Facility profile Missouri

CALO Programs

Open Lake Ozark, Missouri

CALO Programs is a residential treatment center in Lake Ozark, Missouri, operated by Embark Behavioral Health. It has operated since 2007.

Timeline

From the records: who ran it and the deals that moved it, its names, and the deaths, incidents, inspection findings, lawsuits and news stories on file. Point at an event, or tap "More about this", for the details.

  1. 2007

    1. Opened

      Opened in Lake Ozark, Missouri

  2. 2026

    1. In the newsMay 29, 2026

      Inside a taxpayer-funded treatment center for adoptees, tales of abuse, neglect and little oversight

      Covered by 4 outlets: KCTV5, ABC News, SSBCrack News and 1 more.

      Inside a taxpayer-funded treatment center for adoptees, tales of abuse, neglect and little oversight May 29, 2026

      An investigation into Calo Programs Residential Treatment Center in Missouri has uncovered allegations of abuse, neglect, and little oversight. The facility, which specializes in adoption trauma, has been accused of providing minimal treatment and barely any schooling, with poorly trained staff supervising the...

    2. Essential reportingJanuary 17, 2026

      Adopted and Locked Away: Kids promised ‘forever homes’ instead confined in for-profit institutions

      The Associated Press: The Associated Press found adopted children sent to for-profit treatment programs, where many were restrained, abused or neglected.

      Adopted and Locked Away: Kids promised ‘forever homes’ instead confined in for-profit institutions January 17, 2026

      The article investigates the 'troubled teen industry', a network of for-profit residential treatment centers, wilderness programs, and boarding schools, and its impact on adopted children. Many adopted children are sent to these facilities, where they often experience physical restraint, abuse, and neglect.

      Read the article

News coverage

  • ABC News May 29, 2026 Expose

    Inside a taxpayer-funded treatment center for adoptees, tales of abuse, neglect and little oversight

    Essential reporting

    Inside Calo Programs in Missouri, a taxpayer-funded treatment center for adoptees: an Associated Press look at abuse, neglect and little oversight.

    An investigation into Calo Programs Residential Treatment Center in Missouri has uncovered allegations of abuse, neglect, and little oversight. The facility, which specializes in adoption trauma, has been accused of providing minimal treatment and barely any schooling, with poorly trained staff supervising the children. Several families have come forward with allegations of abuse, including physical and sexual assault, and have filed lawsuits against the company.

  • The Associated Press Jan 17, 2026 Expose

    Adopted and Locked Away: Kids promised ‘forever homes’ instead confined in for-profit institutions

    Essential reporting

    The Associated Press found adopted children sent to for-profit treatment programs, where many were restrained, abused or neglected.

    The article investigates the 'troubled teen industry', a network of for-profit residential treatment centers, wilderness programs, and boarding schools, and its impact on adopted children. Many adopted children are sent to these facilities, where they often experience physical restraint, abuse, and neglect. The industry is largely unregulated, and facilities often prioritize profits over the well-being of the children in their care.

  • St. Louis Public Radio Jun 3, 2026 Lawsuit

    'Welcome to hell': Kids allege physical, sexual abuse at Missouri treatment center

    Former students of Calo, a youth residential treatment center in Missouri, have filed lawsuits alleging physical and emotional abuse by staff. The allegations include physical restraints, denial of medical treatment, and sexual assaults by fellow students. The facility has denied all claims of abuse and neglect.

  • KCTV5 May 29, 2026 Expose

    Takeaways from inside a teen treatment center for adoptees, funded by taxpayers: runaways, assaults

    An investigation into Calo Programs, a residential treatment center in Missouri, found allegations of abuse, neglect, and lack of oversight despite being funded by taxpayer dollars. The facility has been subject to numerous calls to law enforcement, including reports of assaults, runaways, and injuries. Former employees and parents have raised concerns about the center's operations, training, and transparency.

  • ABC News May 29, 2026 Expose

    Takeaways from inside a teen treatment center for adoptees, funded by taxpayers: runaways, assaults

    An investigation into Calo Programs, a residential treatment center in Missouri, found allegations of abuse and neglect, including physical assaults and runaways. The facility, which specializes in adoption trauma, has been funded by taxpayer dollars despite concerns from state agencies and parents. The investigation also revealed a lack of oversight and few consequences for the facility's actions.

  • SSBCrack News May 29, 2026 Expose

    Investigation Raises Concerns Over Troubled Teen Treatment Center in Missouri

    An investigation into Calo Programs, a troubled teen treatment center in Missouri, has raised concerns about the facility's operational practices, staff training, and transparency. The facility has been the subject of numerous law enforcement calls and has been criticized for its treatment of adopted children with trauma. Allegations of abuse, neglect, and misconduct have been made against the facility, which charges up to $20,000 a month for its services.

  • AP News Apr 28, 2026 Expose

    AP investigation: Adopted kids confined in private for-profit facilities

    This Associated Press investigation uncovers a "shadow orphanage system" where adopted children are disproportionately placed in for-profit residential treatment facilities. These institutions often market themselves to families by misusing the diagnosis of Reactive Attachment Disorder to justify expensive and unregulated "tough-love" programs. Rather than finding support, many children experience systemic abuse, isolation, and neglect in environments focused on profit margins. The report emphasizes that these institutional settings often cause more harm than healing, failing the vulnerable children they were meant to protect.

  • Behavioral Health Business Jan 24, 2025 Corporate

    Embark Behavioral Health Parts with 3 C-Suite Members to Shift Resources to its Programs

    Youth behavioral health provider Embark Behavioral Health restructured its management hierarchy by parting ways with three C-suite executives, including its last remaining co-founder. The organizational changes follow previous staff layoffs and facility closures as the private equity-backed company transitions its service model toward outpatient care.

  • Behavioral Health Business Feb 9, 2023 Corporate

    Consonance Capital Partners Acquires Majority Stake in Youth-Focused Embark Behavioral Health

    Consonance Capital Partners acquired a controlling stake in Embark Behavioral Health, a youth-focused behavioral health provider, in a deal valued at approximately $400 million. The investment is intended to support Embark’s expansion plans, including opening additional outpatient clinics and increasing the number of families served. Embark’s leadership emphasized a focus on quality and sustainable growth rather than rapid expansion.

  • Herald and News Aug 5, 2018 Corporate

    Dragonfly Transitions under new ownership

    Dragonfly Transitions, a therapeutic program for young adults operating in Klamath Falls and Ashland, Oregon, was sold by its previous owners to Calo Programs, a national network of clinical programs. The previous owners signed a four-year contract to remain with the program, with plans to expand services and resources.

Staff

Administration

  • Rob Gent

    Therapist, Assistant Clinical Director, Clinical Director, Vice President of Training and Development (2007, r/troubledteens wiki)source

    Elsewhere in the industry

    • a Therapist
    • Change Academy at Lake of the Ozarks (CALO) Therapist, 2007
    • Calo VP of Training and Development, 2011-2013
    • Embark Behavioral Health Chief Clinical Officer, 2018

  • Thomas Ahern

    Senior Vice President of Business Development (2015, r/troubledteens wiki)source

    Elsewhere in the industry

Notable staff

  • Ken Huey

    source

    Elsewhere in the industry

    • Provo Canyon School Therapist and Director of Business Management, Director of Business Development, Therapy (2005 became Director of Bus. Dev.), Therapist, later Director of Business Development, 2002-2022
    • West Ridge Academy Clinical Director, Director of Clinical Services, 2005-2006
    • The Change Academy at Lake of the Ozarks Founder, CEO, 2006-2008
    • Calo Founder, Founder and CEO, 2006-2025
    • Change Academy Lake of the Ozarks (CALO) CEO, 2009
    • Red Mountain Colorado Founder and Owner, 2017
    • Havenwood Academy Executive Director, Executive Director/CEO
    • HOPE Group CEO

  • Nicole Fuglsang

    CEO and a Co-Foundersource

    Elsewhere in the industry

    • the Director of Public Relations & Business Development for CALO
    • Change Academy at Lake of the Ozarks Admissions Director, 2006-2008
    • Change Academy Lake of the Ozarks (CALO) Conference Co-Chair, 2009
    • Calo Staff, 2011
    • Hidden Lake Academy Director of Admissions, Clinical Supervisor, Therapist, Director of Admissions, 1999-2006
    • Embark Behavioral Health Intern (1998)

  • Chris Austin

    Clinical Directorsource

  • Heidi Stanfield

    Clinical Directorsource

  • Kathy Abeln

    Clinical Directorsource

  • Jenn McMurry

    Director of Admissions and Professional Relations (2018, r/troubledteens wiki)source

    Elsewhere in the industry

  • Heather Harvie

    Adventure therapy coordinator

    Elsewhere in the industry

  • Josh Nordean

    Therapist

    Elsewhere in the industry

Connections on the network map

The companies, people and programs our research map ties to this program. Open it on the network map.

Documents

Documents on file (9)
Woodbury Reports Mentions (1)

Wiki entries

Record updated . Generated from the Kids Over Profits facility database. Suggest a correction