Disability Rights Arkansas

United Methodist Children's Home 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]

Methodist Children’s Home operates multiple programs on a single campus. Police responses to this campus often do not identify the program they are responding to. All reports plausibly related to the PRTF or Qualified Residential Treatment Program/Group Home (QRTP) have been included here. Where we can be certain the response was to the QRTP it is noted.

Location: Little Rock, AR                   Population Served: Children and adolescents in need of out of home psychiatric care in a residential setting

# of residents per unit: 20 Residents per room: 1 Capacity: 40

Contact with family (Calls and visit schedule): Clients have regularly scheduled phone call opportunities. The number of actual calls depends on the clients wish to utilize these opportunities. In person visitation (assuming no quarantine precautions) is available every weekend and can be scheduled at other times as needed by the family or guardian.

Restraint utilized? Yes Chemical Restraint utilized? Yes Seclusion utilized? Yes

Treatment Components:

Clinical Director: LCSW                    Therapists: 1 full-time therapist (LCSW)

Treatment modalities offered: Facility declined to identify any specific treatment modalities available

# of individual therapy sessions/week: Minimum 1 per week scheduled. May vary upon the treatment plan of the client.

# of group therapy sessions led by a licensed mental health professional/week: Minimum of 1 with 2 preferred.

UMCH LR Report (combined)

Photo Appendix to report

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PRLU or OLTC

Visit Compliance Report

Licensing Specialist: Tara Norton

Census: 30; Licensing Specialist Norton and Program Coordinator Rice completed full buildings and grounds for United Methodist Children’s Home Little Rock Campus.

The following areas were observed: bedrooms in A and B Hallways, bathrooms, administration building, direct care office, dining room, multi-purpose room, day rooms, art room, and classrooms. The boys’ hallways and bathrooms were not observed due to several residents being on “sick rule” at the time of the inspection.

The bedrooms in A Hallway and bedrooms in B Hallway were all single bedrooms and were clean and sanitary. All furnishings were safe, clean, and in good repair. Bathrooms were being cleaned by housekeeping and smelled of cleaning supplies.

Classroom (2105) was observed during instructional time and had a ratio of 3:7.

Classroom (1130) had a ratio of 2:6.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident, Self-Harm

Client got upset and hit/punched walls. He complained of hand pain, and an x-ray was ordered.

Results are, no broken bones or soft tissue swelling/inflammation. Client will be placed on Assault Precautions and a focus system for this behavior.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident, Peer Altercation, Visit Compliance Report

Client was involved in a verbal altercation with another client. The verbal altercation became physical and the client hit another client. His hand swelled up and an x-ray was ordered.

X-ray findings: Repeat fracture of the left distal 5th metacarpal and lateral hand soft tissue swelling. Client received a brace. His precautions are: Assault, focus system, and line of sight 24/7 due to wearing the brace, and 10 ft from the other client.

Licensing Specialist: Tara Norton

Licensing Specialist visited the facility to review video footage. Three female staff members present at the time of the altercation failed to intervene.

Facility cited for 907.2: 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.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident, Peer Altercation, Visit Compliance Report

Resident was in the dayroom along with 3 staff members, when Peer1 open hand slapped him in the face. Peer1 stated he slapped the resident because Resident wouldn’t stop humming. Later that day during hygiene prep, all clients began walking to the foyer area to get in the shower, when Peer2 and Peer3 were horseplaying and tried to hit Resident. Peer2 ran down the hall and pushed Resident back inside of the bedroom, and Peer1 walked down the hallway and went inside of Resident’s room. Peer1 then came out of the room as staff was coming out down the hall. A hotline report was made due to the age difference of Resident (11) and Peer1 (16) – Not accepted for investigation.

Licensing Specialist: Tara Norton

5/1/24 – Licensing visited facility and reviewed video footage of incident. Older male client slaps younger resident across the face. A staff member is heard telling the client that he can be charged for slapping the resident, and that he could’ve moved from the table. Client is observed throwing a plastic bucket containing pieces of paper across the room. Staff continue sitting at the table, and a staff member is heard verbally redirecting the client. The client turns his back to everyone and places his forehead against a wall. At this point, Ms. Rouse informed Licensing that nothing else happens in the video, but that eventually the resident and client were separated without further incident.

The residents are on assault precaution, meaning they should be 10 feet from one another.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident, Self-Harm, Visit Compliance Report

Resident became upset due to her peers discussing a topic about bullying. She transitioned to the cafeteria for dinner and was still upset. Anthony (staff) asked Resident to take a self-timeout. Resident went into the hallway for her self-timeout and began cursing. Anthony (staff) began redirecting her behavior by using the Teaching Family Model. Resident kicked the hallway door twice, injuring her right foot. Nurse Brittany assessed the foot and contacted the on-call medical doctor. An x-ray was ordered and completed. There were no findings of a fracture or dislocation.

Licensing Specialist: Tara Norton

  • Facility cited for 110.17 for late reporting (The agency shall notify the Licensing Unit by the next business day of serious injuries requiring emergency medical treatment, agency vehicle accidents, arrests, elopements, suicide attempts, or deaths, and maintain documentation of the incident and notification).

PRLU or OLTC

Complaint Survey

A Complaint Investigation survey was conducted on April 4, 2024. Complaint (AR00032493) related to restraints and seclusions the facility was found to be in compliance with federal regulations.

PRLU or OLTC

Maltreatment, Notice of Incident, Visit Compliance Report

Resident reported allegations while in acute care of a staff member at the PRTF slapping and grabbing her. Staff member has been suspended pending investigation. A report was made to the AR Child Abuse Hotline and accepted for investigation.

Licensing Specialist: Kendra Rice.

Facility reported that resident who made the allegations was the same resident who attacked the staff member named in the complaint, and caused the staff member to seek medical attention. Licensing team reviewed camera footage. During camera review, client can be heard informing the staff member she was going to tell, and the staff was heard stating “I don’t give a shit who you tell.” Staff was not observed slapping or grabbing the resident.

  • Facility cited (110.12): Agency shall notify Licensing Unit by the next business day when a report of maltreatment is accepted by the child abuse hotline.
  • Facility cited (109.1): Unprofessional conduct toward resident.

The CACD case was found unsubstantiated. Licensing investigation determined allegation of slapping/grabbing is unfounded. Staff will complete retraining prior to returning to directly work with residents.

PRLU or OLTC

Accidental Injury, Notice of Incident

Client injured his right ankle while playing kickball. He tripped over a peer’s foot and landed wrong on his ankle. Nurse assessed foot and contacted the on-call medical doctor. The doctor on-call ordered an x-ray. X-ray results: No findings of an acute fracture.

PRLU or OLTC

Visit Compliance Report

Licensing Specialist: Kendra Rice.

Census: 30. Building and Grounds completed. The following areas were observed: bedrooms, bathrooms, administration building, exam room, gym, cafeteria, seclusion rooms, therapy offices, group rooms, nurse’s station, courtyard, phone rooms, laundry room, library, day rooms, and art room.

Upon arrival, staff and residents were observed loading into two vans. Per facility, they were going on an outing. MARs were reviewed. All initialed and up to date.

Police Report

Battery

Officer made contact with a staff member, who reported that she was attacked by a juvenile at the Methodist Children’s Home where she is a behavioral instructor.

The staff member said the juvenile pulled her hair, punched her in the right shoulder and grabbed her wrist then twisted it in way that she believed it to be injured. Medical documentation provided by the staff member showed that there was no definite evidence of a fracture or acute bone abnormality. The officer did observe injuries consistent with her statement, bruising to her right shoulder and bruising to her left wrist.

The staff member said the facility had the incident on camera. Officer advised the staff member to obtain the video footage and take it with her and a copy of this report to the prosecutor’s office to file for a warrant.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident, Suicide Attempt

Client went to the nurse station to ask for a PRN due to being upset around 2pm. When nurse was getting the client the PRN, client stuck her hand into the nurse window grabbing a bottle of Ibuprofen. Client ran down the hallway and refused to give it to staff, opening up the bottle and ingesting undisclosed amount. Client ran into the restroom before staff could get it out of the client’s mouth. MEMS transported client to Children’s Hospital. All bloodwork and tests conducted were normal, and Oral Fluid Challenge was completed. Client returned to the facility.

Facility reported resident was already on suicidal precautions and remains on the precautions. Moving forward, staff will always be present at the window when clients are asking for medicine. Nursing staff will close window if they move from the nurse window area, and an area has been taped off where “items” should not be.

Police Report

Property Damage

Officer responded to the facility for a disturbance involving several juvenile males that were destroying property. Contact was made with all juvenile suspects, J1 – J6. They were compliant and were taken to the nurse’s station as requested by employees. Staff provided all juvenile information. Contact was made with a staff member who advised she was spit on by J1 and was hurt by a door being forced open by the juvenile suspects.

Staff advised they have a legal team for damage restitution through the parents per their sign-in forms for the facility. Staff were provided the incident number and advised to contact the prosecutor’s office for charges. Several walls were damaged from being kicked in by the juvenile suspects, along with two keycard sensors that were ripped off the walls by the juveniles.

PRLU or OLTC

Maltreatment, Notice of Incident, Visit Compliance Report

Client reported during her individual session that Staff 1 came into the bathroom with her, and that they were initially “joking around” by throwing tissues at each other but then Staff 1 tried to put her head into the toilet. Client stated that she was trying to “fight against” staff but the staff member was successful in putting client’s hand into the toilet. Client stated that she “somehow ended up on the floor with a split lip” and reported that the Staff 1 told her not to tell what happened because it would get her in trouble and to inform the nurses that she fell and split her lip. Client reported that during the altercation, Staff 2 closed the bathroom door and informed other clients that “they did not need to see this.”

Client also reported another incident that occurred on 02/26/24, in which Staff 2 “threw her on the ground and was on top of her,” threw a shoe at her, and was pushing and hitting her during the altercation.

  • During camera review of the bathroom, client and staff are observed horse playing around. Staff does follow the client into the bathroom as other staff is in the foyer and at the door of the bathroom. You can hear but not see the client and staff laughing and joking. Staff had poor boundaries and was instructed that this can not happen moving forward. Facility has not found any evidence of the “busted lip” reported to nurse.
  • During camera review of the next incident, client is observed yelling and cursing at staff after her guardian phone call. Staff redirected client about behavior, and client threw a shoe at staff. Staff picked up the shoe and took it into the BI office.

Licensing Specialist Chelsea Vardell reviewed camera footage for both incidents and requested nursing notes. No concerns were noted.

The CACD case was found unsubstantiated. The Licensing complaint was unfounded. Both staff involved received individual in-service retraining on CPI techniques. Staff can be removed from their ICA and return to normal job duties.

PRLU or OLTC

Accidental Injury, Notice of Incident

Client received an x-ray on 2/28/24 due to pain in right toes. Client reported to Nurse Brittany, that he hit his foot/toe while playing yesterday. Client is unable to recall exactly what he did when he hurt his toe and just remembers bumping it on something. The findings of the x-ray results were no acute fractures or dislocation.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident, Self-Harm

Client got upset and began to hit windows and doors. After hitting the items, the client’s hand became swollen. An x-ray was ordered that evening and found that he had angulated deformity of the distal shaft of the fifth metacarpus (broke his pinky). Client was sent to Arkansas Children’s Hospital for a soft ace bandage cast. Client was placed on Assault Precautions and Line of Sight 24/7.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident, Self-Harm

Client began to punch the wall out of anger. He came out of his room and was still upset but was able to calm down. An x-ray was ordered and the results are: Normal with no acute hand fracture or dislocation. Client will be placed on Suicide Precautions.

PRLU or OLTC

Accidental Injury, Notice of Incident

Client was in the gym playing a basketball game with some of his peers. Client and peer were going for the rebound when they collided into each other, falling on the floor. Client complained of right knee pain. The doctor was called and ordered for client to be transported to Arkansas Children’s Hospital for evaluation. Client was transported by MEMS and released at 3:19 pm. The ER did not find any fracture on the x-ray and the diagnosis was most likely deep bruise.

PRLU or OLTC

Maltreatment, Notice of Incident, Visit Compliance Report

On 2/6/24, client was spitting on staff repeatedly. After reviewing video from 2/6/24, staff was observed to use inappropriate crisis management. Staff reacted poorly after being spit on several times by resident. Staff pulled resident off the couch and held the resident down. A hotline call was placed and accepted for investigation.

Licensing Specialist: Kendra Rice.

Licensing visited facility 2/12/24 and reviewed camera footage and requested documentation of staff member’s suspension. Resident was placed on 60K Focus and assault precautions.

  • Facility cited for standard 905.4g: It appeared that staff member grabbed at resident due to resident’s behavior.

Licensing founded this complaint. The CACD case was found unsubstantiated. On 3/14/24, the facility provided training documentation for staff member mentioned in the incident and the ICA was approved to be lifted on 3/15/24.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident, Suicide Attempt, Visit Compliance Report

Client got upset and walked out of the classroom. Two staff members present did not follow. Client wrapped his red sweater around his neck and started pulling it tight. He then began coughing, his airway was not obstructed. Shawanda Martin intervened by taking the sweater from around his neck.

Licensing Specialist Kendra Rice reviewed camera footage on 2/12/24. No concerns noted.

PRLU or OLTC

Elopement, Notice of Incident, Visit Compliance Report

Client eloped out of the building at 8:24am. After staff stepped in the office, client picked up a chair and entered a peer’s room down the hallway. The fire alarm then started going off. Client then put the chair down and walked to the exit door and down the stairs to the first floor and out of the building. The peer got up and reported to staff that client went out of the door. The nurse ran down the hall to look for the client, and other staff assist. Client did not leave off campus. She returned to the front door at 8:27am and rang the doorbell. The therapist escorted her back to the unit.

Licensing Specialist: Kendra Rice.

2/12/2024, Program Coordinator reviewed camera footage. Facility reported they will work with maintenance to prevent future incidents of this nature when drills are being conducted.

PRLU or OLTC

Accidental Injury, Notice of Incident

Client complained of hand pain after playing in the gym. An x-ray was ordered. Results revealed no abnormalities or dislocation.

PRLU or OLTC

Accidental Injury, Notice of Incident

Client was playing in the gym. X-ray was ordered on left knee due to client complaining of knee pain and having palpable knot on the lower part of his knee with increased warmth and some possible swelling. Results came back and are: No acute fracture or effusion, but did show fragmentation along the tibial tuberosity with mild overlying soft tissue swelling suggestive of Osgood-Schlatter disease (more so from overuse).

PRLU or OLTC

Accidental Injury, Notice of Incident

Client was in the gym playing when he rolled his left ankle and complained of pain. An x-ray was ordered and results are: There is no acute fracture or dislocation. He was given an ice pack, elevation, and PRN Tylenol.

PRLU or OLTC

Visit Compliance Report

Licensing Specialist: Clayton DeBoer

Buildings & Grounds conducted. Census: 28. Classroom 1 staff/client ratio: 2:8, Classroom 2 staff/client ratio: 2:8, Hallway staff/client ratio: 2:7, Milieu staff/client ratio: 1:2.

All buildings and sleeping areas clean, safe and in good repair. Bathrooms observed clean and sanitary with functioning sinks, showers, and toilets. Grounds clean and free of safety hazards. Fire and severe weather drill logs checked today. MARs checked. All initialed and up to date.