Below are links to the public sources we gathered for those interested in learning more about this facility and the type of care it provides.
Scroll through the rest of the slides for more information on the troubled teen industry and Re-Creation Retreats involvement➡️
The photo above shows the aftermath of an aggressive “safety hold” used as behavior modification at Re-Creation Retreat (RCR). Despite receiving citations, RCR has continued these practices since 2008, fostering a culture that seems to disregard accountability. It’s time to put an end to these harmful practices and to expose the injustices faced by youth at RCR, both past and present. We stand united in demanding accountability and the protection of these vulnerable individuals.
“While on phase 1, I was put in a “safety hold” (restrained) twice.
The first time was in my 2nd or 3rd week there because I was extremely depressed and it was setting in that I was going to be there for a long time. I did not get out of bed in the morning to do chores and get ready. Once everyone else went to the center for breakfast, 3 staff members came into my room and basically said, “Are you going to get out of bed, or are we going to have to get you out?” They violently grabbed me and threw me on the floor from my top bunk. They proceeded to shove my face into the floor, sit on my legs, hold my shoulders down, and bend my wrists back so I couldn’t move.
It was extremely painful and terrifying, and I was having a full-blown panic attack, bawling and hyperventilating. I was begging them to stop and telling them they were hurting me, but they didn’t care. The owner of the program, Randy, came to the room, and I remember him standing in the doorway saying, “You’re in complete control here, Kaira. All you need to do is stop crying and follow the rules.” After at least 30 minutes of being held down, I forced myself to calm down. When I stopped struggling, they said they were going to let me go, and I said, “Please don’t hurt me,” and they laughed at me.
They would not let me up until I said verbatim, “I’m sorry, I will follow the rules, and I will write my essays.” When I got up and looked in the mirror, my face was completely swollen and unrecognizable. My nose was bleeding, I popped a blood vessel under my eye, and I had bruises and bloody carpet burns all over my legs.
The second time was also on phase 1 after a family therapy phone call with my parents where I begged them to bring me home and they refused. I was bawling my eyes out because I was terrified to stay there any longer, so my therapist texted 2 staff members to come get me. They grabbed my arms and were walking me outside from the therapy building to the center.
I kept saying, “This is f***ing bullshit,” and the female staff member told me to stop cursing. When I didn’t, the male staff member threw me on the cement hard enough to knock my shoes off. They then picked me up and took me to the seminar room, took my sweatshirt off, turned the air conditioning on blast, screamed at me, and held me in the “safety hold” for almost 2 hours.
They would not let me eat dinner, and they held me down for so long I could not feel my arms or legs. They made me sleep in the school room with all the lights on the entire night under constant surveillance.”
A summary of the public citations and the overall significance. How can these citations shed light on dangers within the facility?
Both citations reveal systemic issues in the facility’s use of emergency safety responses. Citation 6 shows that restraint was used in situations that did not meet the criteria for violent or self-destructive behavior, while Citation 7 demonstrates that restraints were not discontinued in a timely manner. Together, these deficiencies suggest that the facility may lack adequate staff training on appropriate restraint usage and de-escalation techniques, potentially leading to residents experiencing unnecessary or prolonged physical interventions.
Citation 6
• Corrected Date: 04/18/2023
• Rule/Statute: Behavioral Health Services - Emergency Safety Response Usage (R9-10-716.E.1.a.i–ii)
• Violation Summary: This citation addresses the improper use of emergency safety responses, which should only be used for managing a resident’s violent or self-destructive behavior. The rule specifies that any emergency safety response should be strictly limited to cases where residents pose an immediate danger to themselves or others.
• Details of Findings:
• Incident Reports: The inspection reviewed several “Control/Escort Incident Report Forms” for different residents, including:
• Resident R2: A report dated March 15, 2023, indicated that staff used force to bend R2’s wrist when the resident refused to get out of bed, with the force applied for approximately four minutes.
• Resident R3: A report from January 27, 2023, described R3 running away from the facility and being restrained with a bent wrist for 10–15 minutes.
• Resident R4: On January 18, 2023, R4 was reportedly being disrespectful and not listening to instructions, leading to a restraint with medium force for 8–10 minutes.
• Resident R5: Another report, dated December 22, 2022, stated that R5 refused to get out of bed, resulting in wrist bending and control maintained for seven minutes.
• Staff Admissions: During interviews, staff admitted that emergency safety responses were applied in situations not involving violent or self-destructive behavior, violating the rule.
• Violation Implications: This finding reveals that the facility used physical restraint on residents for non-emergency situations, failing to meet standards for proper restraint usage. These practices could indicate a misuse of control techniques and lack of adherence to guidelines intended to protect residents’ rights and safety.
• Corrected Date: 04/18/2023
• Rule/Statute: Behavioral Health Services - Emergency Safety Response Duration (R9-10-716.E.1.b–c)
• Violation Summary: This citation focuses on the timeliness in discontinuing emergency safety responses. According to regulations, any emergency safety response should be stopped as soon as the immediate danger has passed and should not exceed a duration longer than necessary.
• Details of Findings:
• Incident Duration: Inspection of incident records revealed that staff did not promptly discontinue emergency safety responses once the immediate need had passed:
• Resident R3: On January 27, 2023, R3’s restraint lasted between 10 and 15 minutes despite no ongoing violent or self-destructive behavior.
• Resident R4: The January 18, 2023 report showed that R4 was restrained with medium force for 8–10 minutes, even after initial behaviors had subsided.
• Resident R5: In an incident from December 22, 2022, R5 was restrained for about seven minutes, which staff admitted could have been stopped earlier.
• Staff Interviews: Staff acknowledged during interviews that restraint times exceeded the minimum duration needed, with insufficient assessments to determine if the restraint could be stopped earlier.
• Violation Implications: Prolonged use of emergency safety responses beyond what is necessary can increase physical and emotional harm to residents. The facility’s failure to ensure timely discontinuation of restraints highlights inadequate monitoring and may suggest a lack of training or procedural oversight.
The troubled teen industry is a network of privately-operated, for-profit programs, including residential treatment centers, therapeutic boarding schools, wilderness camps, boot camps, and behavior modification facilities. These programs aim to support adolescents with behavioral, emotional, or mental health challenges. However, the industry has faced criticism for using physical restraints as a primary means of control. These restraints are often employed as part of strict, punitive practices that some former participants and advocates believe may lack therapeutic value or consideration for the well-being of participants. With regulatory oversight varying widely, many have called for stronger safeguards and reforms to protect the rights of those in these programs.
The troubled teen industry originated in the mid-20th century, heavily influenced by military-style programs and behavior modification models. One of the early predecessors, the Synanon organization, was founded in the 1950s as a rehabilitation center for adults with substance use issues and later adapted similar tactics for adolescents. Synanon’s methods—including intensive confrontational therapy, strict discipline, and isolation—laid the groundwork for later programs focused on “reforming” youth behavior.
By the 1970s and 1980s, a surge of therapeutic boarding schools, residential treatment centers, wilderness therapy programs, and boot camps emerged, inspired by similar rigid behavioral techniques. These programs marketed themselves as alternatives to mainstream mental health services and public education, targeting parents seeking help for teens with behavioral or emotional challenges. They promised structured environments and intensive therapy to reform so-called “troubled” teens.
In the 1990s and early 2000s, the industry expanded rapidly. Many programs became highly profitable, fueled by demand for alternative solutions for teens and high fees for long-term residential care. However, a lack of standardized oversight and regulation led to inconsistent practices across facilities. During this time, concerns grew over the use of strict discipline, isolation, and physical restraints, sparking calls for government oversight.
In recent years, advocacy by survivors of these programs has led to increased public scrutiny and some regulatory reforms. Former participants have spoken out, sharing their experiences and urging changes to ensure youth safety, accountability, and access to genuinely therapeutic care. This advocacy has spurred legislative efforts to create stronger regulatory frameworks and protections for minors in these programs.
Re-Creation Retreat (RCR) is part of the larger troubled teen industry, which encompasses therapeutic boarding schools, residential treatment centers, and behavior modification programs for teens facing behavioral, emotional, or mental health challenges. Like many facilities in this industry, RCR markets itself as a solution for families seeking structured environments and therapeutic interventions for their children.
Critics contend that the troubled teen industry, including facilities like RCR, often emphasizes strict behavioral control over personalized therapeutic care. Many former participants in similar programs have raised concerns about the industry’s use of restrictive practices, including physical restraint and isolation, which they say can lead to traumatic experiences. Reports suggest that facilities like RCR may impose stringent routines and controls that limit personal freedom under the guise of promoting discipline and responsibility.
The lack of consistent regulation across states has enabled facilities like RCR to operate with limited oversight, leading, at times, to negative experiences for teens who feel pressured into conformity rather than receiving individualized support. This lack of federal regulation has prompted advocacy for industry reform, with survivors calling for stronger protections, improved therapeutic standards, and closer oversight of troubled teen programs.
For further insights into RCR, its practices, and the troubled teen industry as a whole, explore resources that provide comprehensive information and context on various treatment facilities.
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