Retreat Behavioral Health: From Crisis to Closure – The Struggle of One Family Left Behind

In an unexpected turn of events, Cynthia Craig’s 21-year-old son was discharged from Retreat Behavioral Health facility in Miami on a Friday afternoon. After leaving, he took an Uber with another patient and asked his mother to pick him up when he called back in 15 minutes. Craig was worried sick and didn’t know where her son was, but he later texted her that everyone had been kicked out of the facility, leading to chaos and violence.

Five days later, Retreat closed abruptly without warning. Craig received a call informing her that her son had been transferred to a rehab facility in Miami. Although this news brought some relief, she remains concerned about her son being in an unfamiliar environment. Her son expressed his lack of trust and uncertainty about what to do in his new surroundings. When asked if he had retrieved his belongings before leaving Retreat, he mentioned that staff were tossing items into dumpsters.

Craig has been trying to reach out to Florida’s Department of Children and Families (DCF) for information on the fate of all the patients affected by Retreat’s closure. DCF’s press secretary confirmed that they are working on our request for information, but it is still unclear whether the patients have been relocated or not. As we wait for updates from DCF, we hope that all the patients receive the care and support they need during this challenging time.