauma, and affect regulation. Other issues that are secondary to one of these core issues may be appropriate at CALO but only in the course of treating one of CALO's three core specialties. For example, a youth with a primary drug and alcohol dependence diagnosis would not be an appropriate referral. A drug and alcohol dependence that is secondary to a core issue of trauma, attachment, or emotional regulation concerns would be appropriate.

CALO improves the lives of troubled youth by harnessing the power of three central change agents: 1) Relationships, 2) Transferable Attachment, and 3) Experiential successes.

Relationships are the lynchpin to the change process. Family relationships and parenting are directly coached. Staff relationships are utilized for their mentoring power. Therapeutic relationships are leveraged to create a desire for change in the lives of CALO students. Peer relationships are harnessed to create an atmosphere of positive peer pressure.

Transferable Attachment is CALO's name for what is learned through the care of and bonding with purebred dogs. Clinically appropriate youth in the program have an opportunity to "adopt" a dog in the beginning stages of the program. Myriad transferable lessons of self-discipline, healing, commitment, unconditional love, and genuine attachment are learned in the process.

Located on the shores of Lake of the Ozarks, youth are provided a number of aquatic therapeutic recreational activities. It is intended that CALO youth will struggle against water challenges and overcome them with the help of staff and family; learning lessons of trust, bonding, confidence, and self-reliance in the process. This is done through sailing, rowing, canoeing, power watersports, and other aquatic challenges.

CALO subscribes to safe, researched therapeutic practices and does not use holding or provoking interventions.