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

Notice of Incident

  • Other – Swallowed Object
    • Client became non-compliant, refused to leave foyer area, and began to use a marker to color before breaking it in half. After client was instructed by staff to hand the marker over, client asked “what do you think would happen if I swallow this”. The client then placed it in her mouth, showed it to staff on her tongue and swallowed it. Staff then took the client to bathroom for a full body search to make sure she didn’t have other items. Nursing assessed the client and gave her Bisacodyl so she could use the bathroom to release the item. X-ray was ordered and item was not found during the x-ray.
    • Staff were informed that the involved client is to not be allowed access to the following: markers, pens, pencils, or sharp instruments. The client is also monitored during meals to ensure she does not bring back utensils with her.

Police Report

Information Report

Officers received 911 hang up call; Upon arrival, Staff stated no one in the building had called 911. Staff also stated everyone was fine.

PRLU or OLTC

Visit Compliance Report

  • Specialist viewed video footage from 5 incident reports. (Video footage from five incident reports involving IC including two reports from 2/28/21, 3/12/21, 3/18/21, and 3/20/21).
  • The 1st incident showed staff went into a hold without appropriate de-escalation attempts; Appropriateness of hold was questionable. One of the staff members involved in the hold has been terminated regarding a different matter. The 2nd incident showed a staff member pushing a client against a wall to separate from another client. The 3rd incident showed a staff member using an improper hold, client had injury
    to his shoulder; This incident was reported to the Child Abuse Hotline but was unfounded. However, this is a true Licensing Complaint for inappropriate behavior.
  • Regs out of compliance –
    • R905.9 – 3 staff members shall have training on behavior management including deescalation, appropriate restraints, and proper documentation of incidents.
    • R907.2 – 3 staff members shall have training on behavior management including deescalation, appropriate restraints, and proper documentation of incidents.
    • R905.4.g – 3 staff members shall have training on behavior management including deescalation, appropriate restraints, and proper documentation of incidents.

Police Report

Information Report

Staff stated Juvenile was cutting his arm. Juvenile told Officers he cut his arm because he misses his family. Staff stated he also made suicidal statements. Juvenile was transported to ACH by MEMS. Juvenile was admitted to Bridgeway after ER visit.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident

  • Injury – Accidental
    • Client injured his middle finger while playing basketball with peers.
    • X-ray results: Fracture; Client is being treated with a finger splint.

Police Report

Runaway

Staff stated Juvenile ran away from facility sometime between 6/6/21 at 0800 hours and 6/7/21 at 0800 hours. On 7/14/21, Officers were informed that Juvenile had been located by Grandview PD in Missouri; Contact was made with Missouri PD and case worker to get Juvenile back in DHS custody.

Police Report

Runaway

Staff advised she saw Juvenile at approximately 0945 hours but could not find him at approximately 1000 hours. Staff stated Juvenile had ran away the day before but was returned. Staff advised officers on 6/4/21 that Juvenile was returned the night before by NLRPD; Officers verified.

Police Report

Information Report

Staff stated Juvenile fled from facility in unknown direction. While completing report, Juvenile returned. Officers verified that Juvenile had returned.

Police Report

Criminal Mischief First Degree

Juvenile was upset because he didn’t want to take a shower; Staff stated he began to act aggressively after telling him to take a shower. Staff stated they locked him outside and he beat on the door until he broke the handle. Juvenile calmed down in patrol vehicle and was brought back inside.

Police Report

Battery Third Degree, Disturbance, Runaway

QRTP – Staff stated Juvenile had ran away at approximately 2030 hours after being brought back by police after running away the first time. Juvenile returned to the scene while officer was making report. Juvenile caused a disturbance and pushed staff member after staff searched his items he brought back (piece of glass); Juvenile was transported to ACH for evaluation.

Police Report

Runaway

QRTP – Staff stated Juvenile ran away due to not wanting to take a shower. Juvenile was located on 5/23/21 and returned to facility.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident

  • Elopement
    • Client was being non-compliant and not following orders; Client started kicking the doors near the exit and was able to kick through the unit and gym door. Client eloped from facility however was returned around 10:05pm. No follow-up details.

PRLU or OLTC

Visit Compliance Report

  • Regs out of compliance –
    • R907.6 – Viewed overnight video footage related to complaint allegations. Staff was observed walking down the halls regularly, but not checking in the rooms. Staff were also not staying on the halls during sleeping hours on 3/16 & 3/17.
    • “No action was taken by DCFS. Visit tied to 3/31/21 incident.”

Police Report

Information Report

Officers responded to a disturbance call; Upon arrival, Staff advised that police were not needed and they did not need a report.

Police Report

Runaway

Officers responded to facility in reference to 2 Juveniles running from facility. Officers circulated the area with negative results. Officers were dispatched to the location later in the night and advised the Juveniles had returned. Officers observed the Juvniles had returned.

Police Report

Battery Third Degree

Staff stated there was a fight involving 3 Juveniles; Staff separated Juveniles and called police. Officers did not observe any injuries from the fight. Juvenile 1 was issued a citation; Juvenile 2 was transported to a medical facility by staff.

Police Report

Criminal Mischief Second Degree

QRTP – Staff stated that a Resident, while in an argument with another resident, damaged a window on the facility van. Resident stated that he was trying to keep the door from shutting, and accidentally broke the window. Officers observed small lacerations to Residents arms; MEMS transported Resident to hospital.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident

  • Injury – Failure to Report
    • Client was playing catch with peers and hurt his finger. Child was taken to hospital and had a fractured hand and knuckle.
    • Agency was cited for not reporting in a timely manner.

Police Report

Criminal Mischief First Degree Felony

Staff stated she observed Juveniles 1 and 2 throw rocks through facility windows, damaging them beyond repair. Officers observed Juvenile 1 to be very aggressive; Juvenile 1 stated that he would become violent with other residents. Juvenile 1 was transported to Juvenile Intake without incident; Juvenile 2 was issued a criminal citation. Damage was approximately $3,000.00.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident

  • Elopement and Injury
    • 4 clients ran out of exit door when transitioning from day room to classroom. Client was given an in-house x-ray and transported to the hospital for further treatment.
    • No further info on when clients were found. Client had a broken toe and was given a cast on his foot.

Police Report

Non Police Incident

Officers helped Resident who stated he had been off his medicine for a long time and would like to go to UAMS. Resident was transported to hospital.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident

  • Injury
    • Client was in gym participating in recreational therapy when his knee gave out on him. Client was immediately assessed by nurse, then transported to hospital for further xrays.
    • Client has a brace on knee and crutches. Client had too much swelling so unable to see what type of injury he sustained. Client has follow-up appt.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident

  • Staff with Maltreatment Findings
    • 2 employees at facility had founded maltreatments from 6/2020. Staff 1 has since had 2 further allegations. From video footage, incident from 6/2020 showed staff did not react appropriately to prevent 2 clients from fighting, which resulted in an injury requiring medical care. Staff 1 was already on leave pending another investigation. Agency stated they would take Staff 2 off the schedule; however, it was discovered Staff 2 had appealed the finding and the decision was overturned.
    • Child Abuse Hotline was called and accepted as true. Re-training was provided for staff.