Disability Rights Arkansas

Centers for Youth and Families Little Rock

*Photos taken by DRA staff during onsite monitoring visits. Photos reflect the most recent conditions observed by DRA staff but may not reflect the current conditions at the facility. If you are associated with a facility and have updated information or photos you would like to share, please contact DRA at [email protected]

Location: Little Rock, AR

Population Served: Youth ages 5-18

# of residents per unit: Up to 8 Residents per room: 1-3 Capacity: 82 beds (PRTF and residential)

Contact with family (Calls and visit schedule): Facility declined to provide specifics regarding call frequency or schedule

Restraint utilized? Yes Chemical Restraint utilized? Yes Seclusion utilized? No

Treatment Components

Clinical Director - LCSW

Therapists: Facility declined to identify, report number employed, or share credential status of any therapists.

Treatment modalities offered: Facility declined to identify any specific modalities available.

# of individual therapy sessions/week: Facility declined to provide a number or range.

# of group therapy sessions led by a licensed mental health professional/week: Facility declined to provide a number or range.

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PRLU or OLTC

Accidental Injury, Notice of Incident

  • Accidental Injury
    • On 11/22/22, client jammed his finger as he was trying to catch a basketball. Slight swelling was noted to his finger, and client was given an icepack. Client’s hand was re-evaluated the following morning with swelling and pain noted. Client was sent to Ortho Arkansas, and an x-ray determined there were no fractures present. A splint was placed on client’s sprained right pinky, and he was instructed to wear it for 5-7 days.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident, Peer Altercation, Self-Injury

  • Self-inflicted Injury, Peer Altercation
    • On 11/22/22, client was involved in a peer altercation when he punched the Lexan surrounding the television. Slight swelling was noted to the fifth finger of client’s right hand, and staff administered icepack and Ibuprofen. Client’s hand was re-evaluated the next morning with swelling and pain noted. Client was sent to Ortho Arkansas, and an x-ray determined there was a fracture in the fifth metacarpal if his right hand. A splint was placed on the finger to immobilize it. Follow-up appointment scheduled on 11/29/22.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident, Ratio

  • Ratio
    • A staff member decided she no longer wanted to work at the facility and left without finishing her shift. Staff reported this to the Arkansas Child Abuse Hotline.
    • Licensing follow-up: Per phone call with facility on 11/21/22, the staff member was in training under another staff and was never counted in the ratio. When the staff member left the facility, the staff/client ratio for Dorm 2 remained 1:6. Licensing confirmed the hotline call was not accepted for investigation.

Police Report

Battery Third Degree

Staff advised officers that juvenile was being aggressive and struck him on the nose.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident, Peer Altercation, Self-Injury, Visit Compliance Report

  • Self-inflicted Injury, Peer Altercation
    • Client became dysregulated after a peer pushed him to the ground. Client began hitting the back of his head against a wall. Staff intervened and client was placed in an ESI, and also received an emergency injection of Benadryl. After incident, nurse noted several bumps to the back of client’s head. Client was transported to the ER and diagnosed with a concussion. Client has been assessed several times since his injury and has not exhibited any adverse effects.
    • Licensing follow-up: Incident was reported to licensing on 11/18/22. Facility was cited 110.17 (late reporting).

PRLU or OLTC

Licensing, Notice of Incident, Suicide Attempt

  • Suicide Attempts
    • Client wrapped a torn piece of clothing around her neck while in her dorm area. Although client was on several precautions at the time, staff did not properly follow the protocols in place. It was approximately 10 minutes before staff called for additional personnel and they were able to remove cloth from client’s neck. The facility located an acute placement for client, and client was transported to the hospital for medical clearance before being placed in acute care. After reviewing video footage, the staff member involved was immediately terminated. On 11/12/22, client was in her dorm when she wrapped a pillowcase around her neck. When staff finally observed this, they intervened and removed the pillowcase. Video footage of this incident was reviewed on 11/14/22, and the staff member involved was terminated.
    • Licensing follow-up: Child Abuse Hotline was called and accepted. Licensing reviewed video footage of both incidents. During the incident on 11/14/22, staff was reportedly on her cellphone and was alerted that the client was turning purple; Staff member went over to the client and stood over her with her hands in her pockets. Staff did not call for assistance until approximately 10 minutes after the suicidal behavior was initiated. During the incident on 11/12/22, client was unsupervised for more than 30 minutes. Client was placed on “line-of-sight”, which was not followed by staff on 11/14/22.
    • Facility was cited 907.2 for incidents on 11/12/22 and 11/14/22.

PRLU or OLTC

Licensing, Loss of Connsciousness, Notice of Incident

  • Licensing (Loss of Consciousness)
    • After client was involved in an ESI, client lost consciousness while staff were taking client’s vitals. This was the second time in a few days that client appeared to lose consciousness. Client was transported to ER by ambulance. Several tests were conducted at the ER, and all results were normal. Shortly after returning to the facility, client reported feeling dizzy and then appeared to lose consciousness again. Client was transported to ER by ambulance and admitted for further testing. All test results returned normal. Client was released from hospital on 11/12/22.
    • Licensing follow-up: Client treated twice at hospital with no irregularities found. Client remains at facility.

Police Report

Complainant Not Located

Officers responded in reference to a disturbance. Upon arrival, officers circulated the area for any possible subject with negative results.

PRLU or OLTC

Licensing Complaint, Notice of Incident

  • Licensing (Complaint)
    • Complaint received reporting several issues: 1) Staff member brings in outside food for residents as a bribe for good behavior and withholds it from residents who she deems are not behaving well. 2) A supervisor has broken ethical standards regarding confidentiality of residents and staff. 3) A supervisor was recently suspended for placing a resident in a headlock during a restraint hold but was only suspended for a few days and allowed to return with no repercussions. 4) A staff member has been under the influence of marijuana while at work supervising kids and you can smell the marijuana on her strongly. 5) Staff were out of ratio the day that 3 residents broke a window and eloped from Destiny House.
    • Licensing follow-up: Reporter forwarded several text messages to corroborate her statements and contact info for potential staff witnesses that could support claims. Licensing visited facility on 11/8/22. 1) Two staff members have been retrained on this company policy, and a check of the units will be completed again to confirm there is no outside food and drink being brought in. 2) Licensing discussed concerns that a hotline call has been discussed around the facility by staff. Facility reported a retraining will be conducted for all staff regarding mandated reporting and maintaining confidentiality. 3) It was discovered this incident was reported to Licensing and investigated by DCFS and determined to be unsubstantiated. 4) Licensing reviewed HR file for staff member which showed no complaints made and a negative drug screening completed in February of 2020; Facility reported they will conduct interviews with staff on the unit to determine if anyone has had concerns. 5) Facility provided time clock sheets showing 7 staff were clocked in and working at Destiny House with 16 residents at the time of the elopement. Complaint unfounded. 

PRLU or OLTC

Licensing, Notice of Incident

  • Licensing (Suicide Attempt)
    • Client was in the bathroom when she refused to verbally respond to staff. Staff entered the bathroom and found client wrapping a piece of clothing around her neck. Staff removed the clothing from client’s neck, and client was placed in an ESI after becoming aggressive with staff. No injuries were noted to client. On 11/7/22, client told medical staff that she wanted to die on 11/5/22 and she was sad that staff intervened. The incident was then classified as a suicide attempt.
    • Licensing follow-up: Email from facility on 11/7/22 stated that client was on line-of-sight protocol, bathroom protocols, and suicide precaution.

PRLU or OLTC

Licensing Complaint, Notice of Incident

  • Licensing (Complaint)
    • Complaint received stating orders given by the doctor are not being followed. There are 2 clients on a 6-foot order due to sexual allegations, and both are currently in the same classroom, same dorm, and sharing the same room. Management has been informed and nothing has been corrected.
    • Licensing follow-up: Facility visited 11/16/22. Licensing requested and reviewed all safety plans from 11/04/22. Client who was on “SRB” (sexually related level B) precautions with peer was interviewed and reported she was kept 6ft away from peer and did not share a room with the peer. Video review confirmed client had a different roommate. Other residents interviewed reported they were closely supervised. Licensing complaint was unfounded. 

Police Report

Criminal Mischief First Degree

Staff advised officers that juveniles started a riot inside the facility when they would not go to their assigned rooms. Staff advised the juveniles damaged light fixtures and the housings to fire extinguishers. Staff advised the juveniles were required to go to the hospital for a psychological evaluation. Juveniles were transported to the Children’s Hospital.

PRLU or OLTC

Acute Care, Licensing, Notice of Incident

  • Licensing (Acute Care)
    • Staff called police to assist with several residents due to their unsafe behaviors and refusal to comply with staff instructions. Upon arrival, police determined several residents needed to be transported to the ER for evaluation. Police transported 4 clients to the ER, and all were then transferred to various acute treatment facilities. No injuries were sustained.
    • Licensing follow-up: As of 11/3/22, all clients remain in acute care. Per email from facility on 11/3/22, one of the clients complained of hand pain while at the ER and an x-ray was conducted, showing no fractures. Facility was visited on 11/4/22 and camera footage reviewed. Clients were seen punching and kicking doors, and a client ripped a board off the nurse’s station counter. Staff were never seen or heard displaying unprofessional conduct. Police were seen entering Destiny House at which point clients were calm.

Police Report

Battery Third Degree

Guardian advised officer that her son contacted her and reported abuse by a staff member. Guardian went to facility to check on her son, and took pictures of his injuries. Staff member allegedly pinched her son on his neck, arms, and inner thighs leaving marks. Guardian stated that after reporting it to the facility, the supervisor stated the alleged staff member was a single mother and she would hate for her to lose her job over this. Due to this response, the juveniles guardian did not feel anything would be done about the complaint. Officer contacted facility to get more information, but had not received a call back.

PRLU or OLTC

Licensing Follow Up, Maltreatment, Notice of Incident

  • Dual (Maltreatment)
    • Client reported to staff on 10/30/22 that a staff member had pinched him during an ESI that occurred on 10/29/22. Client was assessed, and no injury was noted. Staff member was suspended pending the investigation.
    • Licensing follow-up: Licensing requested nursing notes and any restraints or incidents involving the alleged victim and the alleged offender. Discrepancy found during review of notes: The facility reported no marks or bruises to client after a body check conducted on 10/30/22, however, a quarter size green and yellow bruise on the resident’s right arm and left leg were noted by the investigator during a body check on 10/31/22. CACD investigation was unsubstantiated and licensing complaint was closed as unfounded. 

Police Report

False Alarm

Officers were advised by staff of false alarm and that everything was okay.

Medicaid Inspection of Care

Inspection of Care Report

  • Included: IOC (Complaint Report)
  • No deficiencies noted.

PRLU or OLTC

Licensing Follow Up, Maltreatment, Notice of Incident

  • Licensing (Maltreatment)
    • Client was placed in an ESI after displaying unsafe behaviors and was then taken outside to calm down. While outside, client attempted to strike a staff member with her hands and elbows, with the staff member utilizing strike block and barrier techniques. Afterwards, client stated the staff member pushed her during the incident. Client later stated the staff member had punched her in the face. Staff member was suspended pending the investigation.
    • Licensing follow-up: Facility visited on 10/28/22 and camera footage reviewed. Client was observed walking into a dorm entrance area, and an altercation appeared to take place. Video does not reveal staff member striking client. After the incident, client is seen in close view of the camera with no marks on her face, nor did client behave as if she were punched in the face. Staff returned to work after CACD investigation was unsubstantiated. 

PRLU or OLTC

Monitor Visit, Self Report Visit, Visit Compliance Report

  • Licensing Specialist: Clayton DeBoer.
  • Buildings & Grounds conducted for Destiny House. Census: 16. No licensing concerns noted.