On July 13^th we will be hosting our Parent Seminar where we will thoroughly explore our Canine program and the process and impact of Neurofeedback.  In addition to the Parent Seminar, we will facilitate a Parent Support Group to provide opportunity for parents to share and connect with one another. 

This is a terrific opportunity to be a part of the CALO experience and become intimately familiar with the program and its specific interventions.  The seminar will delve into the process of Transferable Attachment and the healing power of the canines in conjunction with the process, impact, and power of Neurofeedback. 

Immediately following the Seminar, parents will gather to enjoy a time of processing, sharing, and connecting with other parents through the Parent Support Group.  This time has been proven to be most valuable for parents feeling understood and supported.

Schedule is as follows:

July 13, 2012

12:15-12:30pm      Parents gather lunch and meet in Conference Room

12:30-2:00pm       Seminar – Canine Program (Jeanna Osborn- Canine Supervisor) & Neurofeedback (Misti Puckett- Neurofeedback Administrator)

2:00-2:30pm         Break

2:30-3:45pm         Parent Support Group in Conference Room

Please notify your therapist of your attendance so we are able to plan accordingly.  We look forward to seeing you then.   

Hello Parents,

Would you like your son or daughter to take the ACT?

CALO will be taking students to ACT testing on September 8, 2012. If you are interested and would like to register your child, the registration deadline is August 17th.

Parents may register and pay for their child's ACT testing at www.actstudent.org. You may have the results sent directly to you by choosing "homeschool" rather than inputting a high school code. Please register for the Osage Beach test site. CALO will provide transportation to and from the testing.

Questions? Please contact kallison@caloteens.com

As all of therapists sat in the upper conference room early on Thursday morning, one thing kept going through my head, “We are about to do training with one of the key figures in Attachment Therapy, Dr. Arthur Becker-Weidman, wow!”  It wasn’t that it was just “Another training”, but four personally focused hours within the intimate setting of just CALO’s clinical team.  This was a unique training that accessed here and now experiences and interventions that were happening within the current caseloads of our therapists.  I am sincerely grateful to Dr. Arthur Becker-Weidman for his time, keen insight into changing lives, and ability to be passionate and committed to helping other professionals.

The training was a tremendous opportunity and highlighted that CALO’s model for treatment is truly relationship focused and is grounded in making long term and profound change in the lives of its students and families.  Dr. Art helped to illustrate that we (CALO) are providing treatment that has been established as an effective, evidenced based therapeutic approach that is proven to create long term change in the lives of families struggling with the impact of trauma and attachment difficulties. 

As the training progressed, I could see the faces of the therapist lighting up as they internalized precious “Nuggets” of information that helped to conceptualize what we do with succinct language.  One of the most power concepts outlining our model of treatment was the progression of four key concepts; Alliance, Exploration, Integration, and Healing.  Being able to have Dr. Art carefully articulate these words was immensely helpful in understanding how we must always remember that relationship (Alliance) is the foundation of change.  With this foundation comes the ability explore experiences and emotions from the past which are affecting the student in the present.  With exploration comes the ability (due to the safety of the relationship/alliance) to begin to integrate those experiences and emotions into the students emotional and physical “Narrative”.  This process is the way in which healing occurs and the student then can begin to work towards constructing a coherent narrative of their life and begin to feel safer trusting others and experiencing emotional intimacy. 

I am now a few days removed from this training an am excited to use these terms to create experiences and education for parents in which families begin to heal and grow.  I want to be able to express to those reading this that these terms and concepts are foundational to our treatment and additional questions and thoughts should be directed to your primary therapist to openly explore and experience. 

Next time you come to campus, make sure to check out all the new artwork that is displayed around campus. Phil Young, our art teacher, has been working consistently on both our CALO mural and daily art projects with students. Art gives our students the opportunity to express themselves and think creatively, offering a wonderful therapeutic outlet that they love. You will see great new work by our talented students all around the CALO campus. In the future we will continue to expand these exhibits, so stay tuned! Here is a glimpse of some of the art currently on display:

Many of you our parents have adopted children. With that in mind I am forwarding on some information that came across my desk from the National Council for Adoption. Here is the information:

Adoption Tax Credit News from the IRS

On behalf of the Internal Revune Service, you are invited to join the Adoption Tax Credit Phone Forum on Friday, March, 23, 2012, at 1:00 pm EDT.

What is the objective? To help families who have adopted children get the refundable adoption tax credit they deserve.

Many taxpayers claiming the expanded adoption credit are not attaching the required documents to their paper tax returns. By participating in this call, the IRS will ensure that you are aware of the proper documentation necessary for you to receive your refund as a result of this important tax credit.

During the phone forum, they will discuss:

• Legislative Action
• Requirements for claiming the credit
• Qualified Adoption Expenses
• Types of Adoptions
• Adoption Credit Audits
• Changes on the Horizon
• How you can help eligible taxpayers claim the credit
• Resources on IRS.gov to answer your questions

Please join in on Friday, March, 23, 2012, at 1:00 pm EDT to learn more about this important tax benefit for families.

To call in, please dial 1-866-606-4717 and use Access Code 7962786

Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s),

Confused by some of the CALO language?  Is the CALO model still a bit foreign?  Feel like you are on a rollercoaster of progress?  Wondering what to do after CALO?

We are here to help!  On the eve of our parent retreat, Wednesday May 9^th, please join us for a parent dinner at 5:15 PM in our CALO conference room.  After dinner begins we will have a presentation aimed to help parents better understand the ins and outs of CALO, navigate the ups and downs of residential treatment and predict and prepare for post CALO life.  Some of you may have been through this presentation at prior seminars or retreats.  If not, we hope to see you there.  The orientation will be conducted by a few of our therapists.  Please RSVP attendance with your CALO therapist.  We expect to finish a bit after 7 PM.

The upcoming CALO Parent Retreat (May 10^th-11^th) is an exciting time for parents/guardians to immerse themselves in connective opportunities.  One of the primary opportunities that the Parent Retreat presents is the chance to be a “Coach” to your student while receiving the support of the CALO staff.  Being a “Coach” to the student means showing consistent care while modeling appropriate boundaries, setting limits, being playful, becoming vulnerable, maintaining physical and emotional safety, expressing empathy, and experiencing joy.  Taking on this “Coaching” role is a huge responsibility, but one that is necessary to establish safety and communicate unconditional care for the student. 

Students require this level of care because they have often tried so hard to compromise the unconditionally caring/safe relationship of the parents/guardian due to their early trauma associated with various forms of abandonment, abuse, neglect, developmental trauma, etc.  Fully trusting a safe parental figure is often the hardest and scariest opportunity for these students to allow themselves to enjoy.  Our parents are all too familiar with the tireless efforts they have put in to evidencing unconditional love, trust, and connection, while getting all forms of resistance, resentment, and opposition pushed back onto them.  That is why the Parent Retreat is a perfect opportunity to practice implementing this type of relationship while receiving the support and assistance from staff, therapists, and Leadership team in order to keep all parties safe. 

 The Coaching role is very similar to the parent role, but is just different in that the level of physical intimacy (safe touch) and verbal intimacy (verbal expression of love) is more intense with the parent role.  Otherwise, the student is experiencing consistency with “Doing what is best” for them, not necessarily what they “Want”, being able to express empathy for emotions that the student may be feeling (rejection, shame, happiness, sadness, loneliness, etc.),  de-escalating situations through assisting in emotional and physical regulation (Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, and Empathy), setting consistent boundaries/limits related to emotional and physical safety, and being able to maintain “Closeness” if that is what the student requires.

In addition to the Parental/Coaching role, there is opportunity to develop relationships with other parents/guardians, spend quality time with primary therapist, get to know staff, and participate in numerous fun and meaningful activities.  The Parent Retreat is rapidly approaching and is designed for all families who are a part of CALO.  Take the opportunity to experience real growth and connection this spring. 

5^th Semi-Annual Spring CALO Parent Retreat

Thursday May 10^th - Friday May 11^th   

Theme: “Living In the Growth Zone”

Parents/Guardians,

As most of you know we are closing in on our fifth semi-annual parent retreat Thursday May 10^th - Friday May 11^th.  As is the case with every retreat, there are lots of questions so this blog post is set to answer those and help you prepare to make this retreat a success. We receive consistent feedback that nearly all parents/guardians (hereafter referred to as parents) continue to enjoy our retreats a great deal.

The retreat is for all current and former CALO parents and students. The only exceptions are those students who may be unsafe to attend (see your CALO therapist). In order to attend we need you to please RSVP to your current or former CALO therapist by Friday April 13^th. We need to provide final projections to the retreat hosts by this date so they can plan for spacing and food. Please note that all participating parents will be responsible for the supervision and welfare of their CALO student during the retreat time. This includes overnight (please discuss concerns with therapist prior to retreat).

Thursday Highlights

Parent Breakfast (8:00 AM) in CALO conference room

Parent Seminar

Travel to retreat location

Therapeutic Activities

Parent Support Groups

Campfire Activity

Friday Highlights

Therapeutic Activities

Family Time

Slide Show

Ending around 2:30PM or so (may change slightly)

Clothing/Gear List

Hat

Rain/wind jacket

Shirts

Shorts/pants

Socks/Shoes

Sandals

Underwear

Sunscreen

Insect repellant

Lip balm

Toiletries (including soap and shampoo)

Flashlight

Conservative and appropriate swimwear

Towels for bathing and water activities

Sleeping attire

Camera (confidentiality restrictions) - only pictures of you, your student, facilities and/or staff (no other pictures of students)

No pocket knives, weapons, fireworks, matches, or other dangerous items

Parents are strongly discouraged from bringing excessive or distracting items (i.e. I-Pods, cell phones, etc.)

Q&A

Will CALO and/or the retreat location be providing bedding, pillows and/or towels for this retreat?

·         CALO will arrange for students attending to have their sleeping bag, pillow, and towel. Parents, however, will want to bring 1) a sleeping bag or blankets, 2) a pillow and 3) bathing towel.  *Hint:  Some parents flying to the retreat may want to consider buying a less expensive sleeping bag or blankets in the arrival city instead of paying for this as extra luggage. 

Will I be sleeping on a bed with a mattress or are we camping?

·         All students and parents will sleep on a bed with a mattress.

What are the sleeping arrangements like?

·         This retreat will feature family lodging.  Each family will either have a private, large cabin with bunk-beds or sleep in a duplex unit with traditional beds and mattresses (students sleeping on the floor).  Families in duplexes will share the duplex space with another family or with CALO staff.  Each duplex has one bathroom. The cabins utilize a centralized large bathhouse with many private showers, sinks and restrooms. 

What if I get hungry?

·         You may bring your own snacks but CALO will be providing water/drinks and a variety of snacks. CALO will also provide three meals on Thursday and two meals on Friday. We do not receive feedback that anyone goes hungry on retreats.

How strenuous will this be?

·         We try to be sensitive and understanding of any physical limitations parents may have. Wearing comfortable clothing and good walking shoes is a must (there will be a fair amount of walking). It would also be wise to rest up before the retreat as we do want to maximize our time together. Parents with special needs or circumstances should make these clearly known to the CALO therapist.

What will the weather be like?

·         We experienced a mild winter here in mid Missouri.  Because the retreat is in May, check the weather forecasts before the trip. Plan on fluctuating temperatures from the 80’s during the day to 50’s during late evening-morning hours. It would also be wise to anticipate rain and wind.

What are the costs for this?  Do I need to bring any spending money?

·         Our plan is for parent retreats to continue to be a part of tuition. This retreat is no different as there are no additional costs to parents. Depending on future locations and costs, we may ask parents to pay a portion of the expenses. However, we will do everything possible to create a variety of experiences during our retreats while trying to keep costs down. So far we feel like we have done that. 

What if I have an off campus or home visit right after the retreat?

·         Please be in close contact with your CALO therapist about post-retreat plans.  We want to make the transition as smooth as possible so families are able to leave the retreat and immediately begin off-campus visits without an extra return trip to CALO if possible.  In order for this to happen your therapist needs details (exact times of visits, medication expectations, off campus belongings needed, etc.)

When do I need to show up for the retreat and when will it end?

·         Please arrive at CALO on Thursday morning around 8:00am but no later than 8:10am.  Please head straight to the conference room for breakfast.  The retreat will end by 2:30 or 3:00PM on Friday.

My child is asking for me to bring his I-Pod, l-Pad, and/or other electronic.  What should I do?

·         Tell him you are looking forward to the retreat focusing on your relationship and you would rather not have distractions.  We strongly discourage parents from bringing any electronic equipment to the retreat for students to use. 

What if I get nervous, anxious or concerned about my child’s behavior and/or safety during the retreat?

·         Stay in frequent communication with your therapist and coaches.  Feel free to ask for help or support at any time. 

How else should I prepare for the retreat?

·         We are entering the third year of CALO retreats.  Previous retreats have evidenced this time to be very effective in creating safe, meaningful, and lasting memories with your CALO students, CALO staff and other CALO families in attendance. Please be prepared to learn, grow, and connect.

We look forward to seeing you in May!

Time to REGISTER!!

Attachment and Trauma Conference

Dr. Arthur Becker-Weidman

Keynote Speaker

April 12^th-13th, 2012

Change Academy Lake of the Ozarks (CALO) in Lake Ozark, Missouri

The conference will include attachment basics, as well as highlighting attachment and trauma work in a diversity of settings

and how those different settings work together to better support the child and the family. 

Registration packets and conference brochures will be sent out by mid-February. 

Brochure attached including registration form is attached.

2012 CALO Conference-Email.pdf (574.18 kb)

Sincerely,

Nicole Fuglsang

Director of Business Development & Admissions

caloteens.com

866-459-1362 (direct)

573-746-1884 (mobile)

573-365-2224 (fax)

Time to REGISTER!!

Attachment and Trauma Conference

Dr. Arthur Becker-Weidman

Keynote Speaker

April 12^th-13th, 2012

Change Academy Lake of the Ozarks (CALO) in Lake Ozark, Missouri

The conference will include attachment basics, as well as highlighting attachment and trauma work in a diversity of settings

and how those different settings work together to better support the child and the family.

Registration packets and conference brochures will be sent out by mid-February.

Brochure attached including registration form is attached.

Sincerely,

Nicole Fuglsang

Director of Business Development & Admissions

caloteens.com

866-459-1362 (direct)

573-746-1884 (mobile)

573-365-2224 (fax)