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

Elopement, Notice of Incident

  • Elopement
    • While playing outside in the fenced area in the back of EMCC, 5 clients breached the locked gate and gained access to the facility parking lot. Staff were able to retrieve 4 of the clients before they left the campus. The fifth client was seen leaving campus and staff followed client to a store parking lot, where client refused to return with staff. Staff escorted client to van and once back at the facility, client refused to exit van and police were called to make a report. Client was extremely combative with staff when they attempted to escort client from the van, and a police officer attempted to assist. Client bit police officer’s hand, and once inside, staff placed client in an ESI hold. During the incident, client bit, kicked, hit, and pulled the hair of several staff members. Client did not sustain any injuries.
    • Licensing follow-up on 06/30/22: Staff notified Licensing that the fenced area clients had eloped from had been welded and reinforced with steel to prevent further elopements.

Police Report

Information Report

Staff advised officers that juvenile left the campus, and that staff had located her and transported her back to the facility. Staff advised juvenile was upset because she was being transported to a different facility.

PRLU or OLTC

Maltreatment, Notice of Incident, Visit Compliance Report

  • Maltreatment
    • On 07/08/22, CACD investigator visited facility and informed staff she was investigating an accepted call to the Arkansas Child Abuse Hotline. The complaint alleges a staff member choked a client during an Emergency Safety Intervention on 06/26/22. Staff suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.
    • The Child Abuse Hotline was called and accepted. Licensing follow-up on 07/13/22: Facility visited from 10am – 12pm. Video was reviewed from 06/25/22 (no incident involving aforementioned staff on 06/26/22) for 2 separate incidents. At no time during either of these holds is staff seen saying or doing anything inappropriate or in violation of minimum licensing standards.

Police Report

False or Unfounded Call

Officers spoke with an employee, who advised it was an accident.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident

  • ER Visit (Peer Altercation)
    • Client was involved in altercation with peer, afterwards complaining of headache and feeling lightheaded. Hourly neuro checks were ordered, and client was later taken to ER due to continued headache/dizziness. Client was diagnosed with a closed head injury and prescribed Ondansetron for nausea. Peer involved was placed on assaultive precautions.

PRLU or OLTC

Visit Compliance Report

  • Licensing Specialist: Clayton DeBoer.
  • Facility visited from 10:00am – 11:00am. Census: 32. MARs checked for 5 residents. No licensing concerns observed during the visit.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident

  • ER Visit (Peer Altercation)
    • Client was involved in altercation with peer, in which she sustained several scratches to her face, a small cut to the inner lower lip, and slight swelling to her chin. Client also stated she possibly hit her head on the ground. Client was transported to ER, where she was diagnosed with a mild concussion. Peer (aggressor) received placement elsewhere.

Police Report

Battery Third Degree

Officers made contact with juvenile at ACH, who stated peer threw a deck of cards at her face, then proceeded to punch her, push her over, punch her face against the floor, kick her head, and continue assaulting her. When juvenile was able to move to another room once staff arrived, she was found by peer who continued assaulting her, pushing her head into a cabinet before she was removed.

Police Report

Battery Third Degree

Juvenile’s guardian wanted a report made: Juvenile advised officer that peer became irate and accused juvenile of talking behind her back. Juvenile stated at some point the peer punched her head approx. 4-5 times, showing officer picture of redness to her face taken after incident. Staff advised they would conduct their own investigation into the matter.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident

  • ER Visit (Allergic Reaction)
    • Client was outside playing when he complained that he was itching all over “really bad.” Once inside, client complained of shortness of breath, his face became very red, and he began to kick his legs and fling his arms. MEMS transported client to ER, where he received 2 EPI injections, 2 rounds of Albuterol, Benadryl, and a steroid shot. Client was possibly bitten/stung while outside, causing an allergic reaction.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident

  • ER Visit (Accidental Injury)
    • On 5/21/22, client was outside playing football when a peer ran into him, injuring his left wrist. Nurse noted slight swelling and Tylenol/icepack were provided. On 5/23/22, client was sent to ER due to his wrist still hurting. X-ray results: Fracture of left wrist. Client’s hand was placed in a wrist brace, and client has follow-up appt. on 5/31/22 with orthopedic clinic.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident

  • Maltreatment
    • Client stated that after she began banging her head into a wall and was going to harm herself, staff member assisted in an intervention in which client received a bruise/scratch injury on her left side.
    • Child Abuse Hotline was called and accepted. Licensing follow-up on 5/17/22: Camera footage reviewed of incident and photo viewed of client’s injury, in which a bruise and fingernail marks were observed under client’s left armpit. Alleged staff member was observed to be on right side of client during entire escort during incident. CACD investigation unsubstantiated.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident

  • Maltreatment
    • Risk Management at facility reported a staff member had shoved a client to the ground.
    • Child Abuse Hotline was called, pending. Staff member was immediately placed on leave pending termination. Licensing follow-up on 5/17/22: Video footage was reviewed and observed client shoving staff, then staff shoved client back. Client rears back as to hit staff, and staff then pushes client into a door. Client’s head is seen and heard hitting the door. Client appeared visibly hurt after the incident.
    • CACD investigation substantiated.
    • Facility cited:
      • 109.1g – Engaging in behavior that could be viewed as sexual, dangerous, exploitive, or physically harmful to children.
      • 905.4g – The following shall not be used, including as discipline: Physical injury or threat of bodily harm.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident

  • ER Visit (Accidental Injury)
    • Client complained of pain to his left wrist and reported he had hurt it while playing basketball on 5/14/22 but didn’t tell anyone. Nurse noted slight swelling to client’s wrist. Ibuprofen and icepack were provided to client, and after several hours with no improvement, client was taken to ER. X-ray results: Fracture of the scaphoid bone (near base of thumb) in client’s left hand. Client’s hand was placed in a soft cast.

Police Report

Battery Third Degree

Juvenile (w/guardian) advised officers that peer came up behind her while she was watching a movie and began to hit her. Juvenile stated staff intervened, but peer reached over staff and pulled out a handful of hair. Officers observed juveniles head to be reddened and a spot where she was missing hair. Staff confirmed juvenile’s account of the events and stated 2 other residents started a fight to distract from peer attacking juvenile.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident

  • Maltreatment
    • Client reported a staff member had hit him.
    • A Child Abuse Hotline call was made and accepted. A DCFS investigator interviewed client on 5/12/22.Upon learning of DCFS investigation, alleged staff member was suspended pending the completion of the investigation. It should be noted that client has made several unsubstantiated allegations during his stay at The Centers. Email from facility did not indicate there was any specific timeframe to review video. CACD investigation unsubstantiated.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident

  • ER Visit (Fight)
    • Client and peer were in altercation in which client fell and hit his face on a plastic chair, resulting in a small laceration (less than 1 cm) next to his left eye. Staff cleaned and treated the wound, and client was sent to ER for evaluation. Client received 2 absorbable sutures to the laceration.

Police Report

False Alarm

Officers made contact with the security, who advised false alarm.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident

  • Maltreatment
    • Client reported a staff member had pulled his hair, spit on him, and beat him.
    • A Child Abuse Hotline call had been placed and accepted. A DCFS investigator interviewed client on 4/21/22. Upon learning of DCFS investigation, alleged staff member was suspended pending the completion of the investigation. Licensing follow-up on 4/27/22: Staff indicated that an internal investigation yielded no truth to allegation. There is no video to view as client provided no time of incident. Investigation was unsubstantiated.

Police Report

Complainant Not Located

Officers responded to a disturbance; Upon arrival, caller stated several juveniles were refusing to go to bed. Caller wanted officers to come in and talk to them. Officers talked to the juveniles; No further incident.

Police Report

Disturbance

Staff advised officers that juvenile was causing a disturbance and refusing to return to their room. Staff advised juveniles doctor requested them to go to hospital due to mental breakdown. MEMS arrived and transported juvenile to hospital.

Police Report

Harassment

Child Abuse Hotline referrals #2141094 and #2141246: It was reported that juveniles 1 & 2 disclosed that peer has grabbed or attempted to grab their breasts on numerous occasions. A few other peers have complained about peer touching them and crossing boundaries (Juveniles 1 & 2 and peer are all in-patient clients at facility). Investigation ongoing.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident

  • Complaint
    • Licensing received a complaint, stating “Kids have been here for more than 30 days and they do not have evals or treatment plans. Some kids are not getting therapy or required services. There are not enough therapists. At Destiny House a shift supervisor is running things and the staff come and go as they please and they are out of ratio.”
    • Licensing visited facility on 4/14/22 in response to complaint and reviewed video of 3 separate dates/times, ratio within limits for each. Licensing reviewed census, Licensed Clinicians, and employee roster with no licensing concerns observed.