Disability Rights Arkansas

Little Creek Behavioral Health

*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: Conway, AR                       Population Served: Non-Arkansas residents ages 6-21. Deaf and hard of hearing unit.

# of residents per unit: up to 8 Residents per room: 1-2 Capacity: 64

Contact with family (Calls and visit schedule): Weekly to Bi-weekly calls. Visits with families are scheduled (no additional details were provided).

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

Treatment Components:

Clinical Director: LPC-S                    Therapists:4 full-time therapists (2 LMSW, 1 LCSW, 1 LAC)

Treatment modalities offered: “Trauma-informed Care, Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) and Reality Therapy, Person-Centered and Deaf Mental Health.”*

# of individual therapy sessions/week: 1-2

# of group therapy sessions led by a licensed mental health professional/week: 2-3

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PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident, Peer Sexual Contact, Visit Compliance Report

Client reported her peer forcibly placed her fingers into her vagina while in their bedroom. Both residents admitted to this incident occurring; however, the peer stated they were horseplaying, and client did ask her to stop, but she was laughing and joking, so she did not take her statement seriously. Accepted by Arkansas Child Abuse Hotline. Client was moved to another unit.

Licensing Specialist: Kendra Slade

9/26/2024: Program Coordinator reviewed provided documentation and interview reports. The A/O does admit to this incident occurring but believed the A/V was joking when she kept saying to stop. This occurred in the middle of the day in a bedroom the two residents share. No video footage of the dayroom or the bedroom were available for review. The incident reportedly happened very quickly between supervision checks.

CACD case found TRUE. Program Coordinator will request a safety plan for peer to be in a single room for the remainder of her stay at facility. Per facility, the peer was discharged on 9/30/2024.

The case has been closed as unfounded by licensing as a lack of supervision could not be determined.

PRLU or OLTC

Maltreatment, Notice of Incident, Visit Compliance Report

Client took his peers’ snacks during classroom snack time and became combative when staff attempted to retrieve the snacks. Client threw all the extra snacks toward the wall and staff, took off his shoes, and began to charge toward the supervisor in the hallway. For safety reasons, the client was placed in a physical restraint. During the restraint, the client was injured due to the continued combativeness on the floor with the staff. Facility reported resident was diagnosed with a closed fracture.

Licensing Specialist: Kendra Slade

Licensing Specialist visited facility and reviewed camera footage on 9/6/24. Per camera footage review, it could not be determined how the resident injured his wrist. Staff member mentioned will be working with maintenance and will not have any interactions with the residents.

CACD case found unsubstantiated. This complaint has been unfounded by Licensing. ICA for staff was lifted on 10/17/24.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident, Peer Sexual Contact, Visit Compliance Report

A staff member reported to the Risk Manager that they overheard a unit conversation regarding a sexual assault that took place around a month ago between residents. A report was made to the AR Child Abuse Hotline and accepted.The staff member could only state that AO (alleged offender) raped AV (alleged victim) while AV was attempting to go to sleep based off of what kids on the unit were stating, and that once the kids brought it up, the AV became distant and started keeping to himself. When asked if he was sexually assaulted, the AV stated yes.

Licensing Specialist: Kendra Slade

Program Coordinator inquired about safety plan and if residents were separated. Facility reported residents are on separate units for safety.

CACD case unsubstantiated. This complaint has been unfounded by Licensing.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident, Suicide Attempt

Client was sitting by the wall under a T.V. on the unit. He got the cord from the T.V. and wrapped it around his neck, and began chewing on the portion that went into the wall. Client stated he no longer wanted to be at Little Creek or be around his peers.

Facility reported a Columbia Suicide Screening was completed on the resident and resident is currently on close observation. The screening was completed by the therapist and the resident was assessed by the nurse. Program coordinator inquired about the facility’s policy on placing a resident in acute care. The facility confirmed that resident’s behavior was considered a suicide attempt, and facility policy is that a resident is sent to acute care per doctor’s order.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident, Physical Maltreatment, Visit Compliance Report

A complaint of physical abuse was received by the facility. A resident reported that she was injured during a restraint, receiving bruises to her inner arm. The restraint packet completed after the restraint does not note any bruises or redness, however, the resident showed her peers and the floor supervisor a bruise.

Licensing Specialist: Kendra Rice

Program Coordinator visited the facility to interview the resident. The resident said she was pinched during the restraint and admitted to pinching the staff member as well.

This complaint has been Unfounded by Licensing.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident, Physical Maltreatment, Visit Compliance Report

A resident reported that she received a bruise while horseplaying with a staff member. The resident stated she punched the staff member in the arm and he punched her back. The resident stated that there was no ill intention. They had been playing.

Licensing Specialist: Kendra Rice

Program Coordinator visited the facility to discuss the complaint with staff and review the camera footage. Footage showed the resident and staff member poking one another at a rapid pace.

Program Coordinator sat in on interviews with 7 residents. The residents stated that the staff member is playful toward them but not harmful.

The facility will be cited for 907.3; Staff to child ratio was 1:9 during waking hours and 109.1.g; Staff member was observed poking a resident.

This complaint has been Founded by Licensing. Staff was retrained on boundaries.

PRLU or OLTC

Visit Compliance Report

Licensing Specialist: Kendra Rice

Census: 63

Licensing Specialist reviewed the children’s files. All files reviewed complied with the minimum licensing standards.

Police Report

Police Report, Suspicious Person

Officers were dispatched regarding a suspicious person at the facility. The male, who is with the Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS), was at the facility to visit a resident. False or unfounded call.

PRLU or OLTC

Visit Compliance Report

Licensing Specialist: Kendra Rice

Program Coordinator (PC) completed an after visit of the facility.

Trout Dorm: Ratio 2:8, Residents were observed signing with staff and peers. Other residents were sitting in chairs facing the television.

Brim Dorm: Ratio 2:7, Residents were observed watching television and talking with staff.

Bass Dorm: Rato 2:8, Residents were standing around the common area before dinner.

Snapper Dorm: Ratio 2:8, Residents and staff were playing a game in the common area.

Police Report

Suicide Attempt

Caller requested Emergency Medical Services (EMS) assistance for Juvenile. Juvenile is awake and conscious.

Police Report

Elopement

Caller reported that two young ladies came to his door asking for a ride. Caller believes they came from Little Creek Behavioral. When he told them, “No”, the two walked toward Skunk Hollow. The two females were found and returned to Little Creek.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident, Suicide Attempt

Resident asked to take a shower right before med pass time. While, in the shower, the resident responded to all calls from the staff who were checking in on her until the third call, when she did not answer.

The resident was found unresponsive on the floor of the bathroom. A silver, small blade was lying beside her. She had cuts to her left and right thigh. The nursing staff entered the unit when the code blue was called grabbed vitals and called for the Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) and the Director of Nursing (DON).

The Director of Nursing arrived at the unit and did a sternum rub, and the resident popped up. She was transported to the Emergency Department with superficial cuts to rule out anything further. She returned to Little Creek at 2118 hours.

Facility reported that the resident got the small blade from a pencil sharpener out of a classroom. Per facility, handheld pencil sharpeners have been confiscated and will no longer be utilized in the classrooms.

PRLU or OLTC

Elopement, Notice of Incident, Visit Compliance Report

Client 1 stole a staff member’s car keys and hid them in her jacket pocket, and Client 2 snatched a staff badge off a staff member’s shirt. Both clients proceeded towards the laundry area and ran, eloping from the facility.

Sheriff Cox located the girls two blocks over, called Little Creek, and Little Creek staff retrieved the girls and brought them back to the facility.

Licensing Specialist: Kendra Rice

Program Coordinator and Licensing Specialist Norton reviewed camera footage. The facility reported that the Faulkner County Sherriff’s Department was called, but no report number was provided. Staff member involved will received additional training.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident, Self-Harm

Client reported to staff that she had self-harmed by swallowing 2-67-sized batteries (blue) while in the bathroom. Client was sent to the emergency department on 05.19.24 at 1340 and returned at 1646 on 05.19.24.

Program Coordinator reviewed provider reported incident for licensing concerns. Facility reported the batteries came from the resident’s hearing aids.

PRLU or OLTC

Visit Compliance Report

Licensing Specialist: Kendra Rice

Program Coordinator (PC) Rice completed buildings and grounds. PC Rice observed three buildings under construction on the grounds. The grounds were maintained with no debris observed.

The following areas were observed: lobby, classrooms, residential dorms, dining room, gym, coffee shop, and nurse’s station.

Residents were observed interacting in the five classrooms. Ratios for classrooms were as follows:

Room 116 – 6:11

Room 117 – 3:15

Room 118 – 3:9

Room 119 – 2:11

Room 118B – 4:14

PC Rice observed the emergency escape plan and schedules for therapy, groups, and activities posted on the walls.

MARS were reviewed. All were initialed and up to date.

PRLU or OLTC

Accidental Injury, Notice of Incident, Visit Compliance Report

While playing on the playground, resident and a peer were horse-playing and the resident fell on his side, hurting his wrist/arm. X-ray results: Fracture of the left radius.

Licensing Specialist: Tara Norton

Jlynn Perkins of Little Creek indicated that the client was x-rayed and this was reported late because she was off Monday, 4/15/24. Licensing visited facility 4/18/24 and interviewed residents involved.

  • Facility cited 907.2 for staff allowing horseplay that resulted in resident injury (Child caring staff shall be responsible for providing the level of supervision, care, and treatment necessary to ensure the safety and well-being of each child at the facility, taking into account the child’s age, individual differences and abilities, surrounding circumstances, hazards, and risks).

PRLU or OLTC

Complaint, Notice of Incident, Visit Compliance Report

“Little Creek is allowing a supervisor to work with two felonies, a battery and a DWI. I do not feel comfortable with him working at Little Creek with those types of charges, being that we work with children that have behavioral/mental issues. He’s also court ordered to go to jail on the weekends. A lot of the kids from our facility are aware of this and think it is ‘cool’. He is not a good example for these children, and most of the time we are their last resort.”

Licensing Specialist: Chelsea Vardell

4/10/2024- Program Manager spoke to the background check unit and discovered that this staff was approved in 11/2022. The facility was contacted to request that the background checks be re-ran. However, the facility reports that they are aware that the staff is now ineligible per the minimum licensing standards, so they moved forward to terminate the staff on 4/2/2024. 4/11/2024- Licensing requested information on how and when the facility was alerted to the staff’s ineligibility. The facility reports that they received a complaint on 4/2/2024 and proceeded to terminate the staff on 4/2/2024.

Complaint is UNFOUNDED by licensing.

Police Report

Harassment

Officer was dispatched to Little Creek in reference to a terroristic threat. Officer spoke with staff member Allyson Shivers (complainant) by cell phone. Ms. Shivers stated an unknown male (offender) left a bizarre voicemail on their office phone. Ms. Shivers stated the voicemail was left sometime after business hours and she had a recording of it.

Officer listened to the recording of the voicemail and could hear a male subject state “One day there is going to be a suicide or murder because you fucks can’t answer the goddamn phone”. Ms. Shivers stated she was unaware of who the male was. Ms. Shivers was given this report number and advised how to obtain a copy.

Police Report

Assault

A report was received from Arkansas State Police Crimes Against Children that a juvenile at Little Creek was restrained for being aggressive and was choked by a staff member, with her airway being restricted. This occurred between the end of February and beginning of March. Officer made a report.

PRLU or OLTC

Visit Compliance Report

Licensing Specialist: Kendra Rice.

Census: 62. Buildings & Grounds completed. The following areas were observed: grounds, lobby, classroom hall, residential wings, gym, playground, bathrooms, laundry area, dining room/cafeteria, nursing station, linen closet, and cafe. Residents were transitioning to their classrooms. MARs were reviewed. All initialed and up to date.

Licensing Specialist reviewed 5 personnel files. Training files were not reviewed during this visit. All files reviewed complied with the minimum licensing standards.

Licensing Specialist reviewed 4 children files. All files complied with minimum licensing standards.

PRLU or OLTC

Maltreatment, Notice of Incident, Visit Compliance Report

It was reported that on 03/10/24, resident was seen by DHS staff, and he was observed to have a bruised upper lip and right knee. The bruise on the knee was yellow and brown, indicating that it had been there a couple of days. He said that both of the injuries had been caused when he was placed in physical restraint by staff members. He was also noted to have slurred speech and he was disoriented, as to what time it was, and where he was. He said he had been placed on a new medication, by a doctor at the facility. Facility is required to make a request before placing him on medication and caseworker is to be notified when resident is placed in physical restraints. Neither of these was completed. Resident indicated that he had been placed in multiple physical restraints; he was so out of it that he couldn’t indicate when he had been placed in any of the restraints. A report was made to AR Child Abuse Hotline and accepted.

Licensing Specialist: Kendra Rice.

Per staff, the resident was involved in a physical altercation with peers on 3/7/24 and 3/8/24 prior to being restrained. Per nursing note after each restraint, no bruises were noted.

Licensing reviewed consent form that was signed by resident’s caseworker giving consent for Zyprexa. Per complaint, the caseworker stated she did not consent to the medication. Nurse Nedra informed Licensing that resident is also given a medication on the approved list for prevention of EPS.

The CACD case was found unsubstantiated.

PRLU or OLTC

Maltreatment, Notice of Incident, Visit Compliance Report

Licensing received a complaint from resident’s caseworker, stating the resident alleged a staff member threw resident on the ground when she attempted to run off the unit on 3/3/24. Resident also reported that the other children at the facility have placed each other in the clothes dryers and that staff do not monitor the laundry room. She said the children put each other in the dryers when they get mad at each other. She said that she feels uncomfortable because only male staff members put her in restraints. A report was made to the AR Child Abuse Hotline and accepted.

Licensing Specialist: Kendra Rice.

Licensing visited the facility and reviewed the restraint packet and other documentation. Per documentation, staff member placed resident in a one person hold and escorted resident back to the unit. The timeframe was from 15:23 to 15:26. Program Coordinator requested a witness statement from staff member mentioned in the complaint.

Facility submitted ICA for staff member and it was approved by licensing. On 3/27/24, facility provided training documentation for staff member involved in incident.

The CACD case was found unsubstantiated.

PRLU or OLTC

Maltreatment, Notice of Incident, Visit Compliance Report

Resident reported she was choked by staff during a physical hold on 2/27/24, resulting in her breathing being restricted, her face turning red, and him leaving marks on her neck. Accused staff has been placed on admin leave. Report was made to AR Child Abuse Hotline and accepted.

Licensing Specialist: Kendra Rice.

Facility reported that resident reported the incident while on a phone call. Facility also reported there is no camera footage of the incident due to camera footage is not available after 72 hours. Facility submitted an ICA for staff member involved.

Facility provided retraining documentation for staff member named in complaint on 3/13/24. Program Coordinator reviewed restraint packet and received documentation on 3/14/24.

4/23/24 – CACD case found unsubstantiated. This complaint has been unfounded by Licensing.

Police Report

Supplement Report

An agency in Texas is reporting juvenile as missing, but we had him as reported missing from Little Creek Behavioral – 4/3/23. Missing person entry for resident can be deleted, the agency in Texas will enter him. Little Creek Behavioral will be notified.