[ { "headline": "The Half‑Truth of a Lakeside Sanctuary", "intro": "Calo Programs, or Change Academy at Lake of the Ozarks, swears it exists to help the “hardest‑to‑treat” adopted children. Yet a series of incidents involving violence, drug use and sexual assault paints a far more troubling reality." }, { "section": "Reports of Abuse and Neglect", "content": "The Camden County Sheriff’s Office logged over 200 calls to Calo from 2020 to fall 2025. Victim reports include runaway incidents that spurred statewide police chases, teenagers allegedly getting high on meth carried by an employee, and a school‑teacher’s lawsuit that claims staff systematically ignored child safety protocols.\
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In one case, a 10‑year‑old girl in a New Hampshire family claimed she woke up screaming at Calo, the facilities, and staff smelled faintly of the unclean environment. Police reports identified a potential gain‑in‑timing on a male student who may have used another’s body to facilitate escapes.\
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Many parents say the facility failed to report incidents to the Missouri Department of Social Services, and state investigators have called alarms about a lack of documentation for serious events." }, { "section": "Insufficient Training and Oversight", "content": "Former teachers, such as Dustin Wood, testified that the staff received a brief 40‑hour training, a “drum circle” that was purportedly therapeutic but offered no instruction on mental‑health interventions. Many employees fail to differentiate between reactive attachment disorder and serious disorders like bipolar.\
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When the Illinois Department of Health’s team visited in 2024, they were denied full access to records and found no formal training curriculum—suggesting a “petition to stonewall.” In contrast, Calo’s parent company Embark Behavioral Health claimed to “improve” the situation by hiring staff and reducing capacity." }, { "section": "The Business Model and Public Funding", "content": "Calo, acquired by a private‑equity firm led by Alex Stavros in 2011, saw its revenue. increase to $180 million, shifting from private‑pay to largely government‑funded third‑party payments. A 2014 conference titled “Show me the Money” stressed selling hope at the most vulnerable moments.\
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Between Illinois, New Hampshire and other states, agencies have spent over $35 million to send kids to Calo. Yet the facilities themselves receive no direct oversight: Illinois agencies reimburse schools but lack daily monitoring, and the Missouri state is only minimally involved." }, { "section": "Law Enforcement’s Role", "content": "The Camden County Sheriff’s Office, typically called for assault or runaway incidents, described dozens of cases that were “unsubstantiated.” Calo staff often evaded questioning, citing internal policy while denying that they had a “professional therapeutic approach.”\
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After a runaway Girl stole a truck from a resident’s parked vehicle, the Sheriff’s Office demanded improved accountability, threatening to jail the facility if it hindered investigations." }, { "section": "Families Speak Out", "content": "Bill Hayden’s daughter—adopted from Russia—remains a voice of hope, stating no harm occurred during her 15‑month stay. By contrast, mothers from Illinois and New Hampshire recount allegations of sexual assault that went unreported, resulting in lawsuits.\
\
Both highlight the core tension: a for‑profit centre claiming to heal, but many families still feeling “no one cared” and “the almighty dollar will prevail.”" }, { "section": "What It Means for Children’s Welfare", "content": "The Calo case exemplifies how a 21st‑century child‑care model can merge profit motives with dangerous, under‑regulated practices. Continuous oversight, transparent therapy protocols, and rigorous staff training are hallmarks of ethical treatment facilities, yet none are reliably documented in these centers. For communities and policymakers, the message is clear: robust regulation and oversight are the only true safeguard for our most vulnerable." } ]
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In one case, a 10‑year‑old girl in a New Hampshire family claimed she woke up screaming at Calo, the facilities, and staff smelled faintly of the unclean environment. Police reports identified a potential gain‑in‑timing on a male student who may have used another’s body to facilitate escapes.\
\
Many parents say the facility failed to report incidents to the Missouri Department of Social Services, and state investigators have called alarms about a lack of documentation for serious events." }, { "section": "Insufficient Training and Oversight", "content": "Former teachers, such as Dustin Wood, testified that the staff received a brief 40‑hour training, a “drum circle” that was purportedly therapeutic but offered no instruction on mental‑health interventions. Many employees fail to differentiate between reactive attachment disorder and serious disorders like bipolar.\
\
When the Illinois Department of Health’s team visited in 2024, they were denied full access to records and found no formal training curriculum—suggesting a “petition to stonewall.” In contrast, Calo’s parent company Embark Behavioral Health claimed to “improve” the situation by hiring staff and reducing capacity." }, { "section": "The Business Model and Public Funding", "content": "Calo, acquired by a private‑equity firm led by Alex Stavros in 2011, saw its revenue. increase to $180 million, shifting from private‑pay to largely government‑funded third‑party payments. A 2014 conference titled “Show me the Money” stressed selling hope at the most vulnerable moments.\
\
Between Illinois, New Hampshire and other states, agencies have spent over $35 million to send kids to Calo. Yet the facilities themselves receive no direct oversight: Illinois agencies reimburse schools but lack daily monitoring, and the Missouri state is only minimally involved." }, { "section": "Law Enforcement’s Role", "content": "The Camden County Sheriff’s Office, typically called for assault or runaway incidents, described dozens of cases that were “unsubstantiated.” Calo staff often evaded questioning, citing internal policy while denying that they had a “professional therapeutic approach.”\
\
After a runaway Girl stole a truck from a resident’s parked vehicle, the Sheriff’s Office demanded improved accountability, threatening to jail the facility if it hindered investigations." }, { "section": "Families Speak Out", "content": "Bill Hayden’s daughter—adopted from Russia—remains a voice of hope, stating no harm occurred during her 15‑month stay. By contrast, mothers from Illinois and New Hampshire recount allegations of sexual assault that went unreported, resulting in lawsuits.\
\
Both highlight the core tension: a for‑profit centre claiming to heal, but many families still feeling “no one cared” and “the almighty dollar will prevail.”" }, { "section": "What It Means for Children’s Welfare", "content": "The Calo case exemplifies how a 21st‑century child‑care model can merge profit motives with dangerous, under‑regulated practices. Continuous oversight, transparent therapy protocols, and rigorous staff training are hallmarks of ethical treatment facilities, yet none are reliably documented in these centers. For communities and policymakers, the message is clear: robust regulation and oversight are the only true safeguard for our most vulnerable." } ]
