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 rstanford@disabilityrightsar.org

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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Police Report

Welfare Check

Caller hasn’t heard from her daughter in over a week and isn’t able to get anyone at the facility to answer her calls. Dispatcher called Little Creek and was given several different reasons why they could not contact her. Caller requested an officer respond to facility for welfare check; Contact was made with nurse at facility who will reach out to caller.

PRLU or OLTC

Monitor Visit, Visit Compliance Report

  • Licensing Specialist: Clayton DeBoer.
  • Buildings & Grounds conducted from 10:30am – 12:30pm. Census: 60. Classrooms (4), gym, Angelfish, Starfish, Minnows, and Guppies areas observed. MARs checked for 5 residents.
  • Regs out of compliance –
    • 911.15.f – Drawstrings found in clients clothing in 3 rooms. Drawstrings were immediately removed, and staff were advised to conduct inventory on client clothing.

Police Report

Elopement, Missing Juvenile

Officers responded to facility for a suspicious person inside a vehicle on the property. Upon arrival, the individual stated she was a night shift supervisor and that 2 juveniles ran away and they were trying to locate them. The juveniles had been missing for approx 30 minutes. They were in the gym area and found an open gate in the yard to leave the facility. On 04/04/23, the juveniles returned to the facility with a purse they took from somewhere.

PRLU or OLTC

Elopement, Notice of Incident, Visit Compliance Report

On 04.03.23, client eloped from the facility at 2030. The residents were leaving free time at the gym, and and a peer struck out, running behind the gym and running through the gate. Faulkner County Sheriff’s Department was called, and there was a BOLO placed on the resident and the peer. The residents were returned to the facility by the staff on 04.04.23 at 09:43 am. Email received 4/5/23 that camera system tower was struck by lightning and that facility has no access to camera footage until it is repaired. 4/5/2023- Program Coordinator requested the police report and 911 call from the Conway police report and received them on 4/6/2023 for review with the specialist. Facility visited 4/10/23. Area observed where clients eloped from. The fence is currently down due to construction. There was no fence erect at the time of the elopement. Clients did not elope through a gate, but through an open area directly outside of the gym door. [REDACTED] and [REDACTED] explained that while construction is underway in this area, the fence will be down. There has since been a wooden barrier built in the area with no fence. Clients and have been placed on elopement precautions. Licensing Specialist: Clayton DeBoer.

PRLU or OLTC

Technical Assistance, Visit Compliance Report

  • Licensing Specialist: Clayton DeBoer.
  • Review of the agency’s current mandated reporter policy determined it does not comply with A.C.A. 12-18-402 nor the Minimum Licensing Standards. Please ensure facility policy is updated to reflect the need of all staff to report directly to the child abuse hotline without delay. The updated policy shall be submitted to the Licensing Unit by 04/14/23 and all applicable staff shall be retrained on the updated policy within 2 weeks of enactment of the policy.
  • TA –
    • 110.9 – Any owner/operator, employee, foster parent, or volunteer in a child welfare agency shall immediately notify the Child Abuse Hotline if he or she has reasonable cause to suspect that a child has been subjected to child maltreatment, died as a result of child maltreatment or if they observe a child being subjected to conditions or circumstances that would reasonably result in child maltreatment.
    • 102.3.h -Child Maltreatment/Mandated Reporter policy; according to Arkansas law, including, procedures to ensure that alleged, suspected, or witnessed incidents of maltreatment are reported to the Child Maltreatment Hotline, and documented as required by these or other applicable rule or laws.

PRLU or OLTC

Medical, Notice of Incident

At 1330, client tested positive for oxygen level at 92%. The resident was sent out to the ER for further evaluation due to her asthma and history of covid pneumonia. Pt returned to Little Creek at 1845. Pt sent to Baptist Health Hospital of Conway. Client was returned to Little Creek the same day she was sent to the hospital. continues to be monitored by nursing and is reportedly doing well. Per email from Little Creek 3/17/23, is now 4 clients/1 staff. Facility is on quarantine until Wednesday, 3/22/23. Phone call made to Jlynn Perkins 3/21/23 for an update. No answer. Continue to monitor. Received phone call from [REDACTED] 3/22/23 at 6:30PM that Little Creek is no longer under quarantine.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident, Self-Injury

  • Self-inflicted Injury
    • Client became upset and punched the molding on the corner of the wall. After assessment, and x-ray was ordered and ice was applied to the injured area. X-ray results: Fracture of the fifth metacarpal.
    • Licensing follow-up: Client remains at facility. Will continue to monitor.

PRLU or OLTC

Monitor Visit, Visit Compliance Report

  • Licensing Specialist: Clayton DeBoer.
  • Buildings & Grounds conducted from 5:30pm – 6:30pm. Census: 60. Cafeteria, Starfish, and Angelfish areas observed. MARs checked for 5 residents. No licensing concerns noted.

PRLU or OLTC

Children's Records Review, Visit Compliance Report

  • Licensing Specialist: Clayton DeBoer.
  • Children’s record review completed for 10 residents. No licensing concerns noted.

PRLU or OLTC

Maltreatment, Notice of Incident, Visit Compliance Report

  • Maltreatment 
  • Client reported that sometime around Thanksgiving, a staff member followed her into the laundry area and cornered her by the counter. Client and the staff member exchanged words and kissed, the client slid her pants down, and the staff member placed his finger inside her vagina. Client stated she doesn’t recall who the staff was and did not remember the date of the incident. The Child Abuse Hotline was called and screened out, but a second call was accepted.  
  • Licensing follow-up: Facility visited on 01/10/23 and client was interviewed, who gave a physical description of the alleged staff member but no name. Client stated she only saw the staff once after the incident, and he asked, “are we good?” to which the client replied, “we straight.” Staff stated 4 pictures of current employees were shown to client who stated none were the staff member involved. HR provided employee names of all males employed before Halloween but no longer employed after Christmas, and 2 names were produced (1 who is now PRN, and 1 who resigned in Nov.). Client was shown a picture of both and denied either being the staff who assaulted her. No definitive evidence presented on 01/10/23 could substantiate allegation. Licensing called the Child Abuse Hotline again (initially screened out) and it was accepted. As of 05/03/23, the CACD case has not been closed and no new information is available. Licensing closed case as unfounded. 

Police Report

Call Card, Sex Crime Under 18

Guardians of juvenile requested a welfare check after the facility called to inform them the juvenile had been sexually assaulted, and hung up the phone due to the juvenile crying. Upon calling back, the facility did not answer the phone. Upon arrival to the facility, officer spoke to staff who stated they were informed of the incident and would contact the hotline the next morning. The juvenile stated that sometime in November or December 2022, she went to the bathroom after her evening medications and upon exiting, the alleged staff member was waiting in the area. Juvenile stated after a brief conversation, she kissed him, lifted herself onto a counter, pulled down her pants, and the staff member “fingered” her until she stated she felt uncomfortable. The staff member stopped, but stated “we still have time”, and the juvenile then left the area. Officer contacted the Child Abuse Hotline, and advised the guardian of the situation. None of the staff members provided the identity for the alleged individual.

PRLU or OLTC

Accidental Injury, Notice of Incident

  • Accidental Injury
    • Client reported he shut his hand in the unit door. X-ray findings: Mildly angulated fifth metacarpal neck fracture is present. Client was taken to an orthopedic clinic for further evaluation.
    • Licensing follow-up: Email from facility on 01/10/23 states the x-ray indicated the fracture was from a year prior and did not occur at the facility.

PRLU or OLTC

Monitor Visit, Visit Compliance Report

  • Licensing Specialist: Clayton DeBoer.
  • Buildings & Grounds conducted from 9:30am – 11am. Census: 56. Minnows & Guppies area, 2 classrooms, and cafeteria observed. MARs checked for 5 residents. Licensing documented 4 individuals who are no longer employed by Little Creek. No licensing concerns noted.

PRLU or OLTC

Elopement, Notice of Incident

  • Elopement
    • At approximately 1830, 2 clients eloped from the facility while walking to the vending machine with staff. Staff searched the area and police were notified after 30 minutes of client being gone. Police and staff found clients about a mile down the road, and they were returned to the facility at approximately 1909. No injuries noted.
    • Licensing follow-up: Facility visit on 01/04/23 confirmed that both clients remain at the facility with no further incident. Facility policy is to wait 30 minutes before calling police after an elopement.

Police Report

Missing Juvenile

Caller located 2 juveniles that ran away and officer transported them back to the facility. Staff advised the juveniles were out front with him, and when it was time to go inside they took off running. Staff stated he called the Sheriff’s Office to report it, and was advised to call back after an hour to see if the juveniles returned. Juveniles were released to staff.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident, Sexual Contact, Visit Compliance Report

  • Sexual Contact
    • Client reported she was touched inappropriately by a peer in the breast and groin area (over her clothes), and the peer asked her to show her breasts. The Child Abuse Hotline was called and screened out.
    • Licensing follow-up: Facility visited 12/12/22. Witness statements were reviewed, and client was interviewed, in which no timeframe was narrowed down to review camera footage. Client stated this happened on and off for about a month, about a month before today (12/12/22), and usually on the “3-11” shift. When asked about how long the events took place and where staff were, client stated “less than a minute…really fast…while they aren’t looking.” Client stated she no longer lives in the same unit as peer and only sees peer at “rec time and in the cafeteria”. Staff confirmed that client and peer remain in separate living units.

Police Report

Call Card, Property Check

Property Check; Handled by officer, no report.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident, Peer Altercation

  • Licensing (Peer Altercation)
    • On 11/5/22, client kicked peer multiple times during a physical altercation. Upon assessment, client’s toe was swollen and APRN provided ice and Ibuprofen. An x-ray was ordered after client complained of pain on 11/6/22 and 11/7/22. X-ray revealed fracture to toe, and ortho follow-up was scheduled for 11/9/22.
    • Licensing follow-up on 11/10/22: At ortho follow-up, client was given a soft shoe post op boot to wear for a month to protect the fractured toe while it’s healing. No other follow-up needed.

Police Report

Assault, Call Card

Officer was dispatched in reference to an employee that was injured by several residents. Caller reported 14 or more residents were beating people up and causing a riot. Upon officers arrival, employee reported she was hit in the back of the head, and punched and kicked repeatedly. Employee provided names of the 3 juveniles who were the main culprits.

PRLU or OLTC

Monitor Visit, Visit Compliance Report

  • Licensing Specialist: Clayton DeBoer.
  • Buildings & Grounds conducted from 11:30am – 12:30pm. Census: 55. Minnows & Guppies area, gym, and 2 classrooms observed. MARs checked for 5 residents. No licensing concerns noted.

Police Report

Call Card, Runaway

Staff reported 2 runaway juveniles at 8:24am. Staff stated they eloped during the night and they aren’t sure when, staff will need to pull video. The juveniles had already been located by Conway PD before call was made, and they were transported back to facility after identification.

PRLU or OLTC

Licensing Complaint, Notice of Incident

  • Licensing (Complaint)
    • Licensing (Complaint)
      • Licensing received a complaint, stating information reported by the facility regarding elopements on 10/09/22 was not accurate. The complaint states 2 residents who eloped were potentially missing off the unit for approximately 3 hours before a call was made to the police, and staff were unaware of the elopement.
      • Licensing follow-up: Specialist visited facility on 10/28/22. Staff reported the residents eloped at 7:30am based on nightly visual observations they produced, documenting staff viewing them in their rooms until 7:30am. Both residents who eloped were interviewed and reported they eloped around 5am; They stated staff were off the unit leaving them alone, so they went to the restroom, got dressed, and used a staff key card to elope off the back entrance to the unit. Resident reported he found the key card after a staff member dropped it during a restraint hold earlier in the day, however, the DON and CEO report the key card was from a previous staff who left the agency approximately 2-3 weeks ago. The nurse who reported the elopement to police stated staff were unaware when the residents eloped, and it was reported to her they went missing around 7:30am – 7:45am when they began to look for the residents. Staff who reviewed camera footage reported the residents did elope from the unit at 5:30am and the staff was off the unit, not conducting mandatory visual bed checks and falsifying the documents. The staff member quit after this incident. 
      • Licensing complaint founded; Facility cited for 907.2 and 907.6. Facility reported they have instituted a new process to expedite the deactivation of staff key cards and will retrain night shift staff regarding supervision. 

PRLU or OLTC

Elopement, Licensing, Notice of Incident

  • Licensing (Elopement) 1
    • Client and peer kicked the back door down, jumped the fence, and ran from the facility at approximately 5:35am. Law enforcement was contacted and had the residents in custody. Client and peer returned to the facility with no injuries.
    • Licensing follow-up: Facility has magnetic doors that can be kicked open with enough force. Residents returned and remain at facility.