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

Maltreatment, Notice of Incident, Visit Compliance Report

The nurse (Saige Davis) was completing weekly vital signs checks and observed multiple bruises and red marks to the right side of the student’s neck and clavicle area. The student reported that staff squeezed his shoulders when attempting to lead him back into his room. Client’s guardian was contacted about the incident. Staff member (who client identified following the hotline call) was suspended on December 09, 2023, pending investigation. Program Coordinator observed photos of client’s bruises on his neck, shoulder, and arm area.

Licensing Specialist: Kendra Rice

Licensing Specialist received witness statements and scheduled day and time to review camera footage.

The complaint was Founded by Licensing. Facility will be cited. 109.1g and 905.4g: Staff member was observed on camera footage being aggressive with a resident and pushing and grabbing on the resident into a room and on a bed. Staff member was terminated.

CACD investigation was unsubstantiated.

PRLU or OLTC

Medical, Notice of Incident

Client at Elizabeth Mitchell Adolescent Center (EMAC) was complaining of severe abdominal pains. The client was seen by medical staff at EMAC. She was recommended to go to Arkansas Children’s Hospital by Dr. Thomas. The client was transported to ACH by Centers staff. The client was diagnosed with constipation. She was prescribed MiraLAX.

PRLU or OLTC

Acute Placement, Notice of Incident

Client was transported via MEMS to Acute (Perimeter) for unsafe behavior. Client displayed behaviors such as property destruction, self-harming, and assaultive behaviors towards peers.

On 12/12/2023, Licensing Specialist informed that resident transferred to another facility and will not be returning.

PRLU or OLTC

Acute Placement, Notice of Incident

Client was transported to Acute (Rivendell) for unsafe behavior. Client displayed behaviors such as property destruction, self-harming and assaultive behaviors during staff interventions.

Licensing Specialist informed resident discharged on 12/4/2023 and will not be returning to the facility.

PRLU or OLTC

Medical, Notice of Incident

A peer at EMCC noticed that client’s eye was red. Client was taken to the nurse, and he told the nurse he did not know his eye was red and that he had no pain or discomfort. The nurse contacted the on-call doctor and client was sent to Children’s Hospital Emergency Room where he was diagnosed with a Subconjunctival hemorrhage of the left eye. Discharge paperwork stated the eye would heal on its own.

PRLU or OLTC

Acute Placement, Notice of Incident

Client was transported by MEMS to Acute (Rivendell) for unsafe behavior. Client displayed behaviors such as property destruction, self-harm and assaultive behaviors during staff interventions.

Licensing Specialist informed resident returned to the facility on 11/24/2023.

PRLU or OLTC

Acute Placement, Notice of Incident

Client was transported by MEMS to Acute (Methodist) for unsafe behavior. Client displayed behaviors such as property destruction, self-harm and assaultive behaviors during staff interventions.

Licensing Specialist informed that resident returned to the facility on 11/14/2023.

PRLU or OLTC

Accidental Injury, Notice of Incident

Client at Elizabeth Mitchell Adolescent Center was taken to Baptist Urgent Care for a foreign item that was lodged in her ear. The items was an orbi and client stated she fell asleep with it in her hand. The orbi was removed from the left ear.

Licensing Specialist informed that foreign object (orbi) is used for foot/hand spa.

PRLU or OLTC

Visit Compliance Report

Licensing Specialist: Kendra Rice.

Licensing visited facility to review personnel files. Personnel files reviewed complied with the minimum licensing standards.

PRLU or OLTC

Medical, Notice of Incident

Client visited the Cornerstone Women’s Clinic due to major swelling and breakouts around the vaginal area. Client used a cavi wipe after someone told her it would cure HSV. Client was seen at Cornerstone and was prescribed medication.

Licensing Specialist informed that facility was investigating how the resident obtained the cavi wipe. Facility could not determine how resident obtained cavi wipe. Licensing Specialist informed all cavi wipes will be stored at the nursing station moving forward. All staff have been informed of this directive and shift supervisors will reiterate during shift report.

Police Report

False or Unfounded Call

Officers responded to the location and workers stated that no one needed police assistance.

PRLU or OLTC

Complaint, Notice of Incident, Visit Compliance Report

Parent reported that client’s clothes were being urinated on by other residents on laundry day and after clothes were clean and that staff wouldn’t allow him to re-wash clothes until specified laundry day – another week. Facility reported to parent that client refused to bathe. Client didn’t have clean clothes to change after a bath. Parent reported client had been physically assaulted – bruising, black eyes (mom has pics) and other residents were called the “N” word and cussed out by staff members.

Licensing Specialist: Kendra Rice.

2/14/2024, Program Coordinator called AR Hotline and reported the allegations (call accepted). Program Coordinator requested pictures of injuries and inquired about timeframe of pictures. Parent reported pictures were taken on 10/1/2023, note 10/5/2023, 10/8/2023, 10/10/2023, 10/22/2023, and 11/8/2023.

Program Coordinator informed facility of the complaint and requested documentation. Facility reported that client was no longer at the facility and would pull all incidents for the resident. Due to the timeframe of the complaint, there is no camera footage to review.

3/29/2024 – CACD investigation was unsubstantiated. Licensing complaint was unfounded.

Police Report

Complainant Not Located

Officers spoke with employees who stated they did not know anything about someone calling.

Police Report

Battery, Harassment

Officers responded to make a report. Upon arrival, staff advised officers that police had to be called multiple times on 10/22/23 and that the facility has problems with fights and general bad behavior inside the facility on a regular basis.

Staff stated that on 10/22/23, she was watching over a dorm when a large disturbance broke out all over the facility. While police were in another part of the facility, staff stated a juvenile came up behind her and wrapped a towel around her neck. Staff was able to break free before the juvenile could tighten it.

Staff stated that later that day, another disturbance broke out and a juvenile began striking her all over in an attempt to get gain access to the key fob on her wrist. The key fob broke, and staff placed it in her jacket. The juvenile then began groping and grabbing her both outside and inside of her clothing.

Staff stated she was going to her attorney and needed a report number. Staff reported her wrist was sprained from the incident.

PRLU or OLTC

Acute Placement, Notice of Incident

Client was transported to Acute (Bridgeway) from EMAC for unsafe behavior. Client displayed behaviors such as property destruction and assaultive behaviors during staff interventions.

11/1/23 – Licensing Specialist informed that resident has returned to the facility.

Police Report

Disturbance

Officers responded to facility for a battery report. Upon arrival, staff wanted officers to help escort the residents back to their rooms. No further police action taken.

Police Report

Battery

While on scene, dispatch advised officers of an open line disturbance at the location. Caller advised juveniles at the location were fighting.

Juvenile advised officers that they had been beaten up by 2 residents. Staff advised officers that the juvenile suspects had taken a wristband from a staff member that allowed them to unlock doors and enter the dorm of the juvenile victim and assault them. Officers observed a large bruise on the juvenile victim’s forehead and scratches on their neck. One of the juvenile suspects requested MEMS to the scene for a neck injury and was transported to the hospital. Staff advised they would not be seeking legal action for the juvenile’s actions.

Police Report

Disturbance

Officers responded to facility for a disturbance call. Juvenile advised officers that staff made her mad which caused her to want to harm herself because she was tired of the rules and staff changing the rules. Staff advised officers that juvenile had made several attempts to cut her wrist with a plastic object but was unsuccessful. The facility nurse medically assessed and cleared juvenile.

While officers were gaining control of the situation, another juvenile took an aggressive stance toward officers and refused verbal commands. Juvenile was detained and placed in a patrol unit. Upon removing juvenile from patrol unit, officers observed the wires from the rear facing camera had been pulled loose and were hanging down. No further police action required.

Police Report

Battery

Officers responded to facility for a disturbance call. While at the location, a staff member advised she needed to make a battery report. Staff reported that this morning, juvenile was having an erratic episode and had physically attacked several staff members, and had also thrown water on them. Juvenile was placed into several restraint holds, and after juvenile received a sedative shot, staff stated the juvenile bit her on the forearm.

Staff advised she was going to press charges against the juvenile, and the officers advised her to contact the prosecuting attorney’s office to seek warrants.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident, Peer Altercation

Client stated that she was kicked in the back of the head by another client. Client stated that she felt her neck pop and became lightheaded. Client was transported by EMS to Arkansas Childrens Hospital. An x-ray was taken of the spine and no abnormalities were found.

Residents were placed on separate dorms and do not have any contact in the classrooms.

PRLU or OLTC

Acute Placement, Notice of Incident

Client was transported to Acute (Pinnacle) for unsafe behavior. Client displayed behaviors such as property destruction and assaultive behaviors during staff interventions.

11/1/2023 – Facility informed Licensing Specialist that resident returned to the facility.

PRLU or OLTC

Medical, Notice of Incident

Client began vomiting blood and was transported to Arkansas Children’s Hospital. Diagnosis: Acute gastritis. Client prescribed Famotidine and Sucralfate.

PRLU or OLTC

Visit Compliance Report

Licensing Specialist: Kendra Rice.

Buildings and grounds completed on EMAC and EMCC from 12:15pm – 1:15pm. Areas observed: Grounds, dining room, administration hall, dorms, parking lot, classrooms, and courtyard. Ratios noted during walkthrough. No licensing concerns noted during visit.

PRLU or OLTC

Visit Compliance Report

Licensing Specialist: Kendra Rice.

Program Coordinator and Licensing Specialist presented intent training over sections 109 and 110 of the Minimum Licensing Standards to the agency compliance officers. The agency stated they would contact PRLU if any questions arise regarding what to report to the licensing unit per standard 110.17.

PRLU or OLTC

Maltreatment, Notice of Incident, Visit Compliance Report

While in a therapy session (EMCC), client verbalized, “I want to go home. I want to go to an adoption home. I am sick of being here. They are mean to me.” MHP asked the client who “they” were, and client reported a staff member always picks on him and had punched him. The client indicated to MHP that his mouth was really hurting. The client indicated, “[staff] punched me last week in the mouth and I got really upset.” The alleged event occurred sometime between September 25 and October 2, there is no camera footage or other information on this event. No injuries or bruising observed to client at the time of the evaluation. Child Abuse Hotline was called and accepted. Staff suspended.

Licensing Specialist: Kendra Rice.

Licensing Specialist interviewed 3 residents on 11/14/23. None of the residents described staff as being rude or mean.

CACD investigation was unsubstantiated. This complaint has been unfounded by Licensing. Facility inquired about having the ICA lifted and stated that staff member would receive remedial CPI training.