About

A Program for Girls Who are Struggling in Life

KCGA is designed to help girls identify problem behaviors and build inner strength to overcome challenges. Effective communication skills are developed and positive coping strategies are learned. KCGA uses a character-building mentorship model.  Discipleship curriculum and ongoing pastoral counseling relative to the curriculum content are utilized to assist the students in discovering their incorrect assumptions and replacing them with new concepts of understanding.

The program is intentionally designed to allow the girls to progress through a level system to help prepare them for a healthy reintroduction into their families.  This system includes such practices as positive peer pressure, reward, and discipline consequences for actions, increased responsibilities as their progress warrants, and ongoing daily staff interaction.

Group Discussion – This consists of multiple small group sessions weekly, led by our counselors and staff. These groups include discussions about substance abuse, problem-solving, positive peer culture, emotional management, safe dates, and specialty groups designed for specific treatment needs. All group processes foster emotional growth in a safe and confidential setting.

Healthy Meals – Mealtimes feature a family atmosphere where healthy relationships with staff and peers are established. Our kitchen is overseen by dedicated staff members who find joy in watching our students truly enjoy their meals. Also, student leaders have the opportunity to serve in our kitchen to prep home-cooked meals, serve plates, and clean up, which are great life skills.

Many students leave with the confidence to prepare meals for their entire family and know how to clean with excellence. Our menus are created with balanced, healthy meals as the goal. Eating three healthy meals a day helps bring consistency and balance to our student’s lives, and our mealtimes complement the daily routine of our school. For holidays, we take pride in making the meals special. This makes a big difference in what can be a sensitive and emotional time for our students.

Individual Biblical Counseling –  Such counseling is provided to each student with a minimum of one session every other week. Sessions help students gain insights into their individual behaviors and establish a trusting relationship with their counselor. In this setting, students process issues too sensitive for them to share with a group.

Family Care – Parents contribute to treatment as an integral part of the program. The Girls Academy encourages families to visit during planned family weekends. Family and students meet with their student’s primary care staff. Parents and children also participate in parent support groups,  parent-teacher conferences, workshops, and graduation ceremonies.

Equine Program

Experiential Equine Learning is about creating and cultivating a bond between the girl and a horse, not just having fun horseback riding. At its root, horsemanship is all about the girl and horse working together to complete a goal or task. To accomplish this, each girl must learn to be calm, assertive, and communicative. The girl must communicate clearly with her equine partner. They are taught to use both verbal and nonverbal communication techniques.

The way horses read and react to the girl’s body language is a startlingly accurate method of daily feedback for the girl; if her attitude is not right, the horse will not respond well to her. Only calm assertive communication from the girl will result in the horse beginning to trust and respect her leadership.

During activities with horses, the girls learn alternative ways of responding to a difficult situation rather than reacting. They begin to find hope for their challenging life issues as they ‘experience’ relational changes with their horse and begin to explore their God-created uniqueness and destiny.  Horses are powerful and effective in helping people, whether children, youth, or adults. They have much to teach us about our patterns of behavior, communication, and relationships. Horses are excellent “teachers”, coupled with trained facilitators certified in personal and social development, interaction with horses can often provide invaluable assistance in addressing challenging life issues in a fun, action-oriented, non-threatening learning environment.

Our Core Values:

• Courageous Leadership – People of the Arena
• Continuous Improvement – People of the Second Mile
• Contagious Attitude – People of Optimism and Belief

Trauma-Informed Care

The staff at KC Girls Academy undergo annual training to ensure they are fully equipped to respond calmly and effectively in any crisis situation. This training focuses on proactive strategies for recognizing and diffusing anxious, disruptive, or aggressive behavior early—before it escalates.

Team members are taught how to identify the stages of a crisis based on observable behaviors and how to respond appropriately at each stage. This includes using verbal and non-verbal de-escalation techniques, maintaining personal safety, and applying safe, non-harmful physical intervention methods when absolutely necessary. The goal is always to resolve situations in the least restrictive way possible, while building trust and restoring connection after a crisis has passed.

Staff also learn to assess risk in real-time and make thoughtful decisions that prioritize the care, well-being, and safety of each student. By recognizing the signs of escalation and responding with calm, compassionate action, they help create a secure, supportive environment for lasting growth and stability.

About Corrective Discipline and Crisis Response:

Discipline at KC Girls Academy is principle-minded and designed to provide a lesson for the girl, not to punish her.  We do not participate in any form of corporal punishment. Along with other STUDENTS’ RIGHTS, we will never withhold or change food allowances and we do not use any physical restraints (other than in situations where the child may be an imminent threat to herself or others). Typical disciplinary tactics include the loss of some privileges, the addition of chores, or both.