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

Notice of Incident, Suicide Attempt

Client was taking a shower and the staff was standing in the bathroom doorway following line of sight precautions and verbally checking with client every few minutes. Following a few prompts from staff verbally checking on the client, she did not respond. Staff entered the shower and found her sitting on the floor with an article of clothing tied around her neck. Staff removed the clothing from her neck, and she was responsive to them.

Facility reported clothing was pants. Facility also reported that resident was assessed by the nurse and all vitals were within normal limits. Resident was already on Non Suicidal Self Harm B, Line of Sight, and Bathroom Protocols. Facility is in the process of transferring the client to acute care. 3/1/2024, client transferred to acute care.

PRLU or OLTC

Medical, Notice of Incident

Client was transported to Arkansas Children’s Hospital for stomach pain. An x-ray was performed and she was given an enema. Hospital staff recommended that the client take Miralax over the weekend for constipation.

PRLU or OLTC

Acute Placement, Notice of Incident

Client was transported to Conway Behavioral Services, due to property destruction and threatening staff and other clients.

Program Coordinator inquired about camera footage and property damage. 2/28/2024, facility reported the police were called and damaged property had been repaired. Facility reported no pictures were taken of damaged property except for the door. Items that were broken were air vents, emergency lights, toilet paper holders in the restrooms, and a magnetic lock on the back door of dorm 2. Client will not be returning to the facility. 3/13/2024, LRPD reported no police report.

Police Report

Non Police Incident

Officers stood by while staff got the children under control. No police action was taken.

Police Report

Non Police Incident

Officers observed no criminal or suspicious activity. MEMS advised police were no longer needed.

PRLU or OLTC

Acute Placement, Notice of Incident

Client began threatening another peer. Client also stated she was having homicidal thoughts. Client was transported by ambulance to Conway Behavioral for Acute. Client will return to facility after acute placement.

PRLU or OLTC

Visit Compliance Report

Licensing Specialist: Kendra Rice.

Building and grounds were completed. The following areas were observed: administrative building, dining room, nurse’s station, classrooms, bedrooms, therapists’ hall, bathrooms, day area, and lobby.

EMAC – Classrooms: (1) ratio 3:9, (2) ratio 3:8, and (3) ratio 2:8. Residents were sitting in their seats or talking to staff. All classrooms were preparing for lunch. Bedrooms were organized on dorms 1, 2, 3, and 4. No more than three residents to a room. Bathrooms were clean and sanitized.

EMCC – Residents were in the dining area having lunch. No residents were present in the dorms. A staff member was straightening up the day area in the East Dorm. No one present in the North Dorm. Bedrooms and bathrooms were clean and sanitized. South Dorm was being cleaned by housekeeping. No one present on New Dorm, and it was clean and organized.

Due to nurse preparing for med pass; Program Coordinator did not review MARs.

Police Report

Non Police Incident

911 hang up. Officers responded to the location and were advised that one of the juveniles had been playing on the phone.

PRLU or OLTC

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

Client became dysregulated and threw water on a peer. Another peer then physically attacked the client, hitting him in the head multiple times. Staff intervened and separated the two. Client was seen by a nurse and the nurse noted significant swelling to the face and also bruising. While being examined by the nurse, the client began banging his head into the wall and being aggressive toward himself. He was transported by staff to Arkansas Children’s Hospital, where he was seen by a doctor for a head injury and given ibuprofen.

Licensing Specialist: Kendra Rice

2/15/2024, Program Coordinator reviewed camera footage and requested nursing note. No concerns noted.

PRLU or OLTC

Acute Placement, Notice of Incident

Client became dysregulated and attempted to dysregulate other clients. Client then began to attempt to elope at the rear door of EMAC. She tore keypads off the walls and hid them on her person. Client was then transported to Bridgeway Acute by MEMS EMS. Facility reported that resident will be returning to the facility.

Police Report

Information Report

Officers responded to the listed address in reference to a disturbance. Officers made contact with supervisor, Brittany Rose. Rose advised the situation had been handled prior to officers’ arrival. Rose advised police were no longer needed.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident, Suicide Attempt, Visit Compliance Report

Client became dysregulated and was expressing suicidal ideations. Client verbally expressed that she was depressed. Client placed the ethernet cord from the phone around her neck. Staff were able to intervene and prevent client from tightening the cord around her neck. Client was transported by MEMS to acute the morning of 2/11/24.

Licensing Specialist: Kendra Rice.

Program Coordinator visited facility 2/15/24 and reviewed camera footage. Resident will be returning to the facility. Ms. McCrory informed Program Coordinator that all phones have been removed from dorms. Cordless telephones have been ordered.

Police Report

Assault, Criminal Mischief

Officers responded to the listed address for a fire alarm. Upon arrival, staff advised officers that a juvenile pulled the fire alarm at the facility along with damaging the listed property. Officers spoke with another staff member who advised the juvenile spit in her face during the disturbance. The staff member advised officers she would like a report made and would like to seek warrants.

Officers made contact with the juvenile, and the juvenile was detained for officer safety. The juvenile began to hit her head on the back seat of the patrol vehicle and was irate and uncooperative. The juvenile advised she was suicidal and would like to go the hospital. Officers called MEMS. The juvenile was transported to Children’s Hospital and released pending further investigation.

PRLU or OLTC

Acute Placement, Notice of Incident, Visit Compliance Report

Client became dysregulated while in the dorm. She was taken off the dorm, and she then began to destroy property and attempted to elope. She kicked a door several times, setting off the alarm, and broke the door that goes into a staff break room from the courtyard. Then she pulled the fire alarm. Police arrived shortly after the fire department. LRPD stated that the client stated she had suicidal thoughts and per LRPD policy she was transported to Children’s Hospital by police and then was taken to Conway Behavioral.

Licensing Specialist: Kendra Rice.

Licensing visited facility 2/15/24 and reviewed camera footage. Facility reported resident will not be returning to the facility. No concerns were noted.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident, Peer Altercation, Visit Compliance Report

Client started a physical altercation with another resident. After the altercation, the client was taken to ACH for an evaluation for cervical spine pain out of an abundance of caution. Client was cleared and transported back to the Centers. Staff was given instructions to care for muscle strain.

Licensing Specialist: Kendra Rice.

Licensing reviewed camera footage and inquired if there were witness statements and nursing notes. No concerns noted.

PRLU or OLTC

Medical, Notice of Incident

Resident was taken to Arkansas Children’s Hospital for strep throat and possibly his tonsils swelling. Upon being seen by ACH staff, resident was given medication and released back to the Centers from Arkansas Children’s Hospital.

Police Report

False Alarm

False Alarm. All accessible windows and doors appeared secure. No suspicious or criminal activity observed.

PRLU or OLTC

Elopement, Notice of Incident

Resident became dysregulated and began kicking the exit door. Resident kicked the door several times before the door opened, then exited the building with staff behind her. Staff never lost sight of the resident, who calmed down and returned back to the building.

Facility reported resident was gone for approximately five minutes, the police were not called, and the door was repaired the same day of incident. The resident was placed on safety precautions.

PRLU or OLTC

Medical, Notice of Incident

Client went to the nurses station and stated she ate some cookies and now felt like her throat was becoming sore. The cookie wrapper was retrieved and it was determined that the cookies contained peanuts, which the client is allergic to. The doctor was notified and advised staff to send client to Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH). Client was transported to ACH by ambulance. Client was given Cetrizine and Famotidine and was observed for a few hours before being released back to the Centers.

Facility reported they were investigating how resident got the cookies since they are not part of her pre-approved snack. 1/23/2024, facility reported the cookies the resident received did not contain peanuts but were packaged in a factory that also packaged food that contained peanuts.

PRLU or OLTC

Accidental Injury, Elopement, Notice of Incident

Client fell in the shower and hit her previously injured knee. The client reported to the nurse to be assessed. After assessment, arrangements were made for the client to be seen at Ortho Arkansas.

Upon arriving back at the Centers, the client jumped out of the van and ran west on 12th street. Staff began looking for the client. Local, state, and federal law enforcement were notified to assist in searching for the client. On January 2, 2024, at approximately 9:15 am Centers staff were notified by law enforcement that the client had been located and they were going to transport her to Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH). Facility reported that ACH ran test and x-rays on the resident’s knee.

Facility reported moving forward, when transporting residents away from the facility, staff will pick and drop off at the entrance of the building.

PRLU or OLTC

Medical, Notice of Incident

Client was taken to Arkansas Children’s Hospital on doctors leave orders for a headache, dizziness, and nausea. Once at the hospital client was given IV fluids, Toradol, and Benadryl. Client was taken back to the Centers with orders to take Ibuprofen and Tylenol if the symptoms continue.

Program Coordinator was informed that resident was diagnosed with an acute nonintractable headache, unspecified headache type.

PRLU or OLTC

Maltreatment, Notice of Incident, Visit Compliance Report

Client reported to the nurse’s office where a bruise to the left side of her face above her eye was observed. When client was asked about the bruise, she stated that she hit her head on the underside of the desk in the dorm room while she was “acting out”. During video review, staff members were observed grabbing the client’s clothing and grabbing her by the arm. The staff supervisor responded and placed the client in multiple holds that were not CPI-approved. This incident lasted for approximately 35 minutes. After the client was able to calm down, she was observed on camera footage holding and rubbing the left side of her face and pointed to an area around her left eye. The staff supervisor was observed on video looking at the area and acknowledged it.

The staff supervisor was terminated and the other staff in the room at the time of the incident have been suspended. A hotline call was placed and accepted.

On 1/3/2024, Program Coordinator reviewed camera footage. Facility cited 109.1.g: Staff members were observed grabbing the resident’ clothing and arm to prevent her from going into different rooms and harming her peers. Facility provided documentation of training for 2 staff members.

Complaint was Founded by Licensing. CACD investigation was unsubstantiated.

PRLU or OLTC

Medical, Notice of Incident

Client reported to the nurse that he was not feeling well. The nurse evaluated the client and contacted the on-call doctor and client was sent to Baptist urgent care via Center’s staff. Baptist urgent care preformed a strep and RSV test, which both were positive. The client was transported to Arkansas Children’s Hospital via Center’s staff where he was admitted to the hospital.

PRLU or OLTC

Medical, Notice of Incident

Client ate a Reese’s peanut butter cup without realizing it had peanut butter in it. Client has a recorded severe allergy to peanuts. Client complained of a “scratchy” and “painful” throat and stated, “this is how it always starts”. The client was sent to Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH) ER via Centers Staff for evaluation and treatment.

Program Coordinator informed resident does have a peanut allergy alert. Resident was unaware that Reese’s contained peanut butter. Some Christmas candy was delivered to the facility and that is how the resident got the candy.

PRLU or OLTC

Visit Compliance Report

Licensing Specialist: Kendra Rice

Program Coordinator completed buildings and grounds for EMAC and EMCC. The following areas were observed: lobby, therapy hall, cozy corners, day areas, rage room, dryer rooms, washrooms, bathrooms, bedrooms, dining area, library, and play area outside.

EMAC – residents were in their classrooms. Ratios were 2:10, 2:9, and 2:9. Residents were sitting down, walking around, or talking with staff or other residents.

EMCC – residents were outside playing, ratio 8:29.