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

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.

Police Report

Runaway

Officers responded to facility for 3 runaway juveniles. Staff stated the juveniles broke out a window before fleeing the scene. On 10/25/22, 2 juveniles were located by Hot Springs PD. LRPD picked up both juveniles and returned them to the facility.

PRLU or OLTC

Elopement, Licensing Follow Up, Notice of Incident

  • Licensing (Elopement)
    • At approximately 1941 hours, 3 clients knocked out a window in the dorm and eloped from the facility.Staff began to search for the clients and police were contacted. At the time of this report, the clients have not been located.
    • Licensing follow-up: Per phone call with staff, after clients had broken the window, staff stood in front of the window to stop clients from eloping. One of the clients grabbed staff and threw them down in order to elope. The clients then busted through a locked gate outside to exit the grounds. Email on 10/25/22 stated Clients 2 & 3 were located in Hot Springs and returned to the facility. The facility was visited on 10/25/22, and the window was fixed. No licensing concerns observed. During the visit, DCFS contacted the facility stating Client 1 had been located.

PRLU or OLTC

Licensing Follow Up, Notice of Incident, Self-Injury

  • Licensing (Self-inflicted Injury)
    • Client became dysregulated and began hitting her head on the wall. Client was unable to verbally communicate with medical personnel but was awake and alert. Client was transported to the ER via MEMS. A CT scan was conducted of client’s head, and the results returned without contrast.
    • Licensing follow-up: Per phone call with staff on 10/24/22, the ER visit yielded no fracture and client remains at facility.

PRLU or OLTC

Elopement, Licensing Follow Up, Notice of Incident

  • Licensing (Elopement)
    • At approximately 1105 hours, client was outside in the fenced area when she ran through a gate and eloped. After being off campus for less than 5 minutes, client was located and returned to EMAC by staff without further incident. No injuries were sustained.
    • Licensing follow-up: Per phone call with staff, the outside gate had been closed but unlocked due to the lawn crew being there (they come every Friday). Facility visited on 10/25/22 and given technical assistance for 907.2. Moving forward, the facility will keep clients indoors when lawn care/maintenance is working.

PRLU or OLTC

Licensing Follow Up, Maltreatment, Notice of Incident

  • Licensing (Maltreatment)
    • Client was placed in an ESI after he began hitting and kicking doors and destroying property. Client later stated a staff member had bit him on the right shoulder prior to the ESI after he bit the staff member first. Medical personnel observed a bite mark on client’s shoulder. Staff member stated he did not remember biting client. Staff member was immediately suspended pending his termination.
    • Licensing follow-up: Facility visited on 10/25/22 and cited 109.1g, 905.4g, and 907.2. Outcome: Founded.

Police Report

Runaway

Staff advised officers they had 3 juveniles run from the facility and were last seen at approx 1215 hours. Officers were later advised that all 3 missing juveniles returned to the location. Officers made contact and verified they returned.

PRLU or OLTC

Elopement, Licensing Follow Up, Notice of Incident

  • Licensing (Elopement)
    • At approximately 1100 hours, 3 clients were outside playing when they breached a gate to the fence and eloped from the facility. Staff began to search for the clients and police were contacted. The clients were gone for over 12 hours before they returned to Destiny House at around 0200 hours. No injuries were sustained.
    • Licensing follow-up: Facility visited on 10/19/22 for unrelated incident. Clients remain at the facility without further incident. Clients eloped again on 10/22/22 after busting out a window with a bedframe and pushing their way past staff. Clients 2 & 3 were located in Hot Springs on 10/24/22 and returned to Destiny House. Facility received call from DCFS on 10/25/22 that Client 1 had been located but has not been returned to the facility as of 10/25/22.

PRLU or OLTC

Licensing Follow Up, Notice of Incident, Self-Injury

  • Licensing (Self-inflicted Injury)
    • Client became dysregulated and began hitting her head on a table outside in the courtyard. Nurse noted client’s nose was purple and slightly swollen. Client was taken to the ER, and an x-ray revealed no fractures were present.
    • Licensing follow-up: X-ray revealed no fracture. Client remains at facility.

Police Report

Non Police Incident

Female subject transported to Baptist Health for medical treatment.

PRLU or OLTC

Licensing Complaint, Notice of Incident

  • Licensing (Complaint)
    • A complaint was received regarding an email to the facility addressing concerns. The email requested follow-up information related to:
      • An Incident Report was not received in which a client was taken to the ER for swallowing a rubber ball.
      • Medical care for a client that was hit in the back with a piece of furniture.
      • Medical care for residents who were pepper-sprayed by law enforcement.
      • Reports of staff barricading residents inside the units by pushing tables up against doors.
      • Report regarding a staff member and resident being involved in a sexual relationship.
      • Report of staff member cursing at residents.
      • Client continuing to place items in her vagina and swallow items.
      • Multiple injuries and fractures have occurred from residents punching walls. Residents reported staff let them punch walls and do not intervene.
      • The use of a prone restraint on 8/5/22.
    • Licensing follow-up: Licensing initiated a complaint, and the facility was visited on 10/25/22. Facility was cited on 10/18/22 regarding incident with rubber ball (110.17). Client that was pepper-sprayed was detained by police, and upon return to the facility client had no complaints. Furniture is never used to block exits and staff have been instructed not to do so. Staff are sometimes positioned in chairs outside of doors as barrier to elopement. All clients and staff at EMAC have been given client/safety interviews and none reported any staff/client interactions that were inappropriate or unsafe. Staff are trained to use bodies as barriers or strike block to prevent clients from punching walls.

Medicaid Inspection of Care

Inspection of Care Report

  • Included: IOC
  • No deficiencies noted.

Police Report

Overdose

Staff advised officers that juvenile approached her and stated she had taken an unknown amount of antidepressant pills. Juvenile was awake and alert. MEMS transported juvenile to hospital.

PRLU or OLTC

Licensing Complaint, Notice of Incident

  • Licensing (Complaint)
    • Public video viewed of client stating that he was bullied at the facility.
    • Licensing follow-up: Facility visited on 10/12/22. Of the clients interviewed, 3 of 4 clients reported bullying happening at Destiny House and named the same 3 clients doing the bullying. All clients reported that staff show up within 1 minute and no more than 4 minutes and try to keep the clients safe when this occurs. A safety plan for clients was emailed to Licensing on 10/12/22: The 3 children that identified safety concerns have been assigned to Line of Sight and are by staff the entire shift. The individuals identified that were causing safety concerns were removed from their dorms. This will be evaluated every day to ensure children’s safety.

PRLU or OLTC

Licensing Follow Up, Notice of Incident, Peer Altercation

  • Licensing (Peer Altercation)
    • Client reported a peer pushed her from behind, causing her to fall and hit her head on the edge of a bed. Staff noted the bridge of client’s nose was swollen and she sustained a busted lip. Client was taken to the ER and an x-ray revealed a closed fracture of the nasal bone.
    • Licensing follow-up: Client sustained a closed fracture of the nasal bone and was transported back to the facility.

PRLU or OLTC

Licensing Follow Up, Notice of Incident, Suicide Attempt

  • Licensing (Suicide Attempt)
    • Client told staff she was feeling suicidal, and client was placed on suicidal precautions. Later that evening, client told staff she had been cheeking her antidepressant medication for 5 days and took them all at once. Client’s vital signs were slightly above normal limits, and client was taken to the ER. Once at the ER, medical personnel determined client needed acute treatment and she was transferred to acute care.
    • Licensing follow-up: Client reported “cheeking” her medication and was transported to acute care.

PRLU or OLTC

Accidental Injury, Licensing Follow Up, Notice of Incident

  • Licensing (Accidental Injury)
    • While playing basketball, client tripped over a peer’s foot and fell on his wrist. Swelling was noted to finger, and client complained of pain to his wrist. Client was taken to the ER, and it was determined there were no fractures present.
    • Licensing follow-up: ER visit yielded no fractures.

Police Report

Assault Third Degree

Staff advised officers that juvenile walked into a room he was not supposed to and attempted to grab a folder with his name on it. After demanding to get the folder back, staff stated juvenile became aggressive and punched her with a closed fist on her chest and shoved her multiple times. Juvenile advised officers that he told staff to get out of his room and when she refused, he began cursing at her. Witnesses confirmed staff members story.

PRLU or OLTC

Licensing Follow Up, Notice of Incident, Self-Harm

  • Licensing (Self-inflicted Injury)
    • Client was transported to Ortho Arkansas for a follow-up appointment concerning a hand sprain. An x-ray was conducted, and it was determined there is now a fracture present. Client told Ortho Arkansas personnel that she hit a wall with her hand on 10/3/22. A hard cast was placed on client’s hand.
    • Licensing follow-up: Client punched a wall and was taken to the ER which initially revealed no fracture. Follow-up appointment revealed a fracture and client’s hand was placed in a cast.

PRLU or OLTC

Licensing Follow Up, Notice of Incident, Suicide Attempt

  • Licensing (Suicide Attempt)
    • Client reported to staff that he swallowed rocks while outside. Client was taken to the ER where an x-ray was conducted. No rocks were located on the imaging tests. The facility has been unable to locate an acute facility for the client.
    • Licensing follow-up: X-ray revealed no rocks.

Police Report

Non Police Incident

Upon arrival, officers were advised the juveniles had returned. Officers made contact with both juveniles.

PRLU or OLTC

Elopement, Licensing Follow Up, Notice of Incident

  • Licensing (Elopement)
    • At approximately 1815 hours, 2 clients breached the door of their dorm and eloped from the facility. Both clients were off campus for less than 5 minutes before staff were able to return them to Destiny House. Neither client sustained any injuries.
    • Licensing follow-up: Both clients returned to campus in less than 5 minutes.

Police Report

Assault Third Degree

Upon arrival, officers observed a group of juveniles attempting to fight and staff attempting to separate them. Officers made contact with Juvenile 1 who stated she wanted to leave the facility and would kill herself if she had to stay. J1 stated she tried to cut her left wrist with her fingernails earlier, and officers observed the injuries. J1 stated that on Saturday (9/17/22), between 2000-2100 hours, a staff member forced her into a hygiene closet and attempted to touch her and told her how big her butt was. J1 stated when she refused, he struck her in the head and told her when she got out of there he was going to find her and take her to his house. Officers notified the Child Abuse Hotline. Staff advised officers that juvenile did not need to be transported due to facility treating suicidal subjects, but officers advised it was policy. MEMS transported J1 along with 3 other juveniles to hospital.

Police Report

Battery Third Degree

Officers made contact with staff in reference to a battery call. Staff member stated while assisting other staff restrain juvenile, juvenile purposely kicked her in the face. Staff advised her nose was bleeding afterwards, and officers observed redness around staff’s nose. Officer advised staff to seek warrants.